British stars may have to quarantine in hotel for six days ahead of Tokyo Games
Organisers confirmed on Tuesday that athletes would not be exempt from the Japanese government restrictions which were imposed last week.
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Your support makes all the difference.Team GB athletes face the prospect of six days’ hard quarantine in Tokyo under rules that risk throwing their Olympic preparations into chaos.
A Tokyo 2020 spokesperson confirmed that athletes are not exempt from the Japanese government restrictions which were imposed last week due to fears over rising cases of the Covid Delta variant in the UK.
Under the current rules, all Olympic-accredited arrivals from the country must immediately self-isolate in their official Games hotel rooms for a period of six days.
Tokyo 2020 spokesperson Masa Takaya said: “Quarantine for six days is required for some countries where the same treatment will be imposed to athletes and media.”
Failure to comply with the rules risks disciplinary consequences including disqualification or even deportation under newly stringent guidelines published by the International Olympic Committee on Tuesday.
Officials at the British Olympic Association indicated they remain hopeful the existing restrictions will be eased when they are scheduled for revision by the Japanese government on July 1.
Quarantine for six days is required for some countries where the same treatment will be imposed to athletes and media.
A BOA spokesperson said: “We continue to have positive dialogue with the IOC and the Tokyo Organising Committee, following our letter to the President of Tokyo 2020.
“Our approach to additional testing measures and vaccinations for the delegation prior to departure and upon arrival demonstrate we are doing everything possible to minimise any risk to the people of Japan.”
The IOC has consistently maintained that disruption for athletes will be kept to a minimum, and is also engaged in continuing dialogue with Japanese government officials over the implications of the official decrees.
IOC executive director Christophe Dubi said: “Those countries that are affected by the variants have also made a pledge… whereby they will take extra measures on their side.
“If there is a problem, of course we will follow the rule as established by the authorities, but we can do more, and this is what these delegations have pledged to do.”
Athletes already face a rigid schedule of daily testing in Tokyo, and will be both accompanied by supervisors and GPS-tracked when they travel from their accommodation to Games venues.
They have been advised to socially distance as much as possible, including eating alone and avoiding any contact with members of the Japanese public, the majority of whom remain opposed to the Games taking place.