Tokyo Olympic 2021: International Fans Ruled Out

The coronavirus pandemic has forced the organizers of the Tokyo Olympics 2020 to rule out international fans from the Games this summer. The same for fans of the Paralympics. 

Authorities of the host country, Japan, made this known in a statement on Saturday that the move is to help them organize "a safe and secure Games" for all athletics and the local residents.

Clarifying its decision, the authority went further telling the Olympic and Paralympic committee that the Coronavirus situation in the country is challenging just like any other country is experiencing. It is feared that having a crowded Games can cause a spike in the spread of the killer bug.

President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, said in a statement: "Every decision has to respect the principle of safety first. I know that our Japanese partners and friends did not reach this conclusion lightly."

More than 11,000 athletics from over 200 countries are expected to participate at the Games which was initially scheduled to hold last summer but was postponed until this summer over the outbreak of Covid-19.