Daily exams, isolation add to Indian athletes’ Tokyo Olympics tribulation

In a transfer that can impression athletes and officers travelling from India and those that will compete at Wimbledon in addition to the Diamond League in London, the Tokyo Olympics organisers have imposed stricter restrictions on travellers from nations the place totally different variants of Covid-19 have been recognized.
According to an advisory issued on Friday, athletes travelling from India have been instructed ‘not to interact or train with athlete(s) from another country’ for the primary three days upon reaching the Japanese capital. Moreover, they should get themselves examined for Covid-19 each day for the seven days instantly earlier than departure, and each day after arriving in Tokyo. This signifies that some athletes, like hockey gamers, should endure Covid exams for at the very least 21 consecutive days earlier than and in the course of the Games.
In addition to the big selection of guidelines already in place, the Tokyo Olympics organisers have imposed extra, stricter laws on athletes and different Games contributors travelling from 11 nations, together with India, United Kingdom and Malaysia. The advisory famous that the brand new guidelines shall be relevant to all travellers – together with athletes, their coaches and assist employees – who’ve resided in these nations inside 14 days of their arrival in Tokyo.
No socialising
These guidelines are topic to alter based mostly on the Japanese authorities’s coverage. “For three days after your (athletes and officials) arrival in Japan, you will not be able to physically interact with anyone from another team, delegation or country. For example, across all sports, you will not be able to interact or train with athlete(s) from another country during that period,” the notice mentioned.
“While all the regulations must be followed, those in place regarding physical distancing from other teams, delegations or countries, are of particular importance upon arrival…” the advisory added. “By following these important regulations, you will, as a Games participant, be allowed to go to the locations on the list of permitted destinations as of your arrival in Japan.”
So far, 100 Indian athletes have certified for the Games, which start on July 23, and the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) is anticipating a dozen or so extra sportspersons to make the reduce earlier than the qualifying interval concludes on the finish of this month.
While many of the medal contenders – together with the capturing group, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra, and wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia – have already shifted their base exterior India, many couldn’t handle that due to the pandemic-related journey restrictions.

Training impression
The men and women’s hockey groups, boxers, desk tennis gamers and monitor and area athletes are among the athletes who’re scheduled to journey to Tokyo from their respective bases in India.
The hockey groups, for example, had been scheduled to depart for Tokyo on July 17 and play a few apply matches earlier than opening their campaigns on the Olympics. Now, except they advance their journey dates, they should forego the apply video games, which is able to come as an enormous blow to each groups provided that they’ve already been starved of aggressive matches.
However, travelling to Tokyo early may additionally pose a problem since groups have been advised to verify into the Games Village not more than 5 days earlier than their competitors begins. So, alternate lodging should be found out in the event that they attain early.
The boxers, in the meantime, are set to journey to Italy this month earlier than returning to India after which flying out for the Games.
Recently, the Sports Authority of India had suggested all Indian athletes to journey to Tokyo straight from the nation the place they’re presently coaching or are planning to go.
The IOA, it’s learnt, is in talks with the organisers to know how the brand new guidelines shall be carried out. “It isn’t a hard quarantine but the advisory says we cannot come in touch with athletes or delegates from others countries. So how and where will an athlete eat her or his meal? Similarly, where will they train given that the training areas will have athletes from other countries? Do they expect our athletes to train in isolation in the middle of the night?” an official mentioned. “The IOA is in talks with the organisers and will try to work out a solution that is in the best interests of the country’s athletes.”
The new guidelines may additionally impression some tennis gamers who will participate in Wimbledon, which ends on July 12, and monitor and area stars who will compete within the Diamond League on July 13. Those travelling from the UK should get examined for Covid-19 each day for 3 days previous to their departure. The distancing guidelines for them, although, will stay the identical as travellers from India.
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Additional restrictions
In an advisory issued on Friday, the Olympics organisers imposed extra restrictions on athletes and officers from nations with Covid-19 variants. They had been divided into two teams:
Group 1: Afghanistan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
Testing: Every day, for seven days, previous to departure for Japan; each day on the Games
Distancing: For three days after arrival in Japan, no bodily interplay with athletes and officers from different nations, together with coaching periods with them.
Group 2: Bangladesh, Egypt, Malaysia, United Kingdom and Vietnam
Testing: Every day, for 3 days, previous to departure; each day on the Games
Distancing: For three days after arrival in Japan, no bodily interplay with athletes and officers from different nations, together with coaching periods with them.