Preamble
Today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) continued its consultations with all the stakeholders of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. The first took place with the International Olympic Summer Sports Federations. Those with the National Olympic Committees (NOCs), the athletes’ representatives, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), other International Federations (IFs) and other stakeholders will follow in the coming days.
This communique* sets out the principles established by the IOC Executive Board (EB), together with their implementation in cooperation with all the stakeholders concerned. The IOC will continue to act as a responsible organisation. In this context, the IOC asks all its stakeholders within their own remits to do everything to contribute to the containment of the virus.
Communique
This is an unprecedented situation for the whole world, and our thoughts are with all those affected by this crisis. We are in solidarity with the whole of society to do everything to contain the virus.
The situation around the COVID-19 virus is also impacting the preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and is changing day by day.
The IOC remains fully committed to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, and with more than four months to go before the Games there is no need for any drastic decisions at this stage; and any speculation at this moment would be counter-productive.
The IOC encourages all athletes to continue to prepare for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 as best they can. We will keep supporting the athletes by consulting with them and their respective NOCs, and by providing them with the latest information and developments, which are accessible for athletes worldwide on the Athlete365 website and via their respective NOCs and IFs.
The IOC has confidence that the many measures being taken by many authorities around the world will help contain the situation of the COVID-19 virus. In this context, the IOC welcomes the support of the G7 leaders as expressed by Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, who said: “I want to hold the Olympics and Paralympics perfectly, as proof that the human race will conquer the new coronavirus, and I gained support for that from the G-7 leaders.”
We will continue to act in a responsible way and have agreed the following overriding principles about the staging of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020:
1. To protect the health of everyone involved and to support the containment of the virus.
2. To safeguard the interests of the athletes and of Olympic sport.
The IOC will continue to monitor the situation 24/7. Already in mid-February, a task force was set up consisting of the IOC, the World Health Organization (WHO), the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Japanese authorities and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government.
The purpose of the task force is to ensure coordinated actions by all stakeholders. It has the mission to keep a constant appraisal of the situation to form the basis for the ongoing operational planning and necessary adaptations. The task force also monitors the implementation of the various actions decided. The IOC will continue to follow the guidance of this task force. The IOC’s decision will not be determined by financial interests, because thanks to its risk management policies and insurance it will in any case be able to continue its operations and accomplish its mission to organise the Olympic Games.
A number of measures have been taken.
The format of all the test events in March and April has been altered to allow for the testing of essential Games elements; the lighting of the Olympic torch in Greece and subsequent elements of the Torch Relay in Japan are being adapted; the entire Games preparation supply chain has been analysed; and alternative plans are in place in the event of anticipated disruption.
At the same time, the topics and issues which were identified by the IOC Coordination Commission for the Games as priorities continue to retain the full attention of Tokyo 2020, the IOC and the Olympic stakeholders. In this respect, work is ongoing for the preparation of athletics road events in Sapporo; heat countermeasures continue to be detailed and refined on a sport-by-sport basis; and transport and crowd movement planning remain a key focus of attention.
Concerning the next meetings, especially the upcoming Coordination Commission visit and various project reviews, adjustments have been made to the agenda and participation. While the activities remain planned on the same dates, the participation in Tokyo will be reduced while ensuring the Coordination Commission members can attend the most important part of the meeting by teleconference. The same will be done for any subsequent visits until further notice.
The day-to-day work between all organisations continues, although on a remote basis.
Currently, all Olympic Movement stakeholders and the athletes face significant challenges around securing the final qualification places for the Games. In some countries, athletes are even finding it hard to continue their regular training schedules. The IOC is reassured by the solidarity and flexibility shown by the athletes, the IFs and the NOCs, that are managing these challenges across a number of sports.
To date, 57 per cent of the athletes are already qualified for the Games. For the remaining 43 per cent of places, the IOC will work with the IFs to make any necessary and practical adaptations to their respective qualification systems for Tokyo 2020, in line with the following principles:
1. All quota places that have already been allocated to date remain allocated to the NOCs and athletes that obtained them.
2. The possibility remains to use existing and scheduled qualification events, wherever these still have fair access for all athletes and teams.
3. All necessary adaptations to qualification systems and all allocation of remaining places will be:
a) based on on-field results (e.g. IF ranking or historical results); and
b) reflect where possible the existing principles of the respective qualification systems (e.g. use of rankings or continental/regional specific event results).
Any increase in athlete quotas will be considered on a case-by-case basis under exceptional circumstances, with the support of the Organising Committee Tokyo 2020.
The IFs will make proposals for any adaptations to their respective qualification systems based on the principles outlined above. The adaptations need to be implemented sport by sport because of the differences between qualification systems. The IOC has already put in place an accelerated procedure to solve this situation. Any necessary revisions to the Tokyo 2020 qualification systems by sport will be published by the beginning of April 2020 and communicated to all stakeholders.
IOC President Thomas Bach said: “The health and well-being of all those involved in the preparations for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 is our number-one concern. All measures are being taken to safeguard the safety and interests of athletes, coaches and support teams. We are an Olympic community; we support one another in good times and in difficult times. This Olympic solidarity defines us as a community.”
The President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF), Francesco Ricci Bitti, added: “I would like to thank all those involved in the organisation of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and all the athletes and the International Federations for their great flexibility. We share the same approach and the same principles as the IOC, and we are as committed as the IOC to successful Olympic Games Tokyo 2020. We will keep in touch and have further consultations with all stakeholders concerned.”
