Sports
Olympic organisers say “masks and no singing” are among rules for COVID-19 Games
Olympic officials on Wednesday unveiled the first of many COVID-19 rules for the Tokyo Games this summer, banning singing and chanting during events.
They are also going to mandate participants to wear masks at “all times” except when eating, sleeping or outdoors.
The measures, which also included rules barring international federation officials and staff from using public transport without permission, are unlikely to comfort a wary Japanese public.
The Japanese publics are increasingly opposed to hosting the Games during a global pandemic.
Officials acknowledged that the Summer Games in Tokyo would be “different” from any past Olympics, but reiterated that they would be able to hold the postponed event safely this year.
“There will be a number of constraints and conditions that the participants will have to respect and follow, which will have an impact on their experience, particularly when it comes to the social aspect of what the Olympics experience can be,” said Pierre Ducrey, the director of Olympic Games Operations at the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The Tokyo Olympics were delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and is scheduled to begin in July.
New rules in a “playbook” jointly published by the Tokyo Olympic organisers, the IOC, and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) range from regular hand-washing protocols to disinfecting dining tables after eating.
Delegations and staff will also be required to appoint a COVID-19 liaison officer, who will be responsible for ensuring that the participants follow the guidelines.
Serious failures to comply with virus rules could lead to expulsion from the Games, the playbook said.
Officials said the rules unveiled on Wednesday were for delegates of international federations competing in the Games, adding that they would publish updated guidelines in April.
This will be with more details expected on testing and isolation and more specific guidance for athletes.
Japan has fared better than most other advanced economies in fighting the coronavirus, with fewer than 6,000 deaths recorded so far.
But new infections in Japan rose to record highs in early January, triggering a state of emergency in Tokyo and some other areas.
The government extended the emergency in most of those places on Tuesday.
Nearly 80 percent of the public are opposed to holding the Olympics as scheduled this year, according to recent polls, concerned that an influx of athletes will further spread the virus.
A medical association representing Tokyo doctors combating the coronavirus told Reuters this week medical staff would not have the time to volunteer to help at the Olympics.
This is because they have been under too much strain dealing with the third wave of the pandemic.
The country, which is last among the Group of Seven advanced industrial nations to begin vaccinating its population, is set to begin its vaccination campaign later this month.
Some have expressed worry that this will further stretch medical resources.
Asked about such concerns, an official from the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee said it was important to achieve a balance between supporting the local medical system and hosting the Games.
By Dr. Salau Dee Elf (NUGA Publicity Liaison Officer 1993-2001)
The Federation of African Universities Sports (FASI), the body that is in charge of Organisation of Sports competitions within Universities in Africa. Many sports stars have been discovered in various Sports for many African Countries. The popular athlete Chidi Imo, Olapade Adeniken and others who competed and won many medals for Nigeria in Athletics are products of Nigerian University Games Association (NUGA)
In Football, Adokie Amesimaka, a Law Students of the University of Portharcourt, Mutiu Adepoju of the University of Ibadan, Super Eagles Midfielder Seyi Olofinjana of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso among others were University stars who performed wonderfully for the National Football Team.
Many others in other national sports who were stars in their Sports competed and won laurels for Nigeria in their various Sports. It is very easy to Coach University Students in Sports due to their level of education and exposure.
However, with the turn of quick and fast results in Football and other sports, institutional sports was relegated to the background. Most American draft into American Professional Baseball are from American Colleges/Universities. The same is also the case with Athletics and other major sports. Their Institutional Sports are well organised and well supported by private organisations. Their star players/Athletes are not only well supported but are monitored to know their growth.
With this background it will be worthwhile for Nigeria to ensure her Institutional Sports such as the NUGA, Nigerian Polytheistic Games Association (NIPOGA), Nigerian Colleges of Education Games Association (NICEGA) and School Sports Federation of Nigeria (SSFN) are properly supported and funded to become the grass root for the production of star sportsmen and women in Nigeria.
Come September 20th to 29th 2024 this year, two Nigerian Universities will host the 11th FASU Games. The University of Lagos, (UNILAG) Akoka Lagos and Lagos State University, (LASU) Ojo Lagos will Co-host this 11th Edition of the Games.
About 100 Universities from different Countries in Africa with more than 3,500 sportsmen and women with about 1,000 officials will be at the Games. It will be an avenue for the athletes to showcase their talents during the FASU Conmpetitions.
It will be recalled that Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University(ATBU), Bauchi hosted the 4th edition of the Games in 1996. The Federal and Bauchi State Governments fully supported NUGA and ATBU. As the NUGA Press Officer then, we worked directly with Alhaji Sani Toro, then Bauchi State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, who made the State work tirelessly for the success of the FASU Games.
The hosting of the FASU is an opportunity for Nigerian Universities to showcase the talents they have, win laurels and eventually become stars in their respective sports for Nigeria. Other Universities in Africa are also coming to compete for laurels and expose their athletes.
The success of this FASU Games highly lies in the organisational efforts of the joint host Universities, the Lagos State and Federal Governments. The outside influence that will also come handy for the Games is the power of the organisers to seek sponsorship for the Games.
The greater import of the Games is for Nigeria to deliberately scout for potential stars in different sports for the country. This will be a great opportunity for the country to get back to its original grassroots way of catching the sports stars young and turning them to stars.
So obviously, the FASU Games being jointly hosted by UNILAG and LASU Is not only a good opportunity for Nigeria to showcase good brotherliness to her African brothers and Sisters, but an opportunity to grow its sports industry.
With the return of Nigeria to Institutional Sports through this September 20th to 29th FASU Games, we hope Nigeria will get it right.
Dr Salau Dee Elf writes from Lagos | [email protected]
Team Nigeria wrestlers will depart the country on Wednesday for Spain for a pre Olympic tournament in Madrid, before settling in Germany for their last camping ahead of the games proper.
Daniel Igali, President, Nigeria Wrestling Federation (NWF), told the News on Tuesday in Abuja that athletes have been in camp for a couple of weeks, training.
According to Igali, six wrestlers who will fly the nation’s flag at the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France have been unveiled by the federation.
Igali said that he was optimistic that the wrestlers would put up a good performance at the Olympics.
“Yesterday, six wrestlers were celebrated in a colourful ceremony at the Dynamite Wrestling Gym in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.
“The athletes will not only participate in the Paris Olympics but they will compete and win medals to make the country proud.
“They have passed through a lot of training during their camping and I am sure they will surpass their previous performance,” he said.
Team Nigeria wrestlers comprises five female, one male freestyle wrestler and three coaches.
The wrestlers are: Tokyo Olympic silver medalist, Blessing Oborodudu (68kg), the African champion Odunayo Adekuoroye (57kg) and Military World Champion, Hannah Reuben (76kg).
Others are the African champions and Olympics debutants, Esther Kolawole (62kg) and Ogunsanya Christinah (53kg) as well as Ashton Mutuwa, who will compete in the men’s freestyle (125kg).
The coaches are Victor Kodei, Purity Akuh and Happiness Burutu.
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