Tokyo Olympics
'Highly unfair': India on Tokyo Olympics' protocols for Covid-hit nations
New Delhi/IBNS: The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has slammed the "unfair" strict rules imposed on athletes from several COVID-hit nations including India by the Japanese government for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
Tokyo 2020 organisers on Monday said that additional measures will be taken to reduce infection spread from several countries, including India.
The protocols will involve daily testing of athletes for a week before they depart for Japan. Then the athletes will have to "refrain from coming into contact with other teams for three days after they arrive" in Japan.
"Athletes are allowed to arrive in the Games village only five days before their event," IOA president Narinder Batra and secretary Rajeev Mehta said in a joint statement released on Saturday.
"Now three days will be wasted, this is the time the athletes need to be moving towards their mode to peak... highly unfair for Indian athletes, who have worked hard for five years, to be discriminated against just five days before the Olympics."
The sport's administrators said 11 countries, including India, Pakistan and the UK, would be affected by such strict protocols.
"Where and when will the athletes have their breakfast, lunch, dinner during these three days, as everyone has food in the Games village food hall where all athletes and officials of other NOCs (National Olympic Committees) are present all the time," the statement added.
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