Olympics Minister: No Spectators At Tokyo Venues For Games

Kyodo News reports that Japan's Olympics Minister Tamayo Marukawa has confirmed that no spectators will be allowed to attend Olympic events in the capital, Tokyo, due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

• Earlier today, PM Yoshihide Suga stated that the state of emergency provisions in the capital would be extended to 22 August, encompassing the entire Olympic Games (running from 23 July to 8 August).
• Kyodo reports that the ban on spectators comes after a meeting between the Japanese gov't, the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, the Japanese organising committee, and the office of the Tokyo governor, Yuriko Koike. The IOC President Thomas Bach stated the gov't had the support of the IOC in keeping the games safe.
• The Olympic Games can prove an influential event for national and local politicians and should not be underestimated as bellwethers of the public mood.
  • The Olympics can be dangerous for national leaders, as seen in the previous Games. Held in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, the Games saw mass protests emerge against the Brazilian gov't amidst the ouster of then-President Dilma Rouseff, with her replacement Michel Temer facing huge opposition to his austerity measures amidst lavish spending on the games. Loud booing of Temer during each appearance at the games solidified the impression of the interim president as an unpopular figure not set for a long tenure in office.
  • Conversely, in 2012 the Games held in the UK capital, London, provided the gov't of then PM David Cameron some relief amidst the implementation of public spending cuts. The successful games also provided a further political springboard for then-Mayor of London and current UK PM Boris Johnson.
• With a general election due in Japan by October, Suga will be well aware that to secure the PM nomination from his Liberal Democratic Party a safe and successful games will be required to boost his popularity among the general public.