Israel, Denmark to vaccinate all athletes

Two of many nations looking to tokyo games

Several countries, including Israel and Denmark, said on Wednesday they would vaccinate their athletes and staff against COVID-19 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, amid global debate over whether athletes should be given priority access in the rollout.

Global coronavirus cases surpassed 100 million on Wednesday, according to a Reuters tally, as countries around the world struggle with new virus variants and vaccine shortfalls.

Israel, which leads the world on per capita vaccinations, said it had already inoculated half its Olympic athletes delegation.

Denmark’s chef de mission Soren Simonsen said “approximately 150 athletes and 200 officials” would get the vaccine.

Hungary’s National Olympic Committee also said its athletes would be vaccinated “in a few weeks”.

The Belgian Olympic Committee has asked its government for “400 to 500” vaccines for Olympic athletes and their entourage to travel to the Tokyo Games

VULNERABLE, ELDERLY AND FRONT LINE WORKERS (U.K. PRIORITIES).

but insists it is not asking for preferential treatment.

Greece’s Olympic Committee said its president and International Olympic Committee member Spyros Capralos has asked the government to prioritize its athletes after medical staff and elderly people over 80 years old were vaccinated.

“(We) will continue to put pressure on the Greek government in order to have all the athletes vaccinated,” a spokesman said.

Much of Japan is under a state of emergency due to a third wave of COVID-19 infections, but organizers have vowed to press ahead with the Games, which are due to open on July 23 after being postponed for a year because of the pandemic.

Some countries are hesitant to prioritize athletes over those more in need of the vaccine.

Germany’s NOC said their delegation would “wait in line” and not interfere with the country’s national vaccination plan which prioritizes medical and social urgency.

A British Olympic Association representative told Reuters they have not spoken to their athletes about vaccinations and their priority remains “vulnerable, elderly and front line workers”.

IOC president Thomas Bach has said that although participants will be encouraged to get vaccinated, it will not be mandatory.