Fans banned from Games venues in Tokyo: Olympic Minister

The decision comes after Japan's government said on Thursday that Tokyo would be under a virus state of emergency from July 12 to August 22

Spectators will be banned from Olympic venues in Tokyo because of a virus state of emergency, Japan's Olympic minister announced on Thursday, meaning the Games will happen mostly behind closed doors. "We reached an agreement on no spectators at venues in Tokyo," Tamayo Marukawa said after talks involving local and national government officials, organisers and Olympic and Paralympic chiefs. Most Olympic competition will happen in Tokyo, but a few events will be held outside the Japanese capital.