The International Olympic Committee will finance the vaccination of the participants of the Tokyo Games / Article / LSM.lv

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) will at least partially cover the costs of vaccinating participants in the Tokyo Olympics against Covid-19, the AP said on Monday, according to IOC President Thomas Bach. Bach is on a two-day visit to the Japanese capital in an effort to boost optimism about hosting the relocated Olympics in 2021.

Vaccination against Covid-19 will not be a prerequisite for participants and spectators of the Olympic Games, Bahs stressed, however, in his opinion, it would be a clearly desirable solution to strengthen epidemiological security. In a conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Josihidi Sugu, Bach promised that

The IOC will make every effort to ensure that as many Tokyo participants and guests as possible arrive in Japan vaccinated, if possible at that time.

“We want to persuade as many foreign players as possible to agree to vaccination,” Bach said later in a meeting with Josiro Mori, chairman of the Tokyo Gaming Steering Committee. “It will make us feel very confident that spectators will enjoy a safe environment at the Olympic Stadium next year.”

Bach reiterated that the participants in the Olympic Games will not be in the front ranks of vaccine recipients in front of doctors and other medical staff who take care of public safety.

The IOC president refrained from estimating the cost of postponing the Tokyo Games to 2021.

According to Japanese media estimates, the amount could reach 2-3 billion dollars (1.7-2.5 billion euros), however, Bach claimed that it is not yet possible to name a reliable figure and the calculations still take time.

The Bahamas will also meet with politicians and organizers on Tuesday to dispel skepticism among large sections of Japanese society about the possibility of holding the Olympics safely and at a reasonable cost. The IOC is also interested in hosting the Tokyo Games, as almost three-quarters of the revenue comes from the sale of television broadcasting rights.

CONTEXT:

The Tokyo Olympics were originally scheduled for the summer of 2020 with 11,000 athletes and 600,000 guests. Although the Olympic event was postponed a year later due to the pandemic, the organizers are confident that the Games will definitely take place. The various Olympic events are planned to be simplified, but the sports program will not change.

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