Olympics team could receive COVID vaccine

The team’s chef de mission Tshepo Sitale said vaccination is one of the various interventions proposed. He said the medical team would, therefore, guide them accordingly. “There is a collaboration between the International Olympic Committee (IOC), World Health Organisation (WHO) and the host country, Japan on protocols for all athletes who would be participating in the games,” he said. Sitale said the Ministry of Health and Wellness is also a stakeholder, regularly engaged, together with Team Botswana Olympics medical team.

A recent coordination meeting for COVID-19 countermeasures at the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020, discussed immigration issues for games staff and athletes. The virtual meeting was attended by key Olympic Games stakeholders, including the games’ Organising Committee and Tokyo Metropolitan government. An athlete track system was established following the virtual deliberations. “This system will allow athletes, coaches and games staff participating in competitions and preparations for the games (including essential test events, qualifying competitions, warm-up games, and pre-camp events) and entry into Japan under the condition of implementation of all necessary preventive measures against infectious disease,” reads a statement released after the meeting.