Activities Of Olympic Volunteers Remain Uncertain
Local governments in Japan are rushing to rethink assignments for volunteers recruited to act as city guides following the decision to hold most events of the Tokyo Olympics without spectators.
Organizers of the Tokyo Games decided on Thursday to ban spectators in Tokyo and three neighboring prefectures. They announced later that venues in the prefectures of Hokkaido and Fukushima will also have no fans.
This has left about 40,000 volunteers' scheduled activities uncertain, with less than two weeks to go before the opening of the Olympics on July 23.
The cities of Yokohama and Fujisawa in Kanagawa Prefecture have notified their registered volunteers that their work as guides has been canceled.
Tokyo and Chiba Prefecture plan to ask their volunteers to serve at the Paralympics. They are also considering having them assist in promoting local attractions online.
Saitama Prefecture is planning a project to allow their city volunteers to help give momentum to the Games. It says it will unveil a detailed plan as it monitors the coronavirus situation.