Tokyo Olympics 2020: IOC publishes first Games rulebook

The Olympic Games is scheduled to be held in Tokyo this year, between July 23 to August 8. The event was slated to be held last year. However, it was postponed by a year, owing to the current COVID-19 pandemic, as the committee is trying hard to make the Games happen.

Team Newsable

Tokyo, First Published Feb 3, 2021, 7:19 PM IST

The 2020 Olympic Games, slated to be held in Tokyo this year, is supposedly taking shape. Last year, the event was postponed by a year, following the current COVID-19 pandemic, that has raged across the world. Although uncertainty still surrounds the Games, it seems like it is all set to go ahead.

On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee came up with its first set of rules for the event, as it released the official Playbook. It depicts the laws and regulations, to ensure that the Games are conducted in a safe and healthy environment, not compromising the athletes’ health, along with the tournament officials.

The rules suggest that technical officials would cheer the athletes by clapping, while they would be banned from visiting tourist areas, bars, restaurants and shops to avoid the risk of contracting COVID-19. They have also been prohibited from using public toilets, besides the athletes being regularly tests for COVID. In case anyone is found to be positive, he/she would be placed in the government-approved quarantine centre.

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About the set of rules, Tokyo Olympics’ executive director, Christophe Dubi has said in an official statement, “The health and safety of everyone at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 are our top priority. We each have our part to play. That’s why these Playbooks have been created – with the rules that will make each and every one of us a sound, safe and active contributor to the Games. We know these Olympic Games will be different in a number of ways. For all Games participants, there will be some conditions and constraints that will require flexibility and understanding. We are providing the main directions at this stage, but naturally don’t have all the final details yet; an update will be published in the spring and may change as necessary even closer to the Games. We will make sure all the information needed is shared as quickly as possible to ensure we are fully prepared to protect all those coming to and residing in Japan during the Tokyo 2020 Games.”

Meanwhile, Games’ Delivery Officer, Nakamura Hidemasa, added, “The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the daily lives of people around the world, and the Olympic and Paralympic Games need to adapt accordingly. Safety and security have become everyone’s top priority, and this summer’s Games will be no different. Accordingly, Tokyo 2020, the IOC and the IPC have jointly published individual Playbooks for each stakeholder outlining the rules that need to be followed by all Games participants. The Playbooks were created from the perspective of the participants themselves, based on the interim summary that was published at the Coordination Meeting for COVID-19 Countermeasures last December. They include not only the specific measures that need to be taken, but also details of the rules that need to be observed and the appointment of a single person to oversee COVID-19 countermeasures in each stakeholder group to ensure effectiveness. The purpose of this first edition is to communicate ‘what we know at this time’ to a large number of people in an easy-to-understand manner. The Playbooks will be updated to the second edition this spring as the situation changes.”

The Playbook also adds that it does not mandate for athletes to be vaccinated before the Games. The rules are applicable for both Olympics and Paralympics, while anyone found flouting the same could jeopardise their chances of participation in the event.

Read more about the rules in the official Olympics Playbook here.

Last Updated Feb 3, 2021, 7:19 PM IST