Tokyo Olympics organizers unveil new playbooks, will decide on spectators in June

Officials announced Wednesday that a decision on whether spectators will be allowed into Olympic and Paralympic venues -- and, if so, how many -- will be made in June.

LONDON and TOKYO -- The International Olympic Committee and Japanese organizers unveiled Wednesday a new set of "playbooks" for how they plan to hold a safe and successful Games in Tokyo this summer amid the coronavirus pandemic. The latest version provided more details than the first edition of playbooks released in February, but much of the specific planning will remain up in the air until the third and final update comes out in June. After meeting Wednesday, officials announced that a decision on whether spectators will be allowed into Olympic and Paralympic venues -- and, if so, how many -- will be made in June. Spectators from abroad have already been banned. "We are confident that compliance with these regulations will ensure the safety and security of athletes, Games officials and spectators, as well as the people of Tokyo, other host locations and Japan," the officials said in a joint statement. "We are already entering the operational phase. All parties at today’s meeting renewed their full commitment to safe and secure Games for all participants and the Japanese people." Some of the most important measures laid out in the second edition of the playbooks include a requirement of two COVID-19 tests for all Games participants before their flight to Japan, daily tests for athletes and all those in close proximity, daily testing for a period of three days for all other participants after their arrival and a ban on public transport for all participants during their stay in Japan.