Some athletes already being vaccinated against Covid19: Paralympic official
OLYMPICS
TOKYO: Some athletes have already started being vaccinated against Covid19, an International Paralympic Committee (IPC) spokesman said yesterday.
More than 15,000 competitors are expected at the July 23August 8 Games, postponed from last year because of the pandemic.
With a recent poll suggesting about 80% of people in Japan do not want the Games to be held this summer, and coronavirus cases rising across the world, organisers are battling to prove they can hold the Games safely in Tokyo.
However, they are increasingly bullish that the Games will go ahead and have been bolstered by the millions of vaccinations across the world, including for some athletes.
‘‘I know in some countries, they have starting vaccinating Olympians and Paralympians,’’ IPC spokesman Craig Spence said, without identifying which nations had taken that step.
‘‘There will be many athletes who come to the Games next year who will have been vaccinated before the opening ceremony, which puts us in a much stronger position.’’
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach has said that although participants will be encouraged to get vaccinated, it will not be mandatory.
Many athletes and national bodies have stressed they do not want to ‘‘queuejump’’ ahead of more vulnerable citizens.
More Paralympians are likely to be vaccinated soon as they may fall within vulnerable categories.
‘‘I have seen British Paralympians being vaccinated — because they are seen as vulnerable members of society. I have seen some athletes, I think in
Israel, that have been vaccinated,’’ Spence said.
‘‘We are aware that many Paralympians around the world have either had it, or are in line to get the vaccine in the coming weeks and months.’’
Spence was keen to stress organisers were not relying on the vaccines for a successful staging of the summer showpiece.
‘‘We have got to plan for the worstcase scenario.
‘‘The worst case scenario is that no athlete attending the Games is vaccinated.
‘‘If we can build a plan that delivers the Games with that parameter, then we are in a much stronger position.’’ — Reuters