An Olympics without fans? Tokyo volunteers suddenly have no roles

From teens to octogenarians, tens of thousands were ready to hit the pavement

20210709N olympic volunteer

A volunteer prepares for the Tokyo Olympic Games, which now will be held mostly without fans. (Photo by Tetsuya Kitayama)

ATSUSHI MURATA, Nikkei staff writer

TOKYO -- "We regret to inform you that your activities will all be canceled," the city of Yokohama said in a statement on Friday, notifying its roughly 2,000 registered Olympic volunteers that they are no longer needed.

Japan's decision to bar Olympics spectators in Tokyo and three surrounding prefectures will force sports venues to rethink their plans, with the ripple effect reaching volunteers, medical personnel and security guards.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.