Bach Answers Athletes Questions

(ATR) Thomas Bach stood front and center fielding a myriad of questions, comments and concerns from athlete representatives from across the globe on day two of the 2021 International Athletes Forum (IAF).

Bach’s Q&A session at the first-ever virtual IAF spanned a mammoth one hour and 45 minutes as he engaged with 15 participants via Zoom, at times calling for assistance from IOC Athletes Commission chair Kirsty Coventry and fellow staff members Lana Haddad, James Macleod and Dr. Richard Budgett.

Questions came from athlete representatives from Argentina, Belgium, Burundi, China, Guatemala, Ireland, Namibia, Russia, Sudan, Suriname, Ukraine, and the United States, among others. The Forum moderator Jeanette Kwakye noted that there were more than 100 participants waiting to speak with the IOC president.

Dressed casually, sporting sneakers and with an untucked polo shirt, a relaxed-looking Bach encouraged athletes to continue to go and get vaccinated ahead of the Tokyo 2020 Games, now just 57 days away.

"I want to encourage you, that on top of the playbooks, you take the opportunity whenever it arises, to get vaccinated," Bach said, addressing all athletes. "This will increase the safety of everybody – for yourself, your fellow athletes and the Japanese people.

"I can tell you I got my two shots and you still see me in good shape, at least at the beginning of this grilling situation, but let wait for the end," he joked.

Bach was asked about final preparations on the ground in Tokyo by Ukraine NOC Athletes Commission chair Olga Saladukha. He directed the question to Tokyo 2020 operations director Pierre Ducrey, who reported to the session live from the Japanese capital.

"It’s a lot of finalizing the venues – they are fantastic, you were able to see some during the test events, but this work is really happening now," Ducrey said. "We’re working very closely with the International Federations and the NOCs, so much input has been given by them when it comes to preparing the village taking into account the elements of COVID.

"The playbooks are being updated and this will come in the middle of June with the latest information, so you will have everything in your hands to know what to expect from the moment you leave your home until the moment you get to Tokyo, and the moment you leave Tokyo.

"On the ground here, the work is really progressing and also when it comes to testing, we are running a lot of exercises at the venues centrally, working very closely with all of the stakeholders.

"Of course, we are also working closely with the organizing committee, the city of Tokyo and Japanese Government, that aligns their policies to make sure that we are in the exact place that we want to be on the 23rd of July and before when the athletes start to arrive," he said.

An athlete representative from Russia noted that the majority of their athletes plan to be fully vaccinated before the Games, but asked Bach should a difficult health-related situation arise among athletes in Tokyo, how will it be handled.

"Because of the pandemic, we all know the athletes experience will be very different, but what is important is that the competitions can and will take place in a safe way and in full respect there of the athletes," Bach replied.

"It’s really about making the athletes feel comfortable and to making the Japanese people feel comfortable with the participants.

"This high vaccination rate is an important factor on top of all the measures and restrictions which we will respect, as we have outlined in the playbooks,

"So come with full confidence to Tokyo and get ready," Bach said emphatically.

Mark Ladwig of the United States expressed to Bach concerns that athletes have being required to sign waivers relieving Tokyo 2020 of responsibility should one become ill. He said he doesn’t remember having to sign anything as a 2010 Olympian.

Bach deferred to IOC chief operating officer Lana Haddad.

"The entry forms have actually been in place for previous Games and have been updated to include COVID-19," Haddad said. "This is really to provide transparency and ensure that the informed consent is on the Games participants.

"The entry forms are consistent with the standard practice with all other big event organizers and they are within the framework of the law," she added.

Bach noted that "when he participated in the Games just a few years ago" he remembered that he was asked to sign an entry form.

The IOC president thanked the athletes for their engagement and concluded: "It was a pleasure, but I hope for the ultimate pleasure at the next Athletes Forum is to see as many of you as possible, in person, and have the dynamics of a personal meeting being enjoyed by all of us together."

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli

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