After months of discussions, officials of the Tokyo-2020 organization released a 54-page report explaining how they believe the Games can play out even if the pandemic is not brought under control by July 2021. Athletes will be tested upon their arrival in Japan and those residing in the Olympic Village will have to undergo regular tests, with a planned interval of 96 to 120 hours, the document released to the press said.
An infection control center will be set up to deal with positive cases.
All athletes will be required to sign a code of conduct urging them not to speak loudly, to avoid physical contact with others, and to wear masks when not training or competing.
Any penalties for non-compliance with health rules may be established in conjunction with the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
"Different" games
“It's not a law but we have to be careful and ask people to take precautions,” said Tokyo-2020 organizing committee general manager Toshiro Muto.
He acknowledged that all of these measures would make the games “different”, but expressed hope that they could still be played in a positive atmosphere.
“It will be simple rather than festive, but I hope it will be something touching that will encourage people through the power of sport,” he said.
He said organizers are working on the assumption that a vaccine will not be available by the start of the Games, despite positive test results announced in recent weeks.
Muto said the cost of measures against the virus has not yet been calculated, but last Sunday Japanese daily Yomuiri Shimbun reported that the one-year postponement of the Games could cost a total of 1.6 billion dollars. additional euros compared to the initial budget of some 11 billion euros estimated before the pandemic.
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In addition, foreign spectators will be exempted from quarantine - a measure deemed "impracticable" - and will also be able to use public transport, but they will have to respect strict rules ranging from wearing a mask to the ban on shouting, including conservation of banknote stubs to facilitate the tracing of possible contacts.
A final decision on the maximum number of spectators in the stadiums will be taken in the spring, the organizers repeated, stressing that for foreigners a good part of the system will be based on screening before entering Japan.
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The Olympics were postponed for a year, an unprecedented decision announced in March as the coronavirus spread across the world.
The Olympic Games are now due in 2021, from July 23 to August 8, and the Paralympics from August 24 to September 5.
Polls show that a majority of Japanese believe the Games should be further postponed or even canceled.
And more than 60% of domestic sponsors have yet to commit to extending their contracts for another year, Japanese media reported last weekend.
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