All the rules and regulations athletes have to abide by to stay safe.
As thousands of athletes, coaches, and staff descend on Tokyo from all over the world — what exactly is the game plan to stop the Olympic Games from becoming a super-spreader event?
The Olympics organizers have an extensive playbook that they’re hoping will restrict the spread of Covid-19. Implementing those measures will be costly and have dramatically reshaped the global event. But organizers are still concerned that won’t be enough and said as recently as Tuesday that they would not rule out scrapping the Games altogether.
As we inch closer to the Opening Ceremony, take a look at the pandemic precautions that have been put in place.
How often will athletes be tested for Covid at the Olympics?
An aggressive testing plan has been established. Olympians, journalists, coaches and the like will need to test twice before their arrival in Tokyo. Proof of a negative test taken at least 96 hours before their departure and 72 hours before must be provided.
Once the athletes touch down, they’ll need to take a saliva test at the airport and wait there until they’ve been cleared with another negative result. If they test positive, they’ll be required to isolate. Athletes will also need to test every day throughout the Games.
How many people have tested positive at the Olympics so far?
Despite a rigorous testing regimen, 75 people with Olympic credentials — including six athletes — have tested positive for Covid-19. That doesn’t include those who tested positive before landing in Japan — like American tennis star Coco Gauff.
Are athletes allowed to interact or leave the Olympic Village?
Organizers are attempting to keep the participants in an isolation zone. Athletes can only leave their living spaces to visit official Olympic venues and aren’t allowed to take public transportation. That rules out any sightseeing, which soccer star Carli Lloyd — a four-time Olympian — told us is typically one of her favorite things about the Games.
Do Olympic athletes have to wear masks?
Participants are also required to wear masks at all times, except for when they’re eating, competing, or sleeping, and to minimize physical contact with others. The Olympic Village, which in the past has been known for its raucous parties and as a hotbed of sexual activity, should be much tamer this time around.
Do athletes have to be vaccinated to compete in the Olympics?
Nope. The organizing committee has offered to provide vaccines to participants who ask, but the shots are not mandatory. Team USA also won’t require its athletes to get vaccinated and at least two Olympians, swimmer Michael Andrew and runner Cole Hocker, have revealed they haven’t gotten the shot.
Will there be any spectators at the Tokyo Games?
The most conspicuous difference at the Tokyo Olympics will be the lack of spectators. The organizers had previously planned to allow an audience of 10,000 domestic fans, but made the call to ban all spectators last month after Japan declared a state of emergency in an effort to curb a new wave of infections.
