Lausanne, Switzerland, March 21, 2021: The International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee fully respect and support the decision of Tokyo 2020 not to allow spectators from overseas to attend the Olympic and Paralympic Games this summer.
In a statement issued on Saturday, March 20, IOC President Thomas Bach said: “We share the disappointment of all enthusiastic Olympic fans from around the world - and, of course, the families and friends of the athletes - who were planning to come to the Games.
“For this I am truly sorry. We know that this is a great sacrifice for everybody. We have said from the very beginning of this pandemic that it will require sacrifices.
“But we have also said that the first principle is safety. Every decision has to respect the principle of safety first. I know that our Japanese partners and friends did not reach this conclusion lightly. Together with them, the IOC’s top priority was, is and remains to organise safe Olympic and Paralympic Games for everyone: all the participants and, of course, our gracious hosts, the Japanese people.
“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder at the side of our Japanese partners and friends, without any kind of reservation, to make the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 a great success.
“Together with our Rights-Holding Broadcasters, we will make every effort so that the fans from around the world will be able to experience the Olympic spirit.”
Olympic and Paralympic Games tickets purchased by overseas residents from the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee will be refunded.
Source: www.olympic.org