More than 30 cities are giving up welcoming athletes ahead of the Olympics

Plans to host Olympic and Paralympic athletes sometime before the Games have been canceled.

More than 30 Japanese cities have canceled their plans to host Olympic and Paralympic athletes ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the Japanese press reported on Thursday, due to the current epidemic situation.

The initiative stipulates that the host cities will receive missions from different countries in the run-up to the Games, so that athletes can train, adapt and participate in cultural events.

According to the press, the 31 cities decision is linked to the current context of the Covid-19 epidemic, that is, to the restrictions imposed by the Japanese authorities on reducing the residency of foreign athletes in the country to a minimum.

Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai announced on Wednesday that the American Athletics Federation has canceled a planned training camp for the city due to “concerns about athletes’ safety.”

The cities of Fukui and Tochigi have also given up plans to host Olympic and Paralympic teams from the United Kingdom, Russia, East Timor and Lesotho, according to Kyodo News.

At the end of April, 528 municipalities were registered to receive athletes from the 184 Paralympic and Paralympic Committee before the two competitions.

The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will be held from July 23 to August 8, while the Paralympic Games will be held from August 24 to September 5.