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Oceania athletes from seventeen Pacific island countries, including Australia and New Zealand, have been applauded for their sacrifice in preparation toward the TOKYO 2020 Summer Olympics and encouraged to ensure a safe games experience by adhering to the Olympic COVID-19 countermeasures.
Chair of the Oceania National Olympic Committees’ (ONOC) Athletes’ Commission (ONOC AC), Ms Karo Lelai said, ‘Oceania is already a challenging region for any athlete given the challenges of isolation, remoteness, distance and lack of facilities and competition even under normal Games years, so I applaud all athletes who have made it to Tokyo.
She added, ‘Like the rest of the world, our athletes were prepared for the Olympic Games last year and were impacted by the one-year postponement.
‘However, I thank the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee for the wisdom of postponing the Games in order to ensure maximum safety and the full suite of COVID-19 countermeasures that have been developed and shared through the Tokyo 2020 Playbooks.’
Ms Lelai also thanked both Committees for allowing the TOKYO 2020 Games to proceed as it was important for the realisation of athletes’ dreams.
‘Given the nature of sport and its dependence on health and peak physicality, many athletes prepare for years to reach the pinnacle of participation at the Olympics,’ she said, ‘For some, TOKYO 2020 will be their last Games and it is important for transition into life after sport.’
She also encouraged athletes of Oceania to adhere to the COVID-19 countermeasures and guidelines that both Committees had been sharing and updating through the year.
‘I will also emphasise that it’s very important that all Oceania athletes adhere to the COVID-19 protocols outlined and updated in the TOKYO 2020 Playbooks because after so much sacrifice, it’s critical that every athlete reach and complete participation in their sport.’
‘It’s also very important because safety is required on the return trips home, particularly, as several Pacific island countries remain COVID-19-free at this stage, and on a general note to every country.’ Ms Lelai said.
The COVID-19 Countermeasures are available in the TOKYO 2020 Playbooks which, according to the official Games website ‘outline the responsibilities of all Games participants and the rules that must be followed – starting 14 days before travel as well as entry to Japan, throughout the Games, and departing.’
Extra information:
On ONOC Athletes’ Commission via ONOC website page
On ONOC Athletes Commission via Official Microsite
On TOKYO 2020 Games
On TOKYO 2020 Playbooks of Countermeasures for COVID-19
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About ONOC
Established in 1981, the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) is one of five Continental Associations. It looks after the interests of 17 member nations in the Oceania Region, including Australia and New Zealand as well as seven associate members.
ONOC has an office in Guam where Secretary General Mr. Ricardo Blas is based and the Secretariat in Suva, Fiji, where the Office of the President Dr Robin Mitchell is located.
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For more information, please contact;
Sitiveni Tawakevou
Chief Communications Officer (Acting)
sitiveni@oceanianoc.org
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