Arab News Japan

TOKYO: About 40 official guests from the International Olympic Committee (IOC,) the Japanese government, the Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government attended a banquet dinner on Sunday at the Akasaka Palace, or the State Guest House of the Government of Japan.

Sports Minister Tamayo Marukawa, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, Games chief Seiko Hashimoto, IOC President Thomas Bach, and the former President of the JOC, Yoshiro Mori, were among the guests.

The banquet was originally planned with more people, but the organizers decided to reduce the number of guests to 40 due to the spread of the coronavirus, and also to reduce the time of the party.

Meanwhile, a group of protesters showed their anger at the officials by chanting anti-Olympics slogans as the limousines rolled into the palace.

The protesters denounced the use of their taxes to organize such a lavish party, especially during a pandemic

Police surrounded the protesters, who were by, denounced the use of their taxes to organize the party, especially during a pandemic.