The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in strict measures put in place for athletes and officials competing in next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

This was revealed yesterday by the Tokyo 2020 Coordination Commission chairman John Coates during the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) general assembly in Suva.

Coates said the Games Village has the capacity to cater for 16,500 athletes but with the current situation on the pandemic, it is going to cater for 6000 athletes at one given time.

“To facilitate that, athletes are only allowed into the Games Village five days away from their event,” he said.

“Once they are eliminated the athletes are to vacate the Games Village within 48 hours.”

The Fiji Rugby Union is yet to confirm a camp base.

FRU chief exeucitve officer John O’Connor said they had discussion with Oita officials last year but has not communicated with them due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“We’ll resume talks as soon as possible as other Prefectures have also indicated their interest to host us as well,” he said.

In October, last year the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) signed an agreement with the Oita Prefecture for Fiji’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic pre-games training camp.

The Fijian men’s rugby sevens team are the defending gold medal champions.

The revised men’s competition will be played from July 26-28, 2021 while the women’s will be from July 29-31, 2021, which sees the gold medal falling on ‘Super Saturday’- traditionally a highlight of the Games.

During the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, both Fijian teams were based in Chile and only entered the Games Villages, two days away from their pool opener.

Coates said for accredited athletes and officials will not undergo the quarantine process but however, they’ll be tested regularly.

“The results could be known by 15 minutes and testing will be done before competing especially on contact sports,” he added.

Coates highlighted a lot of decisions will be made or finalised in March and April, next year.

“It’s going to be a massive exercise,” he added.

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