Tokyo 2020 Countermeasures Interim Report Released

(ATR) Tokyo 2020 officials release a detailed COVID-19 countermeasures interim summary report as the coordination commission convened for the sixth time on Wednesday.

The 51-page report’s second chapter is devoted to countermeasures concerning athletes including arrivals and departures, transportation, basic infection prevention measures, infection control at the competition venues and the Olympic/Paralympic Village, athletes’ code of conduct, approach to testing, medical care and treatment, and sport by sport rules and measures.

One of numerous measures indicated is that athletes residing in the Olympic Village will be given PCR tests once every four to five days (96-120 hours).

Tokyo 2020 chief executive officer Toshiro Muto highlighted various athlete countermeasures, addressing media in Tokyo and virtually, following the meeting.

"As a principle, we consider the length of athletes’ stay as much as possible," Muto said. "The athletes’ entry time does not need to be just before the events, however the Athletes Village must not be crowded.

"We consider that we need athletes to return to their countries after competition as soon as possible," the Tokyo 2020 leader said.

Additional sections in the report include countermeasures for stakeholders, officials, media, spectators, the Tokyo 2020 Torch Relay and at pre-Games training camps.

The interim report is the result of the collaboration of the countermeasures coordination commission over five previous meetings, the first having been held on Sept. 4.

According to Muto and Tokyo 2020, the interim report clarifies COVID-19 countermeasures to be taken in all aspects of operation for the Tokyo 2020 Games in three categories: athletes, stakeholders, and spectators.

"Although the general direction of measures to be taken has been determined, there are issues for which concrete plans must be formulated by observing how the ongoing global pandemic develops," the report states. "Such pending matters will be clarified in phases to prepare for the implementation of concrete countermeasures."

In terms of spectators, guidelines will be formulated and widely disseminated, rules will be set on how to respond when a spectator falls ill at a competition venue, and medical institutions for hospitalization and recovery will be secured.

The report states: "A policy has been set to make a final decision on the maximum number of spectators to accommodate by next spring. This figure will be set in accordance with the domestic rules on the upper limit for sporting events and will take into account the spread of infection within and outside Japan, as well as the results of pilot experiments currently conducted to ascertain the consequences of raising the upper limit of spectators."

Regarding spectators arriving from overseas, appropriate infection countermeasures will be considered in accordance with their level of risk in light of the spread of infection in the country they are from so as to ensure safety for both the spectators and the local community in which they will stay. As requesting spectators to self-isolate for two weeks and avoid using public transportation would make it impractical for them to attend the Games, infection countermeasures of an equivalent degree will be established.

The third and final chapter of the report concerns next steps to be taken by the three parties of the commission – the government of Japan, the Tokyo Municipal Government and the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee.

The meeting in the Japanese capital on Wednesday was chaired by deputy chief cabinet secretary Kazuhiro Sugita, representing the national government, and incorporated a comprehensive review of COVID-19 countermeasures. Also attending were other representatives of the national government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Tokyo 2020 representatives.

Based on the interim report, the three party coordination commission will specify further details by formulating systems and guidelines. It will also establish organizations and schemes, prepare for future operations, and work on concrete measures required to host the Tokyo 2020 Games next summer.

Details still to be determined include the implementation policy concerning testing of athletes and others, concrete plans for establishing an Infectious Disease Control Center and health and hygiene based functions, securing medical institutions for hospitalization and accommodation for the recovery of positive testing athletes, specific measures for stakeholders and spectators including at competitions held on public roads, as well as at the opening and closing ceremonies, and a response on vaccines if available.

Homepage photo: IOC

Written by Brian Pinelli

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