Queues form at Tokyo Games press centre as capacity limits imposed due to COVID

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People were seen queuing in front of designated smoking areas at Tokyo Games’ Main Press Centre (MPC) on Wednesday, after a limit of six smokers at a time was imposed due to COVID-19 restrictions.

“In Japan, it is becoming more and more common for smoking areas to have their own capacity. The reason for this is that the smoking areas themselves are often crowded, and people naturally take off their masks when smoking,” said Shunya Takahashi, one of the MPC’s support personnel.

He added, “In the past, there have been cases in Japan where people seemed to have been infected in such smoking areas. So we try to set up a capacity limit in the smoking area and follow social distancing.”

Some employees found the new regulation an additional cause of pressure, like Patrik Holmstrom, from a media production team, who said “We do have quite stressful work here so obviously we are in big need of being able to relax and sometimes it’s quite a hassle when you have to stand in line for 10 minutes just to have a smoke.”

The MPC is operated by the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee. It functions as a media coverage base and information provider, offering information related to the host city Tokyo as well as the games.

The 2020 summer Olympic Games are being held in Japan between July 23 and August 8 after being postponed for a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amid protests against the Olympics and a rise in COVID-19 cases, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared another state of emergency in Tokyo until August 22, earlier in the month. This decision means no spectators, not even local Japanese attendees, will be able to watch the games.

SOT, Shunya Takahashi, Main Press Centre Support Personnel for Kahoku Shimpo Publishing Co. (Japanese): “In Japan, it is becoming more and more common for smoking areas to have their own capacity. The reason for this is that the smoking areas themselves are often crowded, and people naturally take off their masks when smoking. In the past, there have been cases in Japan where people seemed to have been infected (COVID-19) in such smoking areas. So we try to set up a capacity limit in the smoking area and follow social distancing.”

SOT, Kanoko Shirai, Worker for GIN-ICHI Corp. (Japanese): “I think the fact that only six people are allowed in the smoking area keeps it, well - very safe. Many smoking areas in Japan have this kind of restriction on the number of smokers. But in this venue, it’s very hot in the summer, so it’s a little difficult, but I think it’s unavoidable.”

SOT, Pierre, French photographer: ” So the maximum capacity is six people in the smoking zone I think for safety reasons is good, we`re not going to be packed.”

SOT, Patrik Holmstrom, Production and technical worker: ” We do have quite stressful work here so obviously we are in big need of being able to relax and sometimes it’s quite a hassle when you have to stand in line for 10 minutes just to have a smoke.”
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