Overseas spectators will be barred from the Tokyo Olympics due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizers say

• Spectators from overseas will not be able to attend this year's Olympics.
• Organizers made the major concession to allow the event to take place.
• The games are due to commence in July after being rescheduled last year.

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Overseas spectators will be barred from attending the summer Olympics in Japan, the organizing committee confirmed on Saturday, according to multiple reports.

The Tokyo event, which is due to commence in July, was originally scheduled for 2020 but postponed due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Concerns over safety measures have been raised over the past months, given that the pandemic is not yet over.

Some Japanese outlets had anticipated the decision to ban international fans – made by the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee and the national and local governments in Japan – for some time.

Refunds will be offered to those who have already bought tickets. Tokyo Organising Committee CEO, Toshiro Muto, confirmed that around 600,000 Olympic tickets and around 30,000 Paralympic tickets will need to be compensated, Sky News reported.