Tokyo Olympics 2020: India criticizes 'unfair' rules for COVID-affected countries

"UNFAIR," the Indian Olympic Committee has condemned the Japanese government's severe conditions put on athletes from several Covid-affected countries for the Tokyo Games, which begin next month.

On Monday, Tokyo 2020 organisers announced that additional precautions will be taken to prevent infection risks from numerous nations, including India, that have experienced "substantial effect from variations" of Covid-19.

Further, the guidelines will require players to undergo daily testing for a week before departing for Japan, as well as "refrain from coming into contact with other teams for three days after they arrive" in Japan.

However, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) said that the rules would result in participants missing three crucial training days.

"Athletes are only permitted to enter in the Games village five days before their event," stated IOA president Narinder Batra and secretary Rajeev Mehta in a joint statement released on Saturday.

"Now 3 days would be squandered, this really is the moment the athletes have to be heading towards their peak mode... it is really unjust for Indian athletes, who have worked hard for five years, to be discriminated against just five days prior to the Olympics."

The sport's authorities announced that 11 countries, including India, Pakistan, and the United Kingdom, would be affected.

"Where and when will the athletes take their breakfast, lunch, and supper over these three days, as everyone has food in the Games village dining hall where all athletes and officials from various NOCs (National Olympic Committees) are present all the time?" the statement continued.

Where can athletes work out? Since "practise/training facilities are never unoccupied, and athletes and officials from various NOCs are always there," it inquired.

The Tokyo 2020 organisers confirmed that they had received a paper from India's Olympic Committee.

"For participants from regions like India, where variations have had a substantial impact, it is vital that they follow more strict regulations than those described in the (athletes) Playbook, and are similar to the existing border control measures," they stated.

However, the organisers did not specify whether athletes from the affected countries would be permitted to practise during the three days following their arrival.

Last week, Mr Batra reported that Indian participants will be fully vaccinated before the Games begin on July 23.

In recent weeks, India has relaxed certain lockdown limits as it recovers from a severe increase in illnesses and deaths in April and May.

In late May, the International Olympic Committee announced that six countries – Bangladesh, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka – had vowed to completely vaccinate their delegates and undergo further testing.

Several competitors, such as javelin thrower Neeraj Chopra and wrestler Vinesh Phogat, are training in other countries and will go to Tokyo from there. However, the majority of the Olympic team will travel from India.

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, India took home two medals.