Tokyo has barred spectators at the Olympics

The organizers of the Olympics said on Thursday that they were barring spectators from the games after Tokyo declared a COVID-19 state of emergency.

"It is regrettable that we are delivering the Games in a very limited format, facing the spread of coronavirus infections," Tokyo 2020 president Seiko Hashimoto told Reuters.

The Olympics begin on July 23.

Organizers were unsure about whether to allow spectators entering this week. Organizers had already barred foreign spectators back in March.

Cases of COVID-19 have been rising in Japan. According to Reuters, about 20% of Japan's population has been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Olympians will also be limited in what they can do while in Tokyo. For example, athletes have been told that if they want to drink alcohol, they should stay in their rooms in the Olympic village.

The IOC has said about 80% of the population in the village will have been vaccinated against COVID-19.