Cheering athletes will not be allowed. You will also not be allowed to go out to restaurants and bars in Tokyo. Less privacy in the Olympic Village.
Carry a sufficient quantity of masks for your stay in Japan, but avoid wearing with the logo of an unofficial sponsor.
Do not use public transportation without permission.
The strategic manual that should be followed to ensure the safe development of the Olympic and Paralympic Games during the coronavirus pandemic was published on Wednesday.
Those who break the rules with “repeated and serious fouls” risk being expelled from the Games and sent back to their countries.
The International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee and the Tokyo organizing committee presented the manual in order to educate the visitors. The summer jousts will be inaugurated on July 23, and the Paralympics a month later.
The details underscore the restrictions that athletes, volunteers, journalists and fans – if the latter are allowed at venues – will also face when other manuals are announced in the coming months.
A review of the strategy manual
HYGIENE
The IOC and organizers are recommending practices that have been around the world since the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic in March last year.
Do not hug or wave; wash hands frequently, disinfect surfaces, do not touch your face, cover your mouth when sneezing or coughing, ventilate rooms.
Also follow the rule of the “three Cs” to prevent coronavirus: avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close contacts).
It is reiterated that the ideal would be to be vaccinated – as an act of respect for the Japanese – but it is not mandatory, and members of the Olympic family should not take priority over health or essential personnel.
ARRIVE 14 DAYS BEFORE
The leaders of the delegations must abide by what is stated in the manual two weeks before the trip to Japan.
They will have to:
Make a list of people with whom you will anticipate having close contact during your stay in Japan. They should deliver that list to the COVID-19 liaison officer of the governing body of their sport.
Undergo a diagnostic test for COVID-19 within 72 hours before boarding the flight, carrying a document showing the negative result.
Isolate yourself immediately if the result is positive. Inform the liaison officer and organizers to determine next steps to take.
Install the Japan phone apps for COVID-19 contact tracing and other health information on your phone.
Have an insurance policy to cover the costs of medical treatment in Japan and repatriation if you are sent to your country.
Gather a sufficient quantity of masks for the entire stay, and take into account “the guidelines on logos on masks”. Rule 40 of the Olympic Charter restricts unauthorized commercial activity.
Brief removal of the mask will be allowed for those who rely on “lip reading, clear sounds, or facial expressions to communicate.”
Restrict physical contact with other people, and have an “activity plan” of what you hope to do during your stay in Japan.
14 DAYS AFTER ARRIVAL
Take the initiative to be aware of your health, recording the results in an application.
Follow only the activities in your personal plan – how you will travel, where you will go and your accommodation.
When leaving an official accommodation, only go to the official sports venues and a “limited number of additional sites”.
Use official transportation. Do not use public transportation unless you receive a permit.
Encourage athletes in a sports arena with applause only, avoiding singing or chanting.
Do not visit sports facilities as a spectator.
SOCIAL LIFE
Limit physical contact with other athletes, maintaining a distance of two meters at all times, except for “operational reasons” such as on a playing field or training areas. This seeks to prevent athletes from hosting parties or having sex, which is common in Olympic residences.
Do not visit tourist sites, shops, restaurants, and bars or gyms.
Wear a mask at all times, except when eating or sleeping, except with people outdoors and two meters away.
UPDATES
The manual released Wednesday is just the first. The next version will be released in April.
“This could mean that future versions of the Handbook will include more restrictions than the current ones,” reads the 33-page document.
