Winner Hillary Kipkoech of Kenya crosses the finish line at the men's half-marathon of the Hokkaido-Sapporo Marathon Festival 2021, a testing event for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics marathon race in Japan on May 5, 2021. [REUTERS/Issei Kato/Pool]Organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics on Thursday agreed to hold the Games without spectators after Japan declared a coronavirus state of emergency for the capital that will run throughout the event. The widely expected move was made following talks between the government, Tokyo organisers and Olympic and paralympic representatives. It was "regrettable" that the Games were going to be held in a limited format, Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto told a briefing, adding her apologies to those who had bought tickets. [Courtesy]The ban all but robs the Tokyo Games, which are scheduled to run from July 23 to Aug. 8, of their last hope for pomp and public spectacle.

Source: Standard Digital July 08, 2021 13:18 UTC