Japanese fans will “cheer for all athletes” at the Tokyo Olympics, organizers pledged Monday, after the unprecedented decision to bar overseas spectators from attending over virus fears.
The absence of overseas fans, decided Saturday by Olympic chiefs, will be a “loss in terms of harmony and diversity,” Games sports director Mikako Kotani acknowledged.
But she insisted Japanese spectators can make up for it by supporting athletes of all nationalities, and said she wants Tokyo to feel like “the whole world” this summer.
“I want to make sure the athletes don’t feel that it’s only Japanese fans in the venues,” she said.
“Japanese people hold fair play and hospitality very de…
Keep on reading: Japanese fans will ‘cheer for all athletes’ at Tokyo Games