Israel, Denmark to vaccinate all athletes for Tokyo Games

Several countries, including Israel and Denmark, said on Wednesday they would vaccinate their athletes and staff against COVID-19 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, amid global debate over whether athletes should be given priority access in the rollout.

Global coronavirus cases surpassed 100 million on Wednesday, according to a Reuters tally, as countries around the world struggle with new virus variants and vaccine shortfalls.

Israel, which currently leads the world on per capita vaccinations, said it had already inoculated half its Olympic athletes delegation.

"By the end of May 2021, all... will be completely vaccinated against the coronavirus," a spokeswoman from the Israel Olympic Committee told Reuters in an email.

Denmark's chef de mission Soren Simonsen said "approximately 150 athletes and 200 officials" would get the vaccine.

"In Denmark, the government will start vaccinating normal healthy people in April, so that is the earliest time slot," Simonsen said. "The Danish people should all have a vaccine by approximately July 1."

'Protect our athletes'

Hungary's National Olympic Committee also said its athletes would be vaccinated "in a few weeks."

The Belgian Olympic Committee (BOIC) has asked its government for "400 to 500" vaccines for Olympic athletes and their entourage to travel to the Tokyo Games but insists it is not asking for preferential treatment.

"The intention is not to pre-empt healthcare workers and vulnerable groups, but we want to protect our athletes," Johan Bellemans, chief physician of the BOIC told Belgium's Sporza TV.

"But we are not asking for preferential treatment... Obviously, we don't want our athletes to be at a competitive disadvantage."

Much of Japan is under a state of emergency due to a third wave of COVID-19 infections, but organizers have vowed to press ahead with the Games, which are due to open on July 23 after being postponed for a year because of the pandemic.

No queue jumping 

Some countries are hesitant to prioritize athletes over those more in need of the vaccine.

A British Olympic Association representative told Reuters they have not spoken to their athletes about vaccinations and their priority remains "vulnerable, elderly and front line workers."

The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has yet to issue an official policy but its medical chief Jon Finnoff said U.S. athletes will not be jumping any queues to get a shot.

However, the USOPC might consider purchasing vaccines when they become available to the general public.

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach has said that although participants will be encouraged to get vaccinated, it will not be mandatory.

World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has said that he was against the concept of compulsory vaccinations and did not like the idea of athletes taking priority ahead of vulnerable people or frontline workers.