Tokyo Games Organisers Issue 1st Version of Guidelines for Athletes

TOKYO: The Tokyo Olympics, which is slated to take place this year from July 23, has unveiled a 33-page rulebook for the athletes.

Under the guidelines, athletes time in Japan will be "minimised to reduce the risk of infection."

The rulebook wants athletes to "avoid unnecessary forms of physical contact" — especially for the ones living in the Olympic Village and warns players to not socialise, avoid handshakes and not hug.

The guideline also mentions that athletes will be tested for the COVID-19 virus at least once every four days. Players who will return with a confirmed positive test will be disqualified from competing. Athletes could also be barred from their events if they break the anti-virus guidelines.

The Tokyo organisers told the news agencies on Tuesday that they still plan to hand out around 150,000 free condoms to the athletes, but the new rulebook urges them to "limit your contact with other people as much as possible."

"If you have been to the Games before, we know this experience will be different in a number of ways," the guidebook warns. "For all Games participants, there will be some conditions and constraints that will require your flexibility and understanding."

The guidelines for athletes and team officials will be revised once in April and again in July.

The rules also highlight that athletes should do virus-testing within 72 hours of travelling to Japan and again immediately upon arrival in the country. The rulebook, however, added that athletes will not be quarantined upon arrival, and they will still be allowed to attend training camps before the Games begin.

Athletes "must not visit gyms, tourist areas, shops, restaurants or bars" and can go to "official Games venues and limited additional locations". They will also have to wear masks at all times except when they are competing, training, eating, sleeping or outside in open space.

The guidelines are being released as organisers, Olympic officials and Japan's government works to build confidence that the Games can go ahead safely despite an increasing number of global infections.

Vaccinations are recommended for athletes, but they will not be a strict requirement for participation in the Games.

Meanwhile, there is very little support for hosting the virus-postponed event in Japan, with around 80 per cent of Japanese supporting cancellation or further postponement. The organisers are however not keen to do either.

The rollout of the pandemic related rulebook has been eclipsed by a row over sexist comments made by Tokyo 2020 chief Yoshiro Mori, who faces calls to resign after claiming women speak too much in meetings. So far, he has apologised but declined to step down.

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