Tokyo Olympics: Japan Puts Up Stricter Quarantine Norms For Athletes And Support Staff From India, 10 Other Countries

Ahead of the upcoming Tokyo Olympics, the Japanese authorities have issued fresh regulations as per which Indian athletes and support staff who will be leaving for Tokyo from India will be put through stricter quarantine upon arrival, reports Hindustan Times.

In total, athletes and support staff from 11 nations including India will have to be under a more watchful regime during the first few days of their arrival for the Tokyo Olympics. Also, it should be noted that athletes and officials from India, Afghanistan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will have to get themselves tested daily for COVID-19 for seven days before their departure for Japan.

In a bid to control the virus and stop its spread, the Japanese authorities have put up such restrictions for travellers from select countries where different variants of COVID-19 have been identified.

As per the restrictions, after reaching Tokyo, athletes travelling from these countries will not be able to “physically interact with anyone from another team, delegation or country” for three days. They will be tested every day like all other athletes at the Games Village.

It should be noted that many of India’s medal prospects are training abroad and will reach Tokyo directly from the countries they are currently training in. The shooters are training in Italy and boxers are supposed to leave for Croatia in a couple of days. Wrestlers Vinesh Phogat and Bajrang Punia, and star javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra are also in Europe and will travel directly to Tokyo.