The Year-Long Suspension of the Tokyo 2021 Olympics - What Athletes Need to Know About COVID-19 And The Competition
Note: This blog post is intended as legal information only, and not legal advice. If you have further questions, please contact sportssolution@athletescan.com. For a complete list of the guidelines, visit the Playbook here.
The Olympics are an exciting, but stressful time for high-performance athletes. Particularly this year, in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many uncertainties for participants. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) have published a Playbook to help athletes and officials prepare for the competition in light of these uncertainties. The Playbook outlines a series of rules for the competition so that athletes and officials can ensure they are well-briefed in Tokyo’s and the Olympic Committee’s COVID-19 protocols, and that they plan their experience to be as safe as possible. The rules of the Playbook apply 14 days before you travel, during the journey, throughout your time in Japan, and until you arrive home. As such, it’s important to plan every step of the way!
First and foremost, the IOC and IPC have mandated that every National Olympic Committee and National Paralympic Committee designate a COVID-19 Liaison Officer (CLO). This individual will be the key contact for athletes at the Games. The CLOs will have up-to-date information on COVID-19 at the Games and will be responsible for ensuring that every athlete understands and complies with the protocols put in place. When in doubt, seek your CLO out!
Before Departure for the Games
The impending excitement of the Games is building as the Games near, but there are a few important COVID-19 protocols that athletes must follow before they begin the trip to Tokyo. In addition to producing two negative COVID-19 tests within 96 hours of their departure, there are several documents that each athlete should prepare in advance.
Athletes will need to download and install the Online Check-in and Health Report App (OCHA) and the Contact Confirming App (COCOA) to their smartphone. Both apps will prompt athletes to put in all necessary information. The OCHA will also require athletes to enter their certificate of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 72 hours of departure. Athletes must show a specific OCHA screen when they are checking in and boarding their flights, as well as to the Japanese quarantine authorities when they arrive. Athletes will not be able to board their flight or enter Japan without doing so.
If athletes do not have a smartphone or are unable to install the apps, they will need to obtain a Written Pledge from their CLO. The pledge is an official document stating that it is the athlete’s responsibility to comply with the measures detailed in the Playbook. The CLO will then arrange for the athlete to rent a smartphone at the airport, as the apps will be key resources for athletes during their stay at the Games.
Athletes should also finalize their Activity Plan. The activity plan will include personal information, the address of accommodations, and all planned and possible destinations during the athlete’s stay at the Games. While the IOC and IPC have advised against using public transportation, some Games venues are in locations that will require athletes to seek transportation outside of the official transportation provided. If an athlete has to use public transportation, the date, time, and reason for doing so must be given. Each athlete’s Activity Plan needs to be approved by Japanese Authorities and it will be difficult to request changes afterward.
In addition to the Activity Plan, athletes need to prepare a list of the people they will spend time with regularly while they are at the Games. This list will help with contact tracing if a positive COVID-19 case is identified.
During the Competition
You’ve finally made it to the Games! Upon arrival in Japan, you will need to take a quantitative antigen COVID-19 test and wait in the airport until you receive your results. This will ensure that no one positive with COVID-19 enters the Games, and possibly spreads it to others.
Throughout the Games, it is important to stay in contact with your CLO. They will have the most recent and up-to-date information, making sure you are always in the know of what’s going on with COVID-19 during the competition. COVID-19 hygiene protocols must be continuously followed during your time at the Games, and your CLO can keep you updated about any changes to those measures.
Athletes should practice hygiene measures throughout the entirety of their Olympic travels. Some of the hygiene measures that are specified in the Playbook will be familiar. A mask must be worn at all times, physical interactions must be limited to those submitted in their Activity Plan, and everything should be continuously sanitized including your hands, surfaces, and equipment. Athletes may remove their masks while warming up, but must abide by the 2-meter rule if possible. In some instances, exceptions to this rule will be applied.
Athletes will be tested daily while at the Games. They will not be required to take temperature tests when entering Games venues, but temperature checks will be mandated upon arrival to the Olympic or Paralympic Villages. It is also recommended that athletes familiarize themselves with the previously mentioned COCOA App so that Games staff are aware of any possible contact amongst participants.
Venues and area layouts at the Games have been specifically designed to allow for social distancing, including reduced capacity and restricted access. All equipment will be disinfected before and after every use, in addition to being 2-meters physically distanced. It may not be possible to abide by this distancing in some cases, so extra protection will be provided using transparent, acrylic panels. If a sport has draws, equipment inspections, or weigh-ins, they will be held online or if possible, in open spaces with a limited number of participants.
Although vaccination will not be required to attend the Games, the Committee strongly recommends it. There are currently efforts in place to have Games participants who will have frequent contact with other athletes vaccinated, to help slow the spread of COVID-19. However, there is no exception or exemption for fully vaccinated athletes, and the rules and regulations of the Playbook still apply to every individual whether or not they are vaccinated.
The IOC has implemented various rules surrounding interviews and medal ceremonies as well. Interviews throughout the Games should last no more than 90 seconds, with the 2-meter distancing rule being adhered to. All interview equipment is not to be shared and must be disinfected after each use. All medal ceremonies and presentations at the Games will take place at the Venue. Masks must be worn, and physical distancing must be followed when possible.
Lastly, the IOC also recommends supporting your teammates by clapping independently rather than chanting or singing, which can spread droplets of COVID-19. The Committee wants to keep the Games as normal as possible, so you can still support each other - just in a different way than you may be used to!
After the Competition
While it would be nice to stick around and cheer on other athletes proudly representing the maple leaf, athletes will be required to depart the Olympic or Paralympic Village within 48 hours after the completion of their competition, or whenever they are eliminated, whichever comes first. Athletes will have to take one of two COVID-19 tests within 72 hours of departing.
Athletes should make sure they are aware of the travel restrictions and requirements of the country they are traveling to. Canadian athletes may be subject to a “High-Performance Amateur Athlete” travel exemption if they are returning to Canada, but it’s important to know the rules and whether you are eligible.
Who is eligible for the travel exemption? A high-performance amateur athlete taking part in an International Single Sport Event (ISSE) and who is affiliated with a National Sport Organization (NSO) responsible for that sport. Also, anyone engaging in an essential role in relation to an ISSE, and who is affiliated with an NSO responsible for that sport.
Both categories need to obtain a letter of authorization from the Deputy Minister of Canadian Heritage (PCH) validating that they fulfill those requirements. Both domestic and foreign Canadian national athletes need to obtain the letter of authorization to be eligible to re-enter Canada, but certain additional requirements apply to foreign athletes.
Foreign national athletes will still have to meet the requirements of para. 186(h) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) and all other requirements to travel and be admitted back into Canada. Foreign national athletes must have a letter of authorization, all other required authorizations needed to travel to Canada including a temporary resident visa (TRV), or an electronic travel authorization (eTA), if required. The PCH will communicate through NSOs to establish what travel document requirements for each authorized individual are required, including a unique identifier to be used during the TRV or eTA application process. Obtaining these documents may take a little bit of time, so it’s best to plan ahead and get them organized well in advance!
Please remember, these travel restrictions are subject to change, so stay in contact with your CLO!
You got this!
As you can see, there is a lot of preparation and planning going into this year’s Games in addition to the usual competition. The moral of the story is that it’s important to do your research and plan, all while maintaining the same safety measures you have been throughout this past year and a half. Pre-planning your trip will ensure that you can focus on your performance, rather than the details! Good luck to all athletes and officials participating in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics, you are going to crush it!
By: Rheanna Geisel, Hannah Dobie & Isaac Papsin
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