Tokyo scraps Olympics public viewing sites

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Tokyo will cancel all public Olympics viewing events in an effort to reduce the risk of coronavirus infections, the city governor said.

Having postponed the Games for a year because of the pandemic, Japan has already banned overseas spectators — in an Olympics first — while reducing the number of participants, volunteers and guests. However, officials are forging ahead with hosting the Games from July 23.

“We have decided to cancel these live viewing sites that gather people,” Yuriko Koike told reporters, after meeting Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. “On the other hand, we will make greater use of the web to create exciting atmospheres for the Games and to disseminate various cultural information.”

There had been six planned viewing sites, across the Japanese capital, according to AFP.

People walk on a street next to an advertisement for Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo on June 19. — Reuters
People walk on a street next to an advertisement for Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo on June 19. — Reuters

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