Olympic athletes are not required to be vaccinated | NOW

Athletes participating in the Olympic Games in Tokyo next summer are not obliged to get vaccinated against the corona virus. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) leaves the athletes free to make their own decision.

“Mandatory vaccination is a step too far,” said IOC Chairman Thomas Bach on Tuesday during his working visit to Tokyo, looking at whether the Japanese capital is on track to host the Games.

“This is a matter of personal health, a matter of the health status of each athlete and of course the availability of a vaccine. We will appeal to the athletes to get vaccinated, because it is an expression of respect towards fellow athletes. and the Japanese organization. “

Bach is on a four-day working visit to Tokyo, where the Games were supposed to take place last summer. The corona crisis caused a one-year delay, which meant that all plans had to be made again.

However, the IOC, the Japanese government and the Tokyo organization are determined to keep the event going and are preparing numerous measures to keep the Games safe for participants and possibly spectators.

“We will take all necessary precautions so that the athletes feel safe and at ease,” said Bach, who had already promised on Monday that the IOC will do everything in its power to have approved vaccines available to all participants in the Games.