With just 63 days to go until the Opening Ceremony, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced Friday evening that it is now "very delivery-focused" with it becoming "clearer than ever" that the Tokyo Olympic Games will be safe for everyone participating and the Japanese people.
The 11th and final meeting (May 19-21) of the IOC's Coordination Commission for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 concluded today.
With Tokyo 2020 now fully in the operational delivery phase, IOC President Thomas Bach confirmed that as many as 75 per cent of the residents of the Olympic Village are already vaccinated or have secured vaccination; and that there is good reason to believe that this figure will be well over 80 per cent at the time of the Games.
"The athletes from all around the world are grateful to Japan for its diligent preparations, and are looking forward to safe and secure Olympic and Paralympic Games where they can finally shine," he said today.
IOC President Thomas Bach
The IOC initiative with the Pfizer/BioNtech donation of vaccines to Games participants and the announcement that Panam Sports, which represents the current 41 National Olympic Committees of the Americas, has offered vaccinations to all qualified athletes and accredited officials from the region who have not yet been inoculated against Covid-19 has given a boost to the Games organisers.
"After nearly eight years of hard work and planning, the finish line is within touching distance. It is testament to the hard work of the Tokyo 2020 organisers, including the Japanese Government, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Japanese people, that we are able to look towards the Opening Ceremony on 23 July with such confidence," said John Coates, the Chair of the IOC’s Coordination Commission for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
In addition to advances made on vaccinations and understanding the current situation in Japan, it was announced during the Coordination Commission meeting that the IOC is already actively working with its Japanese partners in the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee on an IOC programme to bring medical personnel from abroad to support the safe and secure delivery of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.
"In response to any concerns, we are moving forward to tighten our planning in three fields. First, tight limitations on the number of participants entering Japan. Second, tight enforcement of the code of conduct and of health monitoring. And third, a tight review and reconsideration of the Games-time medical system," remarked Tokyo 2020 President Seiko Hashimoto.
Elements of the measures being implemented for the Tokyo 2020 Games were demonstrated at the recent test events held in Japan. For example, four international competitions – for volleyball, diving, marathon and athletics – saw more than 700 athletes and over 6,000 related staff from Japan and across the world participate. At all events, strict Covid-19 countermeasures were followed, ensuring their safe operation.
Some International Federations (IFs) have successfully held their qualification events in Japan in the last few weeks, such as the FISA Asia & Oceania Olympic Qualification Regatta at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic venue, the Sea Forest Waterway, and the World Triathlon Championship Series in Yokohama, both working closely with local federations and the government agencies.
IOC said that all of these events received positive feedback from the IFs and athletes.
"We need to adapt, everyone needs to cope with these conditions. The main goal for everyone is to be and feel safe, and we are very safe here. We cannot ask for better conditions with this Covid situation," IOC quoted Jennifer Abel, a Canadian diver and Olympian, as saying during the FINA Diving World Cup 2021 held in Tokyo.
The IOC Coordination Commission was further encouraged by the many sporting events taking place successfully around the globe, noting that more than 54,000 athletes have competed in over 430 major sports events since September 2020, all held safely for participants and the local population.
Many of these contributed to Olympic qualification. At this stage, 72 per cent of athletes, or just over 8,000 athletes, have already qualified for this summer's Games. This includes 11 sports/disciplines for which qualification has been completed. The remaining will come from world rankings (20 per cent) and the final qualifying events (8 per cent).
Updates were also provided during the three-day meeting on plans being developed by global and local sponsors. They continue to work closely with Tokyo 2020 to provide essential products and services to stage the Games – from technology to infrastructure and products that directly support the athletes. Similarly, broadcasters are busy increasing their Games readiness. IOC said that many have already launched global promotional campaigns aimed at promoting the athletes’ achievements and the Olympic values as they begin to build excitement ahead of the Games.
