The 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games are to commence on 23 July 2021 with athletes focused on “controlling the controllables”.

The games are going forward despite the occupational health and safety issues arising with the COVID-19 outbreaks. Australians are unable to leave the country without a special exemption from the Australian Border Force. This does not automatically mean they are able to return.

If there is to be an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Village during the games there will be extreme difficulty with the Australian Border Force and their return.

The International Olympic Committee has requested all accredited personnel and athletes who are attending the games to sign a waiver which removes all liability from the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee and the Tokyo organisers. Despite the bodies inability to provided countermeasures as the precautions and measures continue to change.

This week the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 Addendum was distributed which said:

“To the fullest extent admissible under applicable laws, the Responsible Organisation agrees to irrevocably release Tokyo 2020, the IOC, the IPC (and their respective members, directors, officers, employees, volunteers, contractors or agents) from any liability for any kind of loss, injury or damage that the Responsible Organisation, including any Accredited Person under its responsibility, may suffer or be exposed to in connection with their participation in the Games.”

Furthermore, all athletes are to sign a hard copy of a written pledge and provide it to immigration officials upon arrival which guarantees they will follow all countermeasures, despite not being aware of the requirements as they continue to change in the COVID-19 climate.

The Olympics and Paralympics Games cannot delay any events by a week or more due to the rigorous broadcast window and other commercial restraint, this means that if there is an outbreak or possible COVID-19 case and an event is delayed, it may not be able to go forward at all.

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