Olympics would be 'extremely difficult' for unvaccinated athletes: France

IOC encourages vaccination of athletes but says it can't impose it at Tokyo Games

A picture of the interior of the completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games stadium. AFP

An aerial picture of the completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games stadium. AFP

The completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games stadium pictured in the city. AFP

People at a viewing area look out at the completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games stadium. AFP

People at a viewing area look out at the completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games stadium. AFP

People at a viewing area look out at the completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games stadium. AFP

People at a viewing area look out at the completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games stadium. AFP

The completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games stadium as seen from a distance. AFP

The completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games stadium as seen from a distance. AFP

People look out a window at the completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games stadium. AFP

The completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games stadium as seen from a distance. AFP

An aerial view of the completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games stadium. AP Photo

The completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games stadium. AP Photo

An aerial view of the completed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games stadium. AP Photo

Athletes who have not been vaccinated against Covid-19 would face "extremely difficult" conditions at the Tokyo Games this summer, the president of the French National Olympic Committee (CNOSF) said on Monday.

Unvaccinated athletes who go to the Games in Japan face "quarantine of a fortnight" and "will have to undergo tests in the mornings and evenings," Denis Masseglia warned.

The issue of vaccination of athletes for the Tokyo Olympics, postponed last year because of the pandemic, is to be discussed on Wednesday at a meeting of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Committee.

The IOC officially encourages the vaccination of athletes but says it cannot impose it.

Masseglia said there was no choice. In a video press conference, he said that "holding the Games is at stake".

"We are not alone," he said. "For our Japanese friends to receive athletes and accredited people from all over the world requires some precautions."

He said that the difficulties they would face could have "a dissuasive effect" for athletes who did not want to be vaccinated.

Masseglia said he spoke to IOC president Thomas Bach last week. In France, nearly a million priority people have been vaccinated, but the pace of vaccination is extremely varied around the world. Some countries, including Japan, have not started yet.

The issue of vaccination of athletes also raises an ethical problem.

"It's out of the question that athletes should be given priority over other categories of population, but between now and the Games we can assume that it is possible to have them vaccinated without penalising other people," Masseglia said.

"I have taken a position in favour of vaccination, I hope that all French athletes will share this perspective," he added.