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Majority of Olympics officials and athletes are vaccinated
Tokyo, Japan | THE INDEPENDENT | The International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has hailed Japan for their high level of preparedness with nine days to go to the opening ceremony of Tokyo 2020.
In a meeting today with Japanese Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide,, Bach described Tokyo as the best prepared Olympic City ever.
“The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee has done a fantastic job in preparing for these Games and to make Tokyo the best-prepared Olympic city ever. These Games will be followed by billions of people around the globe. They will admire what the Japanese people have achieved under these difficult circumstances,” Bach said in a statement after the meeting.
He told the Prime Minister that achieving this was only possible because of the fantastic volunteers and their dedicated staff. “The IOC is sitting in the same boat and we are rowing in the same direction, enjoying the full support of the Government of Japan.”
Bach expressed gratitude to the government and the people of Japan for welcoming the Olympic family, and reassured the hosts that the majority of visitors are already vaccinated.
“Eighty-five per cent of the athletes and officials who will live in the Olympic Village, and almost 100 per cent of the IOC Members and IOC staff, are vaccinated. The percentage of vaccinated international media representatives is between 70 per cent and 80 per cent,” Bach said.
In addition, the IOC was informed today by the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee about the 8,000 people involved in the Games have already travelled to Japan between 1 and 13 July.
All were subject to the Tokyo 2020 screening testing regime, and all underwent pre-departure tests and health checks. Only three tested positive for COVID-19 after arrival and were immediately isolated, while the close contacts have been subject to the relevant quarantine measures.
“There are nine days left until the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. Athletes from all over the world are now arriving into Tokyo. The Games will unite the world in all our diversity. They will show that we are stronger together in all our solidarity,” Bach said.
The first batch of Ugandan athletes arrived late last month, with one official testing positive and isolated.
Uganda will have over 30 athletes competing, and will be led 5,000 and 10,000m world record holder Joshua Cheptegei.
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SOURCE: IOC MEDIA
