PUNE: The Olympics are only 16 days away, but India’s Tokyo-bound athletes are yet to know about their departure plan. While two days ago, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president Narinder Batra had announced that the first batch of athletes would depart on July 17, the athletes and national federations have received a Whatsapp message saying the first batch may leave on July 14, subject to clearance from the Tokyo Olympics Organising Committee. The message is signed by Batra and IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta.
As per Tokyo Games travel guidelines, athletes reaching Tokyo must get the RTPCR Covid test done for seven days before their departure. “Since archery competitions start from July 23, we are assuming we would be in the first batch. However, we have received no official communication from the IOA about the departure plan. We got a message today saying the first batch may depart on July 14 but it is still not confirmed,” an official from the archery federation told TOI.
“If our archers are leaving on July 14, they must get their tests started from July 7 or else they will be not allowed to enter. If they start their tests on Wednesday and depart on July 17 then it would be three days of extra tests. These are complicated times and proper planning was required. It is not just about boarding the plane, there are so many formalities that need to be addressed,” the official added.
A coach with the archery team said their training plan would also go haywire. “If we leave on the 14th, we will lose out on the training that we have planned here. We have no idea when we will be allowed to train in Tokyo,” the coach said.
Although athletics competitions are scheduled from July 30, and the track and field athletes are not expecting to leave in the first batch, there is no official word about it. “We are told that the athletes will know about the departure 24 hours before they leave,” a track and field coach said.
TOI tried to contact Batra but messages and calls went unanswered.
As per Tokyo Games travel guidelines, athletes reaching Tokyo must get the RTPCR Covid test done for seven days before their departure. “Since archery competitions start from July 23, we are assuming we would be in the first batch. However, we have received no official communication from the IOA about the departure plan. We got a message today saying the first batch may depart on July 14 but it is still not confirmed,” an official from the archery federation told TOI.
“If our archers are leaving on July 14, they must get their tests started from July 7 or else they will be not allowed to enter. If they start their tests on Wednesday and depart on July 17 then it would be three days of extra tests. These are complicated times and proper planning was required. It is not just about boarding the plane, there are so many formalities that need to be addressed,” the official added.
A coach with the archery team said their training plan would also go haywire. “If we leave on the 14th, we will lose out on the training that we have planned here. We have no idea when we will be allowed to train in Tokyo,” the coach said.
Although athletics competitions are scheduled from July 30, and the track and field athletes are not expecting to leave in the first batch, there is no official word about it. “We are told that the athletes will know about the departure 24 hours before they leave,” a track and field coach said.
TOI tried to contact Batra but messages and calls went unanswered.
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