LONDON: The International Olympic Committee will limit the length of stay at the Tokyo Olympic athletes’ village to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection, IOC President Thomas Bach said Monday.

Athletes competing in next year’s Tokyo Games will be allowed to arrive at the Olympic village five days prior to the start of their competition and have to leave it a maximum of 48 hours after their completion, Bach told a virtual press conference.

“We think that this is absolutely necessary, because we need to reduce and minimize the number of residents in the Olympic village to minimize the risk of COVID exposure,” Bach said.

“At the same time, we wanted to maintain the athletes’ experience. We wanted to be balanced with the considerations about athletic performance and also with attendance at the opening ceremony,” he said.

The Tokyo Olympics were postponed by one year due to the pandemic.

JIJI Press