The Tokyo Paralympics will start in a week and they have followed the same path as the Tokyo Olympics of not allowing any spectators to these Paralympic Games. The decision is taken by the organizing committee mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
There were some events at the Olympics where some fans were allowed, especially in the events that happened in the suburbs of Tokyo. The organizers have even decided not to allow people for the road events.
The decision was taken after a meeting in the presence of personalities like International Paralympic Committee president Andrew Parsons, organizing committee president Seiko Hashimoto, Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa.
The Tokyo Paralympics start on August 24 with about 4,400 athletes in total. While it is a far smaller event than the Olympics, the leading personalities do not want to risk spectators in these Games as Japan has seen a severe rise in cases in the 17 days of the Summer Games. Something similar may be on the cards for the Paralympics if measures are not taken.
Parsons who revealed the decision taken at the meeting in a news conference said how they cant risk anything.
“In light of the current case numbers in Tokyo and wider Japan, everyone attending these games must be vigilant,” Parsons said.
New infections have tripled during the 17 days of the Olympics. However, doctors have said that it may not be only because of the Summer Games. They feel that people are feeling this false sense of security due to the Olympics being held in Tokyo and hence the citizens have been distracted and precautions have gone for a toss.
With the situation getting out of hand, Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga on Monday said a state of emergency in Tokyo and other areas will be extended until Sept. 12. The state of emergency has been in place since July and was earlier scheduled to be removed later this month.
India are going to send their biggest ever contingent of 54 Paralympians. There are hopes of returning with India’s highest ever medal tally at the Tokyo Paralympics. Athletes like Mariyappan Thangavelu, Devendra Jhajaria, Deepender Singh and many others are some of the Indian medal hopefuls from the Para Games.
