Twenty-four hours after announcing that the Tokyo Olympics would take place “whatever happens”, the Japanese organizers and the IOC published this Wednesday “Playbook”, a set of rules to be applied by each of the populations (athletes, officials, media…) present at the Games.
This first publication, intended for international federations and technical officials, sets out the framework for a competition placed under high health surveillance. “Everyone’s health and safety is our top priority. We all have a role to play, explains Christophe Dubi, Executive Director of the Olympic Games at the IOC. We know that these Olympics will be different in many ways. The circumstances and constraints imposed will require flexibility and understanding on the part of all participants in the Games. At this stage, these are the main lines that we are communicating… ”
Vaccine recommended but not compulsory
Athletes will know in more detail what to expect on February 9. There will be no strict quarantine to observe but everyone will have to start their trip to Tokyo … fourteen days before departure, by reducing their social interactions as much as possible and by filling out a daily health report (taking temperature) on a dedicated application .
You will also need to provide your travel schedule planned for the first fourteen days on Japanese soil and a list of potential contact cases. To be authorized to enter the archipelago, a negative PCR test of less than 72 hours will be required. On the other hand, the vaccine, if it is strongly advised, is not required. And will in no case be a privilege to evade all the established obligations.
In addition to the traditional hygiene and social distancing measures, the organizers wish to limit as much as possible the contacts between accredited persons coming from abroad and the local population, which fears an upsurge of the pandemic. It is therefore requested to leave the airport as quickly as possible without stopping in any shop and not to leave the Olympic perimeter during the first fourteen days of presence. Only trips duly registered in advance (wholesale accommodation-stadium and vice versa) will be possible. No sightseeing at the top of the Skytree, computer shopping in Akihabara, dining out in Shibuya, public transportation, etc.
Decision made in the spring for the spectators
Regular tests will be carried out on the entire Olympic family. Anyone whose temperature is above 37.5 degrees will not be able to access the competition site. And even if we do not yet know the presence or not of spectators (the decision will be taken in the spring), these Games should be the quietest in history. We can indeed applaud but not sing in the gallery so as not to promote the spread of the virus …
“A procedure is in place” but the officials of the Games have not yet detailed the scale of sanctions (withdrawal of accreditation, strict quarantine to be observed, etc.) in the event of a violation of the rules and are counting on individual responsibility and the meaning of collective of participants. “Safety and security have become everyone’s top priority,” notes Nakamura Hidemasa, delivery manager for the Tokyo 2020 Games. safe place. “
