On Saturday, organizers of the Tokyo Olympics announced that foreign fans will be prohibited from attending the global competition when it begins in four months.

The risk of spreading the coronavirus is simply too great, they explained. Nearly 9,000 Japanese have died of COVID-19 and a vast majority of the Japanese public support the restriction, according to several polls.

It has been concluded that overseas spectators will not be allowed entry into Japan for #Tokyo2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

We will continue to deliver a safe and secure Games in the hopes that they will be a light of hope. https://t.co/oGUJ1hv8JC

— #Tokyo2020 (@Tokyo2020) March 20, 2021