GENEVA (Kyodo) – International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach on Friday confirmed that vaccination for the coronavirus will not be a requirement for athletes competing at the Tokyo Games following concerns about the slow pace of vaccine distribution in Japan .
With the Olympic host country having faced delays in receiving vaccine doses, it is possible that some Japanese athletes will not receive the vaccine in time for the start of the games on July 23rd.
But Bach, speaking at a press conference after the IOC session, said the group had “made it clear from the outset” that it would not impose responsibility for vaccination, and that it would follow government guidelines on the matter.
“The athletes and the national Olympic committees should follow their national rules regarding vaccination. This is a clear responsibility of the government and in this, we will not block it,” Bach said.
“We will work with the NOCs to get as many participants as possible vaccinated, but always within the relevant national guidelines.”
Japan is expected to receive approximately 100 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer Inc. in May and June, enough for nearly half of their population, according to the Japanese government.
Bach revealed Thursday that China’s Olympic Committee had offered athletes doses of vaccines at the Tokyo Games, which were postponed a year after a coronavirus pandemic, as well as next year’s Beijing Winter Olympics.
At its online session, the IOC unanimously approved a package of 15 recommendations that will guide decisions in Bach’s last four years at the head of the organization.
Among the recommendations, the IOC will seek to “encourage meaningful sports promotion and greater engagement with video game communities.”
The IOC also stated that it will seek to “promote a sustainable Olympic Games” and continue to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals, in line with the recommendations of the “2020 + 5 Olympic Agenda”.