TOKYO (Kyodo) – The International Olympic Committee has decided to make a major cut in the number of officials attending this summer’s Tokyo Games as part of measures to prevent the spread the novel coronavirus.
The IOC’s Board of Governors decided on Friday to grant credit only to people who have “essential and active roles” at the games.
The IOC said the policy, set at the request of Japanese organizers, will reduce the number of qualified officials from sports organizations, Olympic athletes ’legends and accompanying guests.
The decision came a week after the IOC, the International Paralympic Committee and Japanese organizers agreed to host the games without an overseas audience.
On Friday, sources familiar with the plan said that the Japanese government is considering bringing the number of officials and participants involved in games, excluding athletes, to about 30,000.
Around 90,000 people were expected to enter Japan from abroad, including about 30,000 athletes, coaches and team members.
Of the 30,000, which is not expected to affect Japan, about 11,000 are athletes for the Olympics and 4,000 for the Paralympics.
The cuts appear to be aimed at visitors from the IOC and the IPC, as well as national and regional Olympic committees and councils. Those associated with international sports alliances and the media, and guests invited by sponsors, are likely to have an impact.
Japan’s Olympic minister Tamayo Marukawa said at a news conference on March 20 that the number of people involved in the games needed to be reduced as much as possible.
In April, the organizers, also including the Japan organizing committee and the governments of Japan and Tokyo, will hold five-party talks and are expected to decide on limits on the number of Japanese residents. at the games centers, which were postponed for one year due to the pandemic.
As the Japanese leg of the torch relay for the Olympics, which is due to open on July 23, began on Thursday, the second versions of the “Playbook” guide to keeping the games safe are expected to publication next month. .