Japan Restricts Visitors to Its Summer Olympics

The International Olympic and Paralympic Games announced today Japanese parties had decided not to allow entry into Japan by overseas spectators for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

This decision is due to the prevailing worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, said the IOC in a press statement issued on March 20, 2021.

“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,” stated IOC President Thomas Bach. 

“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.”

“But we have also said that the first principle is safety. Every decision has to respect the principle of safety first.”

“I know that our Japanese partners and friends did not reach this conclusion lightly.”

“Together with them, the IOC’s top priority was, is, and remains to organize safe Olympic and Paralympic Games for everyone: all the participants and, of course, our gracious hosts, the Japanese people.”

“We stand shoulder-to-shoulder at the side of our Japanese partners and friends, without any kind of reservation, to make the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 a great success.”

“Together with our Rights-Holding Broadcasters, we will make every effort so that the fans from around the world will be able to experience the Olympic spirit. In this way, the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be the light at the end of the tunnel and a safe manifestation of peace, solidarity, and the resilience of humankind in overcoming the pandemic.”

The 2020 Summer Olympics, officially the XXXII Olympiad Games, and also known as Tokyo 2020, is a delayed international multi-sport event now scheduled to be held during July and August 2021.

Olympic tickets purchased by overseas residents from the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee will be refunded. The International Olympic Committee is a not-for-profit, civil, non-governmental, international organization.

As of March 15, 2021, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) had issued a Level 3: High Level of COVID-19 in Japan Travel Alert. Travelers at increased risk for severe illness from COVID-19 should avoid all travel to Japan.

If you must travel to Japan, before you travel, get tested with a viral test 1–3 days before your trip.

Furthermore, the CDC recommends checking the travel vaccines and medicines list and visiting your healthcare provider at least a month before your trip to Japan.

Vax-Before-Travel publishes research-based travel vaccine news.