# No spectators at Tokyo Olympics **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Tags:** olympic-sports-track\ **Created:** [July 8, 2021, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984 "2021-07-08T14:06:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/1 "2021-07-08T14:06:40Z")
First the Olympics were delayed, then they restricted it to just local spectators, and now they have done away with spectators all together: > **[Live updates: Tokyo Olympic venues won't have spectators](https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/tokyo-summer-olympics-07-08-21/h_fcd6cd462596ee456a26afb931c4f4fd)** > > Tokyo venues for Olympics will not have spectators as Japan battles the Covid-19 pandemic. Follow here for the latest. It’s going to be one of the strangest Olympics, but this is probably for the best from a safety standpoint. With no spectators there will be less need for facility services, volunteers, traffic services, etc. and less chances for cross infection from spectators and athletes. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/2 "2021-07-08T14:25:24Z")
I agree that it’s going to make for a weird event. And it’s gotta be weird for the competitors also. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/3 "2021-07-08T14:57:21Z")
Is there a rough estimate of how much this will cost the Olympics and/or Tokyo? ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/4 "2021-07-08T15:29:18Z")
I’m sure it will be costly. Quite often the event revenue from ticket sales has long since been spent by the time the event happens, so money for ticket refunds will need to come from somewhere else. Aside from tickets, Tokyo would have expected the revenue opportunities from spectators to defray some of the cost of hosting the event. Revenue from things like concessions, souvenirs, hotel taxes, etc. isn’t going to be realized if there are no spectators. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2021, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/5 "2021-07-08T15:32:00Z")
They’d already decided not to have foreign tourists, so this is on top of that and of course the earlier decision to delay the whole thing by a year. Hosting the Olympics was never going to be profitable but this makes it so much more of a money loser. So billions in losses? ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/6 "2021-07-12T19:42:25Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Is there a rough estimate of how much this will cost the Olympics and/or Tokyo? Japanese TV reported that loss from ticket sales is expected at US$785 million. ---
**Author:** ![Great\_Antibob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@Great\_Antibob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Great_Antibob)\ **Post date:** [July 12, 2021, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/7 "2021-07-12T19:58:25Z")
There’s also some loss to be expected from the real estate. There was a residential development that was partly funded by the government to be leased towards the Olympic village (thus defraying some costs) and several people pre-ordered those apartments/condos. Those folks have been left holding the bag for nearly a year now and several have sued for damages. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/8 "2021-07-14T17:08:56Z")
The Athletes have to put on their own medals. No hand shakes or hugs and get the hell out of the country within two days of your competition. Sounds like a really fun time. What’s the point of testing and quarantine (before competition) if the officials still treat the athletes like rabid dogs? They’ve already proven they’re not sick and there’s no crowd to infect them. > **[Olympic athletes to put on own medals at Tokyo ceremonies](https://apnews.com/article/euro-2020-2020-tokyo-olympics-tokyo-coronavirus-pandemic-soccer-06686aa23eccd467616a150ffd556457)** > > TOKYO (AP) — Athletes at the Tokyo Olympics will put their medals around their own necks to protect against spreading the coronavirus. The “very significant change” to traditional medal ceremonies in the 339 events was revealed Wednesday by... > **[Video Massive testing, quarantining process underway at Tokyo Olympics](https://amp.abcnews.com/WNT/video/massive-testing-quarantining-process-underway-tokyo-olympics-78828878)** > > Athletes must arrive at the Olympic Village five days before their sports begin and have to must leave the country 48 hours after they've been eliminated or their event ends. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/9 "2021-07-14T20:16:27Z")
Closing ceremonies will look like a ghost town. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/10 "2021-07-14T20:27:42Z")
This whole thing is going to be so depressing; they should have just cancelled it. The opening ceremonies are fun partly for the massive crowd, which in recent games have been pressed into participating in some mass event, like one of those things where each spectator holds up a card to make a giant mosaic. ---
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [July 14, 2021, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/11 "2021-07-14T20:42:29Z")
I was wondering, too, is the Opening Ceremony going on as if there had been no pandemic? I wish Japan would have just postponed by a year. Holding it with no spectators this way makes an utter mockery of it, more sad than meaningful. ---
**Author:** ![Lantern2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lantern2/32/3010_2.png) [@Lantern2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lantern2)\ **Post date:** [July 17, 2021, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/12 "2021-07-17T15:46:44Z")
I wonder if you could have remote telepresence robots standing in for spectators. Weird to be sure but potentially quite fun too and better than an empty arena. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 18, 2021, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/13 "2021-07-18T16:46:58Z")
Cardboard cutouts were used in the US last year. That’s better than empty stadiums. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/14 "2021-07-20T06:21:37Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > This whole thing is going to be so depressing; they should have just cancelled it. Yep. Oh well, fuck it. With all the variants, we’re all gonna be dead by next year anyway. We lifted restrictions too early and too widely. I guess I’m glad I live under a rock in BFE. I’ll be the last one to die. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/15 "2021-07-20T13:12:07Z")
I just saw an ad for the opening ceremonies, and it showed (what appeared to be) a stadium packed clear full of people, both in the stands and on the field. Is that cardboard cutouts, digital editing, what? > [@Velocity](#): > > I wish Japan would have just postponed by a year. That’s what they did. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/16 "2021-07-20T13:16:42Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > I just saw an ad for the opening ceremonies, and it showed (what appeared to be) a stadium packed clear full of people, both in the stands and on the field. Is that cardboard cutouts, digital editing, what? Probably footage of an earlier event. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/17 "2021-07-20T13:31:41Z")
Although I understand athletes work hard and want their chance, the decision to hold the Games is questionable. No doubt quarantines have highlighted the importance of sport. But this can be rescheduled. ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/18 "2021-07-20T13:53:46Z")
> [@Lantern2](#): > > I wonder if you could have remote telepresence robots standing in for spectators. Weird to be sure but potentially quite fun too and better than an empty arena That Korean soccer team would probably be happy to loan Tokyo some [sex dolls.](https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/18/south-korean-football-team-apologises-for-using-sex-dolls-to-fill-stands) ---
**Author:** ![TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thegunismightierthanthepen/32/2981_2.png) [@TheGunIsMightierThanThePen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheGunIsMightierThanThePen)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/19 "2021-07-20T15:25:49Z")
The head of the Tokyo Olympics organizing committee has not ruled out a last-minute cancellation of the games if COVID cases surge: > **[Tokyo 2020: Toshiro Muto not ruling out 11th-hour cancellation of Olympics...](https://www.skysports.com/olympics/news/15234/12359739/tokyo-2020-toshiro-muto-not-ruling-out-11th-hour-cancellation-of-olympics-due-to-covid-19)** > > The head of the organising committee for the Tokyo Olympics has not ruled out a last-minute cancellation of the Games. My assessment is that his statement is just smoke and mirrors to appease the Japanese public who are unhappy about the games being held. Most of the athletes have already arrived, and to cancel at this point would leave Japan with massive egg on its face, lawsuits from multiple sponsors, and IMO cripple the country’s chances of winning a future Olympics bid. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [July 20, 2021, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984/20 "2021-07-20T15:45:11Z")
It has also been claimed that with 35C (95F) Tokyo summer temperatures, before PPE, these may be among the hottest Games on record. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/no-spectators-at-tokyo-olympics/945984.md?page=2)