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Conflicting Reports On Fans At Tokyo Games As Bach Is Re-Elected

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International Olympic Committee (IOC) president, Thomas Bach, has been re-elected to serve at the helm of the board until 2025.

The vote count stood 93 votes to one in favour of Bach, who took charge of the IOC back in 2013.

Bach offered his thoughts on the potential for foreign spectators to be able to attend the postponed Tokyo Games in July of this year.

“It’s a question of the safety and security of everyone,” Bach said.

“We need to leave the door open in order to take into account all developments that take place, even in May and June.

“This is a decision which will have to be taken as late as possible,” he said.

These comments come just days after reports from various Japanese media outlets, claiming overseas fans will be banned from travelling to Japan.

The IOC have been under major pressure during the lead-up to the event, which was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and have released documents as to how the game will be run during Japan’s current state of emergency.

Kyodo News said the government have decided it is “not possible” to allow spectators from other nations into Tokyo, with unnamed officials saying this is due to “concerns among the Japanese public over the coronavirus and the fact that more contagious variants have been detected in many countries.”

Tokyo 2020 president, Seiko Hashimoto, said holding the event with stadiums at maximum capacity would be the best priority.

“[Organisers] really want to hold the event in full stadiums with fans from around the world,” Hashimoto said.

“[This would be difficult] if we’re not in a position where we can accept them and the situation with medical facilities isn’t perfect,” she said.

Approximately 900 000 tickets have reportedly been sold to foreign spectators already.

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