After its consultations with the IFs, the IOC will follow up with the NOCs and the athletes’ representatives in the coming days.
* This communique was unanimously approved by the IOC EB and all Olympic Summer Sports Federations.
tokyo2020.org
Preámbulo
Hoy, el Comité Olímpico Internacional (COI) continuó sus consultas con todas las partes interesadas de los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio 2020. El primero tuvo lugar con las Federaciones Olímpicas Internacionales de Deportes de Verano. Aquellos con los Comités Olímpicos Nacionales (CON), los representantes de los atletas, el Comité Paralímpico Internacional (IPC), otras Federaciones Internacionales (FI) y otras partes interesadas seguirán en los próximos días.
Este comunicado * establece los principios establecidos por el Comité Ejecutivo (JE) del COI, junto con su implementación en cooperación con todos los interesados involucrados. El COI continuará actuando como una organización responsable. En este contexto, el COI pide a todos sus interesados dentro de sus propias competencias que hagan todo lo posible para contribuir a la contención del virus.
Comunicado
Esta es una situación sin precedentes para todo el mundo, y nuestros pensamientos están con todos los afectados por esta crisis. Somos solidarios con toda la sociedad para hacer todo lo posible por contener el virus.
La situación en torno al virus COVID-19 también está afectando los preparativos para los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio 2020, y está cambiando día a día.
El COI sigue totalmente comprometido con los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio 2020, y con más de cuatro meses antes de los Juegos no hay necesidad de tomar decisiones drásticas en esta etapa; y cualquier especulación en este momento sería contraproducente.
El COI alienta a todos los atletas a continuar preparándose para los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio 2020 lo mejor que puedan. Seguiremos apoyando a los atletas consultando con ellos y sus respectivos CON, y proporcionándoles la información y los desarrollos más recientes, a los que pueden acceder los atletas de todo el mundo en el sitio web de Athlete365 y a través de sus respectivos CON y FI.
El COI confía en que las numerosas medidas adoptadas por muchas autoridades de todo el mundo ayudarán a contener la situación del virus COVID-19.
En este contexto, el COI agradece el apoyo de los líderes del G7 tal como lo expresó el primer ministro japonés Abe Shinzo, quien dijo: «Quiero celebrar los Juegos Olímpicos y Paralímpicos a la perfección, como prueba de que la raza humana conquistará el nuevo coronavirus, y yo obtuve apoyo para eso de los líderes del G-7 «.
Continuaremos actuando de manera responsable y hemos acordado los siguientes principios fundamentales sobre la organización de los Juegos Olímpicos de Tokio 2020:
- Para proteger la salud de todos los involucrados y apoyar la contención del virus.
- Salvaguardar los intereses de los atletas y del deporte olímpico.
El COI continuará monitoreando la situación 24/7. - Ya a mediados de febrero, se creó un grupo de trabajo compuesto por el COI, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS), el Comité Organizador de Tokio 2020, las autoridades japonesas y el Gobierno Metropolitano de Tokio.
El propósito del grupo de trabajo es garantizar acciones coordinadas por parte de todos los interesados. - Tiene la misión de mantener una evaluación constante de la situación para formar la base de la planificación operativa en curso y las adaptaciones necesarias. El grupo de trabajo también monitorea la implementación de las diversas acciones decididas. El COI continuará siguiendo la orientación de este grupo de trabajo. La decisión del COI no estará determinada por intereses financieros, porque gracias a sus políticas de gestión de riesgos y seguros, en cualquier caso podrá continuar sus operaciones y cumplir su misión de organizar los Juegos Olímpicos.
Se han tomado una serie de medidas.
El formato de todos los eventos de prueba en marzo y abril se ha modificado para permitir la prueba de elementos esenciales de los Juegos; se está adaptando la iluminación de la antorcha olímpica en Grecia y los elementos posteriores del relevo de la antorcha en Japón; se ha analizado toda la cadena de suministro de preparación de Juegos; y existen planes alternativos en caso de interrupción anticipada.
Al mismo tiempo, los temas y problemas que fueron identificados por la Comisión de Coordinación del COI para los Juegos como prioridades continúan manteniendo la atención total de Tokio 2020, el COI y los actores olímpicos. A este respecto, se está trabajando para la preparación de eventos de atletismo en carretera en Sapporo; las contramedidas de calor continúan siendo detalladas y refinadas deporte por deporte; y la planificación del transporte y el movimiento de multitudes siguen siendo un foco clave de atención.
Con respecto a las próximas reuniones, especialmente la próxima visita de la Comisión de Coordinación y varias revisiones de proyectos, se han realizado ajustes en la agenda y la participación. Si bien las actividades siguen planificadas en las mismas fechas, la participación en Tokio se reducirá al tiempo que se garantiza que los miembros de la Comisión de Coordinación puedan asistir a la parte más importante de la reunión por teleconferencia. Lo mismo se hará para cualquier visita posterior hasta nuevo aviso.
El trabajo diario entre todas las organizaciones continúa, aunque de manera remota.
Actualmente, todas las partes interesadas del Movimiento Olímpico y los atletas se enfrentan a desafíos importantes para asegurar los lugares de calificación final para los Juegos.