Tokyo 2020 Reveals Ticket Refund Policy

(ATR) Tokyo 2020 unveils the refund policy for ticketholders who no longer plan to attend the postponed Summer Games in 2021.

Ticketholders who live in Japan may request refunds for Olympic tickets beginning this Sunday, Nov. 1. Requests will be accepted until Nov. 30.

The dates to put in for refund requests for the Tokyo Paralympics are between Dec. 1 and Dec. 21.

Those who live outside Japan who purchased their tickets through Authorized Ticket Resellers (ATRs) must go through the ATRs for refunds. Tokyo 2020 says "each ATR will have their individual processes for refund procedures".

Tokyo 2020 announced in July that all tickets that had already been purchased would be valid for the corresponding events in 2021. The competition schedule for 2021 remains the same as the one planned for 2020 with all the events taking place at the same competition venues.

There could be many more refunds needed in the coming months. No decision has been made on the number of spectators that will be allowed into the venues. The Japanese government is discussing plans that would ease restrictions during the Olympics and Paralympics for foreign visitors into the country.

Kyodo reports that Japan will lift its entry ban for non-tourist travelers arriving from China, South Korea, Taiwan and six other countries beginning in November. But 152 other countries remain on the banned list.

While Tokyo 2020 says it is working in cooperation with all stakeholders toward hosting a safe and secure Games in the summer of 2021, an additional refund phase could be introduced "if there are further changes in circumstances as a result of the COVID-19 situation".

The local organizing committee has sold roughly 4.48 million tickets for the Olympics and some 970,000 for the Paralympics through the official website, according to The Japan Times.

The postponed Olympics begin on July 23, 2021 and run through August 8. The Paralympics follow from August 24 until Sept. 5.

Written by Gerard Farek

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