Japan has imposed strict protocols on Indian athletes and officials who will be traveling to Tokyo for the upcoming 2021 Olympics. The organisers have asked travellers to undergo continuous 7-day Covid-19 tests before their departure from their countries.
“Before you travel: You must be tested every day, for seven days, prior to your departure to Japan,” stated the advisory for the Group 1 countries which includes Afghanistan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka alongside India.
The advisory has asked the athletes to check into the Games Village five days prior to the commencement of the competition. Furthermore, for a period of three days on arrival, the athletes and officials will also be restricted from physically interacting with anyone from the other country team or delegation.
“At the Games, you will be tested every day as is the case for all athletes and officials”, the orders said.
The strict decisions have drawn criticism from the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and have become a reason of their fury.
Calling the orders “unfair and discriminatory”, the Indian Olympic Association President Narinder Batra and Secretary-General Rajeev Mehta, in a joint statement, highlighted the training and nutrition problems Indian athletes will have to go through following these orders.
“Where and when will the Athletes have their Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, etc during these 3 days, as everyone has food in the Games village food hall where all Athletes and officials of other NOCs are present all the time”, they further questioned.
“If Food Packets are being delivered outside the Rooms of the Athletes, then who will plan their body requirements like Proteins, food preferences, etc and will it not affect the performance of athletes, who will not get their preferred diet, just 5 days before the Olympics”
The point of training areas was also raised since the practice area sees athletes and officials from other countries as well.
The IOA also questioned the need for such strict regulations given everyone will be double vaccinated and will take off only after an entire week of tests.
“Why make the Athletes suffer at a time when they need to peak, once again highly unfair for Indian Athletes who have worked hard for 5 years to be discriminated against just 5 days before the Olympics,” the statement read.