Tokyo releases updated Olympic rules

If Japan gets its way, no one will cheer for the 2020 Olympic athletes. The country’s Olympic committee on Wednesday also announced other rules to limit the spread of COVID-19 at the July 23 games, including masking, social distancing, and only allowing local residents to attend. Committee President Seiko Hashimoto said vendors won’t sell alcoholic beverages, and there will be no drinking at venues. Athletes are supposed to stay at the Olympic Village and competition venues, and others who enter Japan for the games will face travel restrictions and must sign a pledge to abide by the rules.

Why so stringent? Only 7 percent of Japan's residents are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. The top Japanese COVID-19 adviser criticized plans to move forward with the Summer Games, but the prime minister and International Olympic Committee overruled his objections. The IOC stands to lose an estimated $3 billion to $4 billion from broadcasting rights if the games are canceled.

Dig deeper: Read Onize Ohikere’s report in World Tour about Japan’s increase in suicides during the COVID-19 pandemic.