Olympic Decision Sparks Disappointment

She said, "I'm disappointed that I won't be able to attend, but I also feel relieved that I just know one way or the other because I've been waiting so long to find out."

Now, they will settle for watching the world's top athletes from home. She said, "I think it's definitely reasonable not to allow international spectators, because we've all been through this pandemic. We see how quickly it spreads and how difficult it is to contain."

In Japan, people have been preparing to greet and guide visitors. Chiba City was beginning to roll out training for about 1,500 hopeful volunteers.

City volunteer Hidaka Yuko said, "I took up English lessons for this, so it's a bit of a shame that I can't use the skills I've learned."

Another volunteer Takeuchi Mitsuyo said, "It's a letdown, but I think holding the event itself is significant."

Then there is the fallout for the travel industry, already struggling through the pandemic.

A Tokyo hotel was fully booked for the Games. But about 80 percent of reservations came from overseas.

Assistant general manager Shibata Atsushi said, "I can imagine that we'll get cancellations so we have to seek out a different clientele, like Japanese people or event officials. "

Hotels hope new packages aimed at domestic tourists will soften the blow from what they expect to be a major financial hit.