Tokyo Olympic Risk
Tight security health measures required by the Tokyo Olympic Games committee could prevent our Team Fiji men’s rugby sevens team from playing in a proposed Oceania 7s tournament in Sydney, Australia.
This was the gist of Team Fiji chef de mission Patrick Bower’s message during an interview with SUNsports.
Bower said, if the Fijian men’s rugby sevens team are to play Australia, then they must meet all COVID-19 requirements before they fly to Tokyo, Japan.
It is understood the risk is that the team return home a week before they leave for Tokyo. At this time, they will not complete their 14-day quarantine requirement.
“We are moving into analysing the costs and logistics,” Bower said.
“If the men’s rugby 7s team are going to Sydney, then on their return they must meet the requirements before boarding the plane with us to Tokyo.”
Bower said it’s a must for the Gareth Baber-coached side to return home and join the flight to Tokyo.
“The Tokyo Olympics requirement demands that 72 hours prior departure the Team Fiji contingent must be strictly monitoring from there (in Fiji),” he said.
“They (in Japan) will check the report to ensure we have followed the 72-hour protocol and ready to leave for Tokyo.”
Failing to do that, Bower said, the Team Fiji contingent will not be allowed to enter Japan.
He reiterated that Team Fiji athletes and officials must strictly follow all protocols. “We are finalising things particularly focusing on the COVID-19 requirements. That is to make sure we are meeting all the obligations that must to be met,” he said.
Bower said with Wayne O’Connor as the Team Fiji’s COVID-19 Country Liaison Officer (CLO), he is doing everything to ensure that we are on track.
“Wayne is in close collaboration with the officials in Tokyo on their requirements. “And we are now receiving daily and weekly updates from them,” he said.
“We have put together a document, particularly in Fiji and its ongoing so what we have this week may not be the same as next week.
“This depends on situation, that is where we are at the moment.”
Bower reiterated that O’Connor plays an important role.
“Again, he makes sure that we comply with all the health protocols from Tokyo,” he said.
“Once we get to Tokyo and we don’t comply with what they want then we will not be allowed entry.”
Baber had earlier indicated the need for the sevens team to play in Australia to expose the new players, especially when playing internationally.
The Fijian men’s sevens team won the gold medal at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Edited by Leone Cabenatabua
Feedback: simione.haravanua@fijisun.com.fj
