By Bockarie Allieu
FREETOWN, July 7 (SALONE TIMES) – The executive of the National Olympic Committee in Sierra Leone who also serve as the local Olympic Games organizing committee last Thursday updated accredited members of the Olympic and Paralympic Games on travelling and COVID19 measures of the Tokyo Games.
In the meeting at the Siaka Steven Stadium Atlantic Hall in Freetown, the President of NOC Dr. Patrick Coker stated to the members that this year’s Games is different from all other previous games.
He went on that it is because of the COVID19 Pandemic all over the world and it is mandatory that all those that will be going to Japan be it athletes, Coaches and officials should take the COVID vaccine before entering Japan.
This law, he said is not from the organizers but the government of Japan who doesn’t want somebody with the disease to enter their country.
In this case, the organizers have asked all participating country to appoint a COVID Liaison Officer who will make sure all are going by the rules of COVID at home before departure and while in the Games.
He went on that this time round there will be no match pass but all will be in uniform so that they will be easily identified.
Dr. Coker also advised all to get their passports, yellow cards and vaccine cards always with them for check.
The Chef De Mission Unisa Deen Kargbo said there are still yet some in the long list for the both the Olympic and Para Games to be confirmed.
He said there is already an app called OCHA which he said all should download for the activity plans while in Japan.
On arriving in Japan, after the PCR test at the airport, all should stay in their rooms for 24 hours until after the result comes out.
If tested positive the individual will be isolated for 24 hours again until he tested negative in the next test.
In this case, he said from now on all should be in some form isolation with their face masks while in crowded places and wash their hands frequently before departure date.
All members of the delegation to Japan, he said will be tested twice before departure. The first test he said will be done 4 days to the departure date and the other three days to the date.
He further stated that NOC is working with the government to get a flight that will reach Japan within 72 hours.
In this case, he said they will transit in Turkey. More than 72 hours, he said all will be quarantine until after a COVID test done before they will allow them to go to their hotels or the games village.
The athletes, he said should arrive in Japan 5 days before the start of the games and should do so two after going out of the competition.
The NOC Secretary General Joseph Nyande asked all associations and coaches to warn their athletes to go strictly by the Anti-Doping standard rules regulation.
He said they should be on the alert as Anti-Doping officials will be in the country at any time to test the athletes before departure.
He emphasized that they should be in continued contact with them until the date for the test.
The Deputy Executive Director of National Sports Authority Dr. Abdul Rahman Swaray assured all that they have activated the procedure of the games and are now waiting for Finance Ministry to react to the budget.
Dr. Swaray advised all athletes to go strictly by all the protocols before and during the games.
The COVID Liaison Officer Prince Sualley reechoed the COVID rules and that they should always be with their vaccine cards.
Face masks, he said is a priority in Japan until you are alone or while in the dining hall. He told the accredited members that he will be liaising with the COVID authorities for any test as such he should know where each member is staying.
