Sports editors from over 10 major U.S. media outlets have sent a letter of protest to organizers of the Tokyo Olympics, saying their anti-COVID-19 rules and restrictions run counter to press freedoms.
The letter dated Monday, a copy of which was seen by Kyodo News, said a ban on visiting foreign journalists interviewing spectators and conducting interviews is a "clear overreach" targeted at them, as media in Japan will not face the same restrictions, regardless of their vaccination status.
"Some of these measures we have described go beyond limiting the spread of the virus and speak directly and chiefly to press freedoms," said the letter, written by editors of The New York Times, The Washington Post, USA Today and eight other media outlets.