With COVID-19 infections on the rise in many
countries around the world, Olympics organisers have yet to
decide whether to allow spectators into venues next year and if
so, how many.
Koike, speaking at the Foreign Correspondents' Club of Japan,
said organisers were still hopeful venues could be filled with
spectators when the Olympics begin in July.
"The best-case scenario ... would be when all athletes from all
countries come here in safety and with peace of mind and the
Olympics can, as in previous years, be held with full spectators
present as well," said Koike.
Organisers have said previously they will not make a decision on
spectator numbers until the spring.
Although Japan has largely avoided the huge numbers of COVID-19
infections seen in other countries, daily cases in Tokyo rose to
records above 500 last week.
Koike warned that Tokyo was seeing a rise in infections among
older residents, including cases where people had contracted the
virus while eating out and brought it home to elderly relatives.
She is due to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga
later on Tuesday to discuss a domestic travel promotion campaign
introduced by the government earlier this year to try to
stimulate local economies hit by the near-complete absence of
foreign tourism amid the pandemic.
"It is clear that the movement of people is having an impact on
the increase in cases," Koike said. "It is necessary to look at
what kind of restrictions on the movement of people might be
needed."
The Japanese government is preparing to pause the travel
campaign in Osaka and Sapporo following sharp rises in COVID-19
cases, the minister handling the government's coronavirus
response said on Tuesday.
(Reporting by Jack Tarrant and Chris Gallagher; Writing by Chris
Gallagher; Editing by Tom Hogue and Kenneth Maxwell)
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