TOKYO – The Tokyo Olympics in the summer are likely to be a quiet affair, as organizers on Wednesday unveiled pandemic protocols for visitors, including a demand for spectators to be singing, singing and singing.
The first “playbook” explained rules for sports officials before they traveled to Japan, when they arrived, and when they lived in Tokyo. Follow-up instructions for athletes and other media will follow in the next few days.
“We’ve learned a lot from best practice at other events, and you can see that the playbooks reflect what we’ve seen across a lot of sports,” said Christophe Dubi, sports director for the International Olympic Committee.
Safe Olympics is “a mantra for us all,” Dubi said.
Like all newcomers to Japan, Olympic visitors must pass a negative test for COVID-19 within three days of flight, separately for 14 days upon arrival. , and apply for a regular exam in the Olympic City. The playbook prohibits the use of public transport.
“We will only accept the test as agreed by the Japanese government,” said Hidemasa Nakamura, games delivery officer for Tokyo 2020. Currently Japan only recognizes the results of a nose or saliva swab test, according to the Ministry’s website in Foreign Affairs.
Visitors will be asked to monitor their health in the two weeks before they leave for Japan. Upon arrival, visitors must present a 14-day quarantine plan along with their passport, visa or entry permit, and a negative COVID test to immigration officers.
In the case of infection, medical and recycling insurance will also be required. Tokyo 2020 said it would insure sports federation officials.
Screenshot of Tokyo 2020 playbook.
A final decision on whether to allow live audiences at competition venues is expected until April. Olympic festivals are expected to begin on March 25, with the torch relay in Fukushima. The playbook urged viewers to support athletes only by hitting to prevent the spread of airborne particles – a practice that has been followed in football and baseball games. in Japan with a live audience.
Individuals who break the playbook would face long quarantine times, which would affect competition records, withdraw their Olympic credit or revoke a Japanese visa.
While athletes were encouraged to get the vaccine, “We will not receive the vaccine as a duty to participate in the games,” said Pierre Ducrey, IOC director of operations.
Officials speaking Wednesday expressed confidence in worldwide vaccine distribution, citing it as a cause for optimism compared to a year ago, when little was known about COVID-19 and vaccines have not yet been developed. .
Japan, however, has lagged behind other advanced economies in terms of vaccine distribution. The government plans to start vaccinating vulnerable groups and essential workers at the end of February, at the earliest. Japan has not yet approved a Pfizer vaccine, the first in the world to be approved by regulators.
“Athletes around the world are preparing for the games under strict self-control. They are in a difficult situation and their mental status has been affected. We should dispel any doubts,” Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto said, ahead of Tuesday’s meeting between Olympic Organizers and the ruling Liberal Democratic Party.
LDP lawyers at the meeting urged the organizing committee to be clearer about their plans with the public and the media to counter negative comments. Since the announcement was announced last spring, Tokyo 2020 has kept details of its plans under control, releasing from time to time just rough summaries.
All the while, Olympic approval among Japanese people has dropped to 16%. 38% of respondents supported the cancellation by Japanese broadcaster NHK and 39% supported a second delay.
Organizers and government officials seem to have no opinion from the public. “Whatever the pandemic situation, the games will definitely be held,” Tokyo 2020 president and former prime minister Yoshiro Mori said Tuesday.