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Despite vast majority of people in Japan being against the Tokyo Olympics happening this summer, the 2020 2021 Summer Olympic Games are still going full steam ahead.
“All our delivery partners including the national government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee, the IOC and the IPC (International Paralympic Committee) are fully focused on hosting the games this summer,” the Tokyo Games organizing committee recently said in statement.
“We hope that daily life can return to normal as soon as possible, and we will continue to make every effort to prepare for a safe and secure games.”
The organizing committee also added in a statement to Al Jazeera that “we are not willing to see the Games without spectators.”
Related: Florida Is Down To Host The 2021 Olympics If Tokyo Backs Out, Submitted An Official Bid To The IOC
“Tokyo 2020 is making efforts to accommodate spectators as much as possible, while implementing thorough measures to prevent infection … the upper limit on the number of spectators will be in line with the limits in force in Japan at the time,” it said in the statement.
‘No plan B’: IOC chief says Tokyo Olympics will go ahead https://t.co/gwcxE5enuK
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 22, 2021
One of the first steps towards actually holding the Tokyo Games has been revealed in the form of a 32-page health and safety “playbook” – the first in a series expected to be released prior to the Olympics as athletes, media and broadcasters will each be receiving their own version.
This first “playbook” outlines what is expected of International Federations.
The more than 10,000 athletes anticipated to participate in the Games will be exempt from Japan’s mandatory 14-day quarantine period for international travelers.
Some highlights include…
• Provide a certified negative test result within 72 hours before leaving for the Games
• Avoid physical contact, including hugs and handshakes
• Avoid enclosed spaces and crowds where possible
• Support athletes by clapping and not singing or chanting
• Ventilate rooms and common spaces every 30 minutes
• Download, install and register the Contact Confirming App and health reporting apps
• Do not use public transport, unless given permission
• Only leave accommodation to go to venues and limited additional locations
• Do not visit Games venues as a spectator
• Do not visit tourist areas, shops, restaurants or bars, gyms, etc.
They also must complete an “activity plan” detailing their plans for the first 14 days of their stay in Japan, and they must follow only the activities they have outlined in their plan.
This includes…
• All planned activities
• Where they will travel
• How they will travel
• Where they will stay
• A list of all the people they expect to have close contact with
Each attendee is responsible for their own supply of masks, but must also be aware of guidelines related to face mask branding.
Depending on the country the attendees arrives from, they may be forced to take a COVID-19 test at the airport.
Vaccination, however, will not be a requirement.
Should be fun!