Olympic Athletes to Be Offered<br />COVID-19 Vaccine Before Games.<br />On Thursday, the International Olympic Committee announced its<br />initiative to increase safety at the upcoming Summer Games. .<br />All athletes and officials traveling to Tokyo, Japan, for the<br />Olympic Games will be offered doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine. .<br />The committee has struck a deal with the drugmaker to<br />provide doses to the participants in their home countries.<br />The shots will then be administered<br />via domestic inoculation programs.<br />In a statement, the committee said this vaccine initiative<br />was launched to “contribute to the safe environment” of the<br />Olympic Games and "out of respect" for Japan's residents.<br />So far, less than one percent of people in Japan<br />are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.<br />Although competitors are<br />encouraged to get vaccinated, <br />it is not a requirement.<br />We are inviting the athletes and participating<br />delegations of the upcoming Olympic and<br />Paralympic Games to lead by example and accept<br />the vaccine where and when possible. , IOC President Thomas Bach, via statement .<br />By taking the vaccine, they can send a powerful message that vaccination is not only about personal health, but also about solidarity and consideration of the wellbeing of others in <br />their communities, IOC President Thomas Bach, via statement
