Top Story Replay: Tokyo Playbooks for COVID Free Olympics

(ATR) Tokyo 2020, the IOC and IPC, release the first of a series of "playbooks" providing key stakeholders a framework of principles and outlining measures to ensure a safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The first edition – the Playbook for International Federations and Technical Officials – was unveiled and delivered electronically to participating media on during a joint IOC, Tokyo 2020 and IPC online press briefing and to journalists onsite in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Additional playbooks for athletes and team officials distributed via NOCs, broadcasters and media will be released over the coming days. The Playbook for broadcasters is expected to come on Feb. 8, followed by for athletes and team officials on Feb. 9 and for press on Feb. 10.

"These playbooks are version one – they provide a framework of basic principles that each key stakeholder group will follow before they travel to Japan, when entering Japan, during their time at the Games and leaving the Games," said IOC Olympic Games executive director Christophe Dubi.

"These playbooks will provide direction and set parameters which will enable people and organizations to advance their planning at this stage," Dubi said.

The four editions are expected to be updated and revised as necessary in April and June, in the lead-up to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Dubi fielded a question from Around the Rings about what complications late or last-minute revisions to the playbooks might pose to stakeholders.

"This is what is at the very core of what is a difficult equation – it is when to make the tough decisions, or decisions in general, for all of you to prepare your operational plan," Dubi said.

"It is a question of establishing the latest deadline when you have to make a judgment call."

Dubi gave an example of time constraints and decisions to be made varying greatly between spectators being allowed to attend events from inside of Japan versus foreign visitors.

"The main thing here is in the first release of the playbook we feel there is enough for the stakeholders for what they have to plan in their operation at this point in time.

"If there is something critical between now and April to be communicated because a decision is made, of course we will reach out to the stakeholders and provide them with the latest and brightest information.

"In April, we will have an extra level of detail and then in June we will have all final details for everyone to operation comfortably.

"It is the art of management of Tokyo 2020 and the rest of us supporting them to make the right decision at the right point in time."

The launch of the playbooks comes at a critical juncture with just 50 days until the start of the Olympic Torch Relay, and Japanese citizens and media questioning whether it is prudent for the Tokyo 2020 Games to move forward.

Today’s announcements also follow the Japanese government’s extension of its state of emergency covering the host city of Tokyo and other regions including Osaka and Fukuoka until March 7.

The much-awaited Playbooks are crucial to Tokyo 2020’s steadfast determination to restore faith in their ability to host the Olympics and to quell talks of cancellation.

"This is a very transparent way of showing the rules, we have decided this is the way to go, as if we focused about one sport or element, they can get together with experts in their sector," said Tokyo 2020 Games delivery officer Hidemasa Nakamura.

The Playbooks, according to their mission statement, aim to convince a skeptical Japanese, media and other interested parties around world that hosting the Games is the right course of action and can be executed safely.

"Anyone can be affected by COVID-19, we must take care of all stakeholders, we are accountable to the Japanese people," Nakemura said. "We must inform and convince everyone that we can host a safe Games and that can only be done with the participation and trust of our stakeholders."

Date and guidelines noted in the playbooks are based on the extensive work of the All Partners Task Force, which includes the World Health Organization, the Government of Japan, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, independent global experts and organizations, and an interim report published by the Three-Party Council in December 2020.

"By committing to following the Playbooks we will be stronger together," Dubi said. "In return, the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be remembered as a historic moment for humanity, the Olympic Movement and all those contributing to their success."

To learn more about the specifics in the Playbook released on Wednesday, click here.

Written and reported by Brian Pinelli and Mark Pickering

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