The Japanese government, the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee, the International Olympic Committee and two other parties are slated to adopt on Monday a cap of 10,000 on the number of spectators at each venue of the games. 

The move comes despite pandemic experts’ calls for holding the games behind closed doors to prevent coronavirus infections.

In the host city of Tokyo, there are emerging signs of a “fifth wave” of infections. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, however, appears adamant about holding the games with spectators. His responsibility would be certainly in focus if the event leads to a rebound in infections.

The Suga government has decided to lift the current state of emergency over the pandemic in Tokyo and other areas on Sunday and place them in the pre-emergency stage from Monday.

The government has decided to allow large-scale events to have up to 10,000 spectators after the pre-emergency stage ends.

A spectator cap for the Tokyo Games “will be decided, based on these rules,” Suga told a press conference on Thursday.

On Friday, Shigeru Omi, chairman of the government’s pandemic advisory panel, and other experts released recommendations saying that it is “desirable” for the Tokyo Games to be held behind closed doors.

The experts temporarily considered demanding that the games be canceled if the pandemic situation is so severe that a state of emergency needs to be declared.

The Suga government initially took a cool attitude toward the experts’ move to draw up the recommendations. In the face of growing public calls for canceling the games, however, the government changed the stance.

Economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura coordinated with the experts on the matter on a daily basis this week, according to a government source.

Nishimura told a press conference on Friday that the recommendations have been shared within the government, including the prime minister. “We’ll respond after thoroughly reflecting on them,” Nishimura said.

But Suga is believed to be unhappy with the experts’ recommendations. According to an informed source, he told his aides, “I don’t know why they said the Olympics should not have spectators, while baseball and soccer matches are now allowed to have them.”

Suga’s eagerness to hold the Olympics with spectators appears to reflect his hope to impress people in Japan and the world that his government’s response to the pandemic has been successful.

Recent media polls have suggested persistent concerns among the public about holding the Olympics, which are scheduled to start on July 23.

Even within the government, some are calling for the Olympics to be held without spectators unless the pandemic situation improves before the event.

JIJI Press