The Chef De Mission of Sierra Leone, Unisa Deen Kargbo (UDK), has disclosed that the Tokyo Olympic Games, which was postponed to 2021, will go on as per plan.
The Tokyo Olympic Games was originally scheduled for 2020, but due to the COVID-19 virus, it was postponed to 2021.
According to the Chef De Mission, the organizers, in Tokyo and the International Olympic Committee, have assessed the situation and they have assured all NOCs around the World that, even if the COVID-19 virus is still around, the Games will go on in 2021.
“In a webinar few days back, we’ve been assured by the organizers and IOC that the event will go on as per plan. So the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games will surely go on in 2021,” he stated.
UDK said there will be new changes in the Tokyo Olympic Games, adding that a massive COVID-19 test will be done on the delegation that will be making the trip to Japan.
“We are expecting a reduction on the number of delegates that will make the trip to Tokyo compared to previous Games and also there will be a two weeks mandatory quarantine. Tests will be conducted on the entire delegation before leaving the shores of Sierra Leone. Another test will also be done in Japan before the delegation is allowed to go to the Olympic Village,” he noted.
He also stated that there will be no team welcome ceremony and that they will only invite the Chef De Mission to exchange gifts and the system of registration will open early and will be closed earlier than expected.
“Due to these latest changes, within the system, we are expecting all Associations to register their delegation within November to January so that we will avoid late registrations,” the Chef De Mission asserted.
“The Chef De Mission will have to sign a mandatory document for every athlete that will be in the system for the Olympic Games. Finally I am reminding all sport administrators to make sure that they conduct tests for the athletes before going back to training,” he concluded.