Tokyo 2020 willing to permit only 6,000 athletes to attend Opening and Closing Ceremonies

Tokyo 2020 organisers will ‘reconsider’ the number of athletes permitted to attend the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Games amid reports that only 6,000 of the 11,000 athletes will be present. 

The Olympics, scheduled to take place this summer having been postponed last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, will be ‘simpler and more restrained’ due to the threat of the spread of the deadly virus. 

And the Opening and Closing Ceremonies will face stringent measures as a result, with just over half of the expected 11,000 athletes permitted to attend. 

Tokyo 2020 organisers will ‘reconsider’ Opening and Closing Ceremonies plans amid Covid

The Ceremonies are often a flamboyant coming together of all the competing nations

‘In order to ensure the safety and security of the athletes and simplify operations at the Tokyo 2020 Games, we believe it is necessary to reconsider the number of participants at the Opening and Closing ceremonies and how they will enter the stadium,’ Tokyo 2020 told Agence France-Presse via InsideTheGames.

A number of covid countermeasures are in place ahead of this summer’s Games. These include athletes arriving at the Athletes’ Village no earlier than five days before their event and leaving no more than two days afterwards. 

The National Olympic Committee were also given guidance which stated that time spent at the Village should be lessened in cases where time difference and travel time to Japan is minimal.

However, Covid countermeasures could see just 6,000 of the 11,000 athletes attend

Former advertising executive Hiroshi Sasaki has promised a ‘simpler’ display than normal

Other advice, including asking athletes to acclimatise at pre-Games training camps rather than the Village was also given. 

Last month it was also confirmed that no more than six officials will be allowed to attend the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

Former advertising executive Hiroshi Sasaki has also been confirmed as the creative executive director of the Ceremonies. Sasaki says to expect a ‘simpler’ display rather than the flamboyant shows usually seen at recent Games.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics is scheduled to begin on July 23 and finish on August 8.