NEW DELHI: In a relief to Indian athletes training abroad for the Tokyo Olympics, the Games’ Organizing Committee (OC) has informed that they will be exempted from three-day isolation after checking in at the Athletes’ Village. They will also be allowed to physically interact and train with participants from other countries during that period.
There is also good news for the players coming from India. While he will not be allowed to meet athletes from other countries for the first three days after arriving in Tokyo, there will be no restriction on his training during the isolation period. Similarly, accompanying officers may resume their duties in the village during the three-day period but cannot physically interact or meet with other representatives.
“The additional conditions imposed on Group 1 countries do not apply to Indian athletes training abroad for more than 14 days. This means they do not have to undergo quarantine for three days and need to test themselves continuously. The condition does not apply to those seven days prior to their departure. However, two negative test reports within 96 hours and 72 hours apply to athletes from all participating countries,” said India’s deputy chef-de-mission Dr Prem Verma told TOI.
This news will give relief to the prominent players of the country going to Tokyo who are training for the Olympics in various foreign places and will reach Tokyo directly. These include 15-man air rifle and pistol (Zagreb in Croatia) and skeet (Italy) shooters, javelin throwers. Neeraj Chopra (Europe), tennis star Sania Mirza (UK) wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Kumar (Russia and Poland), Vinesh Phogat and Anshu (Estonia) and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu (St. Louis in the US). Eight of the nine qualified male and female boxers and their teammates are currently training in Assisi, Italy and will return to India on July 10. He will leave for Tokyo from here along with other members of the Indian contingent.
About a week ago, the OC had informed participants from 11 countries, including India, to undergo three days of isolation in the village and seven days of daily RT PCR testing before going to Tokyo. These entry conditions were imposed on participants who lived in countries identified by the Japanese government in the past 14 days as presenting a high level of risk due to the presence of the COVID-19 variant.
Verma also informed that he has received communication from OC approving additional RT-PCR testing laboratories as requested by IOA. “We had originally sought approval for 13 labs, but the OC approved a total of 23 additional labs. This is a significant number. Now these labs can start testing. For Hyderabad, any lab will be given approval by the OC. So, we requested them to give recognition to two laboratories for RT-PCR testing. The approval has not come, which I think was a complete oversight on their (OC) part. Will be taken up with OC on Saturday. Hopefully, clearance will come soon.”
It is learned that Verma meticulously prepared and distributed a checklist with Tokyo-bound athletes and officials detailing the do’s and don’ts to avoid any last-minute discrepancies before their departure for the Games. Don’t be
There is also good news for the players coming from India. While he will not be allowed to meet athletes from other countries for the first three days after arriving in Tokyo, there will be no restriction on his training during the isolation period. Similarly, accompanying officers may resume their duties in the village during the three-day period but cannot physically interact or meet with other representatives.
“The additional conditions imposed on Group 1 countries do not apply to Indian athletes training abroad for more than 14 days. This means they do not have to undergo quarantine for three days and need to test themselves continuously. The condition does not apply to those seven days prior to their departure. However, two negative test reports within 96 hours and 72 hours apply to athletes from all participating countries,” said India’s deputy chef-de-mission Dr Prem Verma told TOI.
This news will give relief to the prominent players of the country going to Tokyo who are training for the Olympics in various foreign places and will reach Tokyo directly. These include 15-man air rifle and pistol (Zagreb in Croatia) and skeet (Italy) shooters, javelin throwers. Neeraj Chopra (Europe), tennis star Sania Mirza (UK) wrestlers Bajrang Punia, Ravi Dahiya and Deepak Kumar (Russia and Poland), Vinesh Phogat and Anshu (Estonia) and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu (St. Louis in the US). Eight of the nine qualified male and female boxers and their teammates are currently training in Assisi, Italy and will return to India on July 10. He will leave for Tokyo from here along with other members of the Indian contingent.
About a week ago, the OC had informed participants from 11 countries, including India, to undergo three days of isolation in the village and seven days of daily RT PCR testing before going to Tokyo. These entry conditions were imposed on participants who lived in countries identified by the Japanese government in the past 14 days as presenting a high level of risk due to the presence of the COVID-19 variant.
Verma also informed that he has received communication from OC approving additional RT-PCR testing laboratories as requested by IOA. “We had originally sought approval for 13 labs, but the OC approved a total of 23 additional labs. This is a significant number. Now these labs can start testing. For Hyderabad, any lab will be given approval by the OC. So, we requested them to give recognition to two laboratories for RT-PCR testing. The approval has not come, which I think was a complete oversight on their (OC) part. Will be taken up with OC on Saturday. Hopefully, clearance will come soon.”
It is learned that Verma meticulously prepared and distributed a checklist with Tokyo-bound athletes and officials detailing the do’s and don’ts to avoid any last-minute discrepancies before their departure for the Games. Don’t be
.