‘Japan’s athletes won’t take Chinese vaccine’

Olympic host Japan will not take part in China’s offer to provide vaccines for participants in the postponed Tokyo Olympic Games and next year’s Beijing Winter Games.

The proposal by the Chinese foreign ministry to provide vaccines for participants in the Olympic Games have already been accepted by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa on Friday said that Japan had not been consulted by the IOC about the Chinese vaccines and that Japanese athletes would not take them.

Marukawa said, “We have been taking comprehensive anti-infectious disease measures for the Tokyo Games in order to allow participation without vaccinations. There is no change to our principle of not making vaccinations a prerequisite.”

Marukawa pointed out that the Olympics are being held as if vaccines are not available, relying on testing, masks, social distancing and keeping athletes in a bubble.

However, the IOC clarified on Friday that athletes in countries that have not authorized Chinese vaccines for use could not benefit from the program.

ARR