Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organisers confirm overseas fan ban

• Covid-19 situation in Japan ... still very challenging'
• Overseas ticket holders will be refunded, organisers say
• Coronavirus - latest updates | All our coronavirus coverage

Overseas spectators will not be permitted to attend this summer's rearranged Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo. An announcement was made following a meeting of the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, Tokyo metropolitan government, the Tokyo 2020 organising committee and the government of Japan on Saturday.

The decision, which was not unexpected, is due to continuing uncertainty amid the Covid-19 pandemic, with international travel restricted and variant coronavirus strains emerging. Japan is unlikely to be open to foreign tourists by the summer and it was felt some clarification over this matter should be given now.