Tokyo -
The organizers of the Tokyo Olympics have proposed that the Japanese government relax its immigration requirements to allow athletes to enter the country before the postponed games and be able to train during a 14-day quarantine period, the president of the organizing committee said on Wednesday.
"We have to consider the unique situation of the athletes and their activities," said Toshiro Muto after a meeting of a group of experts analyzing measures to curb the COVID-19 pandemic.
The International Olympic Committee, Tokyo authorities, the national government, and members of the organizing committee will hold virtual meetings on Thursday and Friday to establish the parameters for carrying out the Games during a pandemic.
Organizers and the IOC have been insisting for months that they consider various scenarios for the event to start on July 23, 2021, but without giving details.
IOC President Thomas Bach, who will participate in the meetings on Thursday, has said that a vaccine and rapid tests will be of great help, but added that there is no "magic solution" that would allow the Games to take place.
Bach and new Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga spoke for 15 minutes on Wednesday, the foreign ministry reported. They discussed how to stage the Games, and Bach expressed his confidence in being able to go to Japan soon.
Muto summarized the complex task of dealing with an event in which 15,400 athletes will attend the Olympic and Paralympic Games, along with coaches, leaders, and sponsors. There is also the question of whether Japanese and foreign spectators will be allowed to attend.
"We have to decide how we are going to do things," said Muto. "But we have not discussed when we are going to decide."
Muto indicated that by December they could present a report after consultations with the IOC, national Olympic committees, sports federations, and other stakeholders, such as audiovisual rights holders, athletes, sponsors, and doctors.
He acknowledged that athletes would have to use public transportation in Japan, suggesting that a complete "bubble" would be impossible.
He also raised the issue of the pandemic situation in various countries and diagnostic tests. Athletes will have to undergo a test before leaving their countries and another upon arrival in Japan.
"Depending on the country, the reliability of the tests remains a concern," said Muto. "The accuracy of the tests may not be consistent."
No official estimate was given for the cost of the one-year delay. Most calculations point to several billion dollars, which will have to be covered by the Japanese government.
Last week, the University of Oxford released a report concluding that the Tokyo Games will be the most expensive summer Olympics in history.
Japan has recorded 1,500 deaths from COVID-19, a per capita figure far below the numbers in the United States, Brazil, or India. (D)