The question is no longer whether… but knowing when, where and how.
The blue-white-red athletes qualified for the Tokyo Olympics will be subject to an adapted protocol, if they wish, to be vaccinated against Covid-19.
“We are in the process of collecting the needs and requests of athletes and staff, knowing that a large part of the athletes are not yet qualified.
It will not be too late otherwise it will be too late, with all those who will go on internship, etc., explained Roxana Maracineanu, Minister Delegate in charge of Sports, this Wednesday afternoon.
We are in discussions with the Ministry of Health to see which vaccine, when, where and how.
We discuss the modalities.
The important thing is to get to Tokyo in complete safety from the Covid.
"
The Minister participated in a live on the Internet as the Olympics begin in 100 days and this date marks the final stretch in the countdown to the Tokyo Olympics, postponed by a year because of the pandemic and scheduled from July 23 (and from August 24 to September 5 for the Paralympic Games).
Olympic and Paralympic, for the first time we are one 🇫🇷 #UneSeuleEquipe pic.twitter.com/nIDlyVt6gx
- France Team (@EquipeFRA) April 14, 2021
Many countries consider vaccination as an almost essential step for safer Games and the fight against possible giant clusters in this event which will bring together 11,000 athletes from all over the world and frighten the majority of the Japanese population.
The Netherlands have just placed their athletes among the priority groups in their vaccination campaign.
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Paul Tergat, head of the Kenyan Olympic Committee, wants everyone who goes to Tokyo to be vaccinated early enough for them to be reassured.
"The sooner, the better," said the former specialist in cross-country races.
In Australia, the Olympic Committee "encourages" athletes to be vaccinated, and negotiates with the authorities so that they can prepare for the Olympics "safely".
Athletes still divided
Russia has planned to "vaccinate athletes of national teams, including youth and junior teams", according to the Russian Sports Ministry, specifying that "voluntary" vaccination would be a priority for those "who are preparing to participate At the Tokyo Olympics.
At the end of February, Denis Masséglia, the president of the French National Olympic and Sports Committee (CNOSF), estimated that unvaccinated competitors would have to deal with "extremely difficult" conditions.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will buy vaccines from China to facilitate the organization of the Tokyo Summer Games and the Beijing Winter Games in 2022. The IOC, which refuses to make vaccination compulsory because of the very uneven availability of doses, will pay for these injections, which will concern the Olympic and Paralympic teams.
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Among the French headliners, Florent Manaudou openly spoke in favor of vaccination.
The Olympic 50m champion in 2012 is one of 130 personalities from the world of sport to have signed a forum in this regard.
"We are committed to getting vaccinated as soon as possible to allow a return to normal life and the holding of professional and amateur sports competitions", declared the signatories.
Others, like gymnast Samir Aït Saïd, candidate for the post of flag bearer, would prefer to wait until after the Games, for fear of possible side effects.
But whatever their personal "health" situation this summer, the athletes involved will have to follow very strict and hardly festive specifications to the letter.
The price to pay to have the opportunity to win a medal ...
