Faster, higher, stronger? Nations weigh letting athletes jump the vaccine queue for Tokyo Games
France 24 01/02/2021 Tracy MCNICOLL © Koji Sasahara, AP Photo
With organisers vowing that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics will go ahead this summer despite the ongoing global pandemic that delayed the event by a year, some nations – like Hungary, Serbia and Israel – are moving ahead with inoculating their would-be Olympians to ensure they are free to train, qualify, travel and compete. But some – including elite athletes – question whether fast-tracking young, healthy sportspeople for vaccinations should be a priority and whether it fits with Olympic values.
With vaccine delays creating hurdles in the global race for Covid-19 immunity, wealthy countries are competing to secure more shots, less affluent ones are running behind and the finish line remains a speck in the distance.
Israel, Denmark to vaccinate all athletes for Tokyo Games
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Israel and Denmark to vaccinate all athletes for Tokyo Games
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Several countries, including Israel and Denmark, say they will vaccinate their athletes and staff against COVID-19 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics, amid the global debate over whether athletes should be given priority 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.
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Israel, which 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.