Japan to require Covid-19 tests for Olympics' athletes

TOKYO, Sept 23 (Reuters): Organisers of next year's delayed Olympic Games will require coronavirus tests of foreign athletes upon their arrival in Japan, draft measures released on Wednesday show.

Japanese athletes and other participants living in Japan will face the same requirements, according to the measures, which are still being discussed.

Although foreign athletes and other participants will not have to undergo a two-week quarantine period, virus tests will be required on arrival and departure, under the plan.

Organisers also propose to limit travel within Japan for athletes, who will be restricted to such places as towns hosting national delegations and training sites.

The pandemic, which has infected more than 31.3 million people and killed about 964,000 worldwide, has prompted hard questions about the viability of next year's Games, even as new Prime Minister YoshihideSuga has emphasised their importance.

Japan has avoided the kind of explosive outbreak suffered by nations such as the United States, India and Brazil, with roughly 80,000 infections and about 1,500 deaths to date.

Details of the coronavirus measures for the Games were still under discussion, including the frequency of tests, Toshiro Muto, the CEO of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee told reporters.

Muto also said he hoped deliberations with the IOC and various international sports federations would be finalised by December.