Olympics-Japan to ban entry of foreign athletes during virus emergency

Hamakyorex Co

15/01/2021 01:01

TOKYO, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Japan will temporarily suspend
exemptions allowing foreign athletes to train in the country
ahead of the Summer Olympics, Kyodo News reported, as it closes
its borders to contain a surge in COVID-19 cases just six months
before the Games.
    The suspension will last until Feb. 7, the scheduled end of
the coronavirus state of emergency in the capital, Tokyo, and
other major cities, Kyodo said, citing an unidentified source
with knowledge of the matter.
    Japan is grappling with record surges in coronavirus
infections, prompting the government to tighten border controls
and expand its state of emergency to cover more than half of the
country's population.
    The pause of athlete exemptions would follow the
government's suspension this week of exemptions for business
travellers. 
    The temporary ban will include non-resident foreign athletes
and coaches with Japanese sports leagues including J-League
soccer, which begins its season next month, and Nippon
Professional Baseball, which opens spring training Feb. 1, Kyodo
said.
    Japanese athletes will be allowed to re-enter the country
but must self-quarantine for 14 days, during which they cannot
practice or compete, the report said.

 (Reporting by Chris Gallagher. Editing by Gerry Doyle)
 ((chris.gallagher@thomsonreuters.com;))