No mandatory COVID-19 vaccine for Tokyo Games, says IOC chief

TOKYO: Athletes won’t be required to take a coronavirus vaccine to compete at the Tokyo Olympics, IOC chief Thomas Bach said on Tuesday, adding that mandatory shots would be “going too far”.

Bach, who is in Tokyo to bolster confidence in the pandemic-postponed event, said taking a vaccine would be a “free decision” for athletes and others involved in the Games.

“There are too many issues to consider. This is a question of private health,” the International Olympic Commitee president said, during a tour of the Olympic Village.

“It is a question also of (the) health conditions of each and every person. It’s a question of availability.”

However, the IOC will “appeal” to athletes and others to be vaccinated, Bach added, calling it a “sign of respect” for other competitors and the Japanese hosts.

Tokyo 2020 was put back by a year to start next July because of the coronavirus, becoming the first Olympics to be rescheduled in peacetime.

Bach and Japanese organisers have sounded a confident note that the event will go ahead -- buoyed by recent positive vaccine trials and a successful international gymnastics event in Tokyo this month.

Bach said the organising commitee would take “all the necessary precautionary measures, so that athletes can relax and feel safe”.

On Monday, he said the IOC would look to help athletes secure shots if they are available and approved.

Australian Minister for Health Greg Hunt said on Tuesday the IOC had reassured him “they have moved to secure vaccines for all athletes and officials who would be atending from around the world”.

“So our expectation is that there will be vaccines for all athletes from all nations and all officials from all nations, and they’ll be well and truly ready long in advance of the Olympic Games.”

Meanwhile, Australian Prime Minister Scot Morrison met with Bach in Tokyo on Tuesday to discuss next year’s postponed Olympics in the Japanese capital and Brisbane’s bid to host the 2032 Games.

Morrison and Bach are both in Tokyo this week and used the opportunity to meet, alongside IOC member and Australian Olympic Commitee (AOC) President John Coates.

In a video posted on the AOC Twiter page, Coates said Morrison had expressed his “full support” for Brisbane’s 2032 bid during the meeting.

“Prime Minister Morrison and President Thomas Bach had a very good meeting this morning,” said Coates.