OLYMPICS chief Thomas Bach believes fans and families WILL be allowed to attend next summer’s rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.
But the International Olympic Committee President expects athletes and spectators alike will need to have proof they have received a Covid-19 vaccine first.
Bach is confident fans and families will be allowed to attend the Tokyo Olympics next yearCredit: EPA
Bach was in Tokyo for the first time since the Games were postponed for 12 months in March.
The IOC boss was confronted by anti-Games protesters but gave a vow the Olympics and Paralympics will go ahead.
The IOC chief said he hopes that a “reasonable number” of spectators from Japan and the rest of the world will be able to witness the Games in person when they start on July 23.
He said: “In order to protect the Japanese people and out of respect for the Japanese people, the IOC will undertake great effort so that as many people as possible – Olympic participants and visitors – will arrive here with a vaccine, if by then one is available,
“We want to convince as many foreign participants as possible to accept a vaccine.
“This makes us all very confident that we can have spectators in the stadia next year and that they will enjoy a safe environment.”
Bach’s comments came on the day the outcome of the Moderna vaccine trials with 94 per cent efficiency were announced.
The German insisted that Olympic competitors should not be placed ahead of “nurses and doctors and people who keep our society alive” in the vaccine queue.
But he said the Olympic movement should be prepared to pay for some vaccinations of competitors.
Bach added: “If after the health workers, a vaccine is available, the IOC would bear the cost so that participants can be offered a vaccine.”
If fans are allowed to attend, they may be banned from cheering and speaking loudly in an attempt to limit the spread of coronavirus.
The Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto has refused to rule out the possibility of silencing crowds.
Speaking to reporters he said: “There’s a possibility that we may ask the spectators to refrain from shouting and speaking in a loud voice.
“When we think of the impact, we believe it is an item for consideration, to reduce the risk of airborne droplets.
“But we haven’t reached a conclusion.”
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Source: Athletics - thesun.co.uk
