Tokyo Olympics to go ahead, but no foreign fans allowed

Japan has decided to bar foreign spectators from this summer’s Tokyo Olympics, the Kyodo news agency said on Tuesday, citing government officials.

The decision, which hadn’t been publicly confirmed by Japanese officials, comes after weeks of mounting pressure from a public worried about visitors who could carry the coronavirus into the country, including some highly-contagious new variants.

There was no immediate word on how many Japanese fans would be permitted to enjoy the Summer Games in person, but Kyodo, which often gets news directly from government officials before it is formally announced, said no spectators would be admitted from abroad.

Japan has enjoyed relative success against the COVID-19 disease since the pandemic began a year ago. —AP