The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Organising Committee said on Saturday that international spectators will not be allowed to enter Japan during the Olympic Games which are scheduled for this summer.

Japanese authorities told the Olympic and Paralympic committees it was “highly unlikely that entry” to the country could be guaranteed.

Olympic and Paralympic tickets purchased by overseas residents will be refunded, it said in a statement.

“Today, the Five Parties (the International Olympic Committee (IOC), the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), the Tokyo Metropolitan Government (TMG), the Organising Committee Tokyo 2020 and the Government of Japan) met virtually,” began the statement.

DURING THE MEETING, THE IOC AND IPC WERE INFORMED, AS OUTLINED BELOW, ABOUT THE CONCLUSION OF THE JAPANESE PARTIES NOT TO ALLOW ENTRY INTO JAPAN FOR OVERSEAS SPECTATORS FOR THE OLYMPIC AND PARALYMPIC GAMES TOKYO 2020 DUE TO THE PREVAILING WORLDWIDE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

“Olympic and Paralympic tickets purchased by overseas residents from the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee will be refunded.”

It has been concluded that overseas spectators will not be allowed entry into Japan for #Tokyo2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We will continue to deliver a safe and secure Games in the hopes that they will be a light of hope. https://t.co/oGUJ1hv8JC
— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) March 20, 2021

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games were postponed last year to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

eurosport.com