After a lengthy period of indecision — and with barely a month left until the opening ceremony on July 23 — organizers announced Monday that spectators during the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games will be limited to 10,000 fans per venue.
The long-awaited announcement came after months of back-and-forth between organizers, officials, experts and the public over the scale and scope of the once-postponed global sporting event.
Following a five-way meeting on Monday between representatives of the central government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Tokyo Organising Committee, the International Olympic Committee and the International Paralympic Committee, Tokyo Games minister Tamayo Marukawa announced that attendance during the games will be capped at 10,000 per venue or 50% of the venue capacity — whichever figure is lower — and up to 20,000 will be allowed to attend the opening ceremony.