(AUDACY) Just two weeks before the Summer Olympics in Tokyo are set to begin, the International Olympic Committee and Japanese organizers announced that fans would be banned from attending the Games.
The decision comes after a state of emergency was issued in Japan on Thursday, citing the delta strain of the COVID-19 virus. The new measures were announced by Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga.
The state of emergency will go into effect on Monday and run through Aug. 22. The Olympic Games, which have already been postponed a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, open July 23 and end Aug. 8.
“Taking into consideration the impact of the delta strain and in order to prevent the resurgence of infections from spreading across the country, we need to step up virus prevention measures,” Suga said. “I have already said I won’t hesitate to have no spectators.”
The IOC had determined two weeks ago that it would allow venues to be filled at 50% capacity but with no more than 10,000 fans in one venue.
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