The 2021 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have announced that they will not be allowing any international spectators to attend any of the games slated for this summer, but over one million people have already purchased tickets.

The International Olympic Committee, the Japanese government, the Toyko government, the International Paralympic Committee and other local organizers gathered on Saturday for an online meeting to make the decision, due to the pandemic.

Announcing this news four months ahead of time will give ticket-holders and opportunity to cancel any flights or hotels they might have already booked in order to receive money back on their trip, a statement released by the Tokyo organizing committee explained.

International ticket-holders will receive a refund and more detailed information will become available in the coming weeks.

Not only is this upsetting for those who were planning to experience the Tokyo Olympics, but the country of Japan will also face a financial burden of about $800 million, Fox News reported.

For those that are residents of the country, more information about capacity guidelines at various venues will be available in the coming weeks as well.

Japan has seen around 454,000 reported COVID-19 cases and has had almost 8,800 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The Opening Ceremony for the games is currently scheduled for July 23, while the Paralympics are scheduled to start on Aug. 24.

The Games are shaping up to be a largely television event for most of the world, with little of the international party atmosphere that usually characterises an Olympics
The Games are shaping up to be a largely television event for most of the world, with little of the international party atmosphere that usually characterises an Olympics AFP / Behrouz MEHRI
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