Special measures took effect Thursday allowing overseas athletes and staff who will attend next summer's Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics to compete in related events or join training sessions during the government-imposed 14-day coronavirus quarantine period, sources have said.
The quarantine currently imposed, in principle, on international travelers is aimed at preventing the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. However, it is believed that the government is taking the measure to facilitate Olympic-related activities along with stringent anti-infection measures.
In addition to support staff, the special measures cover the foreign and Japanese athletes certified by the Japanese Olympic Committee and the Japan Paralympic Committee who will join in international competitions -- whose winners will gain the right to participate in the Games -- test events, training camps and others.
The range of activities will be limited to competition venues, training sites and accommodations.
Athletes and staff will be obliged to use dedicated cars for transportation, in principle, for the purpose of thorough infection prevention.
The decision was announced to the JOC and JPC at a coordination meeting about new coronavirus countermeasures that the government held Thursday.
JOC Secretary General Tsuyoshi Fukui said the special measures will be a tremendous boost for sports associations planning international games in improving competitiveness in athletics.
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