With Tokyo Olympics over, debate looms on covering financial loss

Host city and nation left holding bag after most of $820m in tickets unsold

20210906N empty stadium

The Tokyo Olympics lost anticipated ticket revenue of over $800 million due to the organizers' decision to hold the games with virtually no spectators.  © Reuters

ATSUSHI MURATA and HISASHI TSUTSUI, Nikkei staff writers

TOKYO -- The spectatorless 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games leaves a financial loss for host nation Japan, setting up talks in the coming months on filling the hole left by hundreds of millions of dollars in unsold tickets.

Under the International Olympic Committee's contract with the host city, Tokyo bears primary responsibility for any funding shortfall. Whatever the host city cannot bear falls to the national government.

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