Photo: Takashi Aoyama/Getty Images
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike on Saturday said that all public viewing during this summer's Olympics will be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Japan Times reports.
The state of play: After meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Koike told reporters that the locations where viewings were scheduled will instead be used as vaccination sites.
What he's saying: "I believe these are necessary measures, when looking from various perspectives, for a successful Olympic and Paralympic Games," Koike said, per Reuters.
The big picture: The announcement comes as the Japanese government faces heavy criticism from the public for hosting the games, as Japan has struggled to get its coronavirus cases under control.
- Japanese health experts on Friday said that spectators should not be allowed, adding that it is the safest way to host the Olympics, the Japan Times notes.
- Tokyo Olympics organizers said in March that spectators from overseas would not be permitted to attend.
What to watch: Koike and Suga will meet with International Olympic Committee and International Paralympic Committee on Monday to discuss how many fans will be allowed to attend, Reuters reports.