Spectators from abroad not allowed at Tokyo Olympics

Fans from overseas won't be permitted to attend the Tokyo Olympics this summer due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the International Olympic Committee and local organizers announced Saturday.

"In order to give clarity to ticket holders living overseas and to enable them to adjust their travel plans at this stage, the parties on the Japanese side have come to the conclusion that they will not be able to enter into Japan at the time of the Olympic and Paralympic Games," the Tokyo organizing committee said in a statement.

Barring international fans from the delayed Summer Games has been a topic of discussion for several months and was rumored to be inevitable. The Japanese public also strongly opposed the idea of opening the country to fans from abroad.

Organizers have promised that the roughly 1 million tickets sold to fans outside Japan will be refunded.

"We share the disappointment of all enthusiastic Olympic fans from around the world, and of course, the families and friends of the athletes, who were planning to come to the games," IOC president Thomas Bach said.

"For this, I am truly sorry. We know that this is a great sacrifice for everybody. We have said from the very beginning of this pandemic that it will require sacrifices."

Japan will assume the financial burden of lost ticket sales. The cost of organizing the event has already increased significantly due to measures required to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Residents of Japan have purchased roughly 4.45 million tickets so far, and organizers are expected to announce capacities for Olympic venues in April, according to Stephen Wade of The Associated Press.

The Tokyo Olympics were originally scheduled to take place last summer but were postponed in March 2020 as the coronavirus spread rapidly worldwide. It was the first time the event has been postponed.

The Summer Games are scheduled to start July 23, with the Paralympics set to follow on August 24.