Team GB stars handed a boost after Tokyo 2020 officials reveal that athletes flying to Japan don’t need to self-isolate in hotel rooms for six days on arrival
- The United Kingdom was placed on Japan’s red list due to Delta variant concerns
- However, an agreement has been struck to offer an exemption to Team GB’s stars
- The travelling contingent will need to be Covid-tested regularly before flying
- They must also keep physical interaction with others to an absolute minimum
- GB must also not physically interact with other teams for three days on arrival
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Team GB stars appear set to avoid a nightmare six-day quarantine period in Tokyo after a U-turn by Olympic organisers.
The United Kingdom was placed on Japan’s red travel list last week because of concerns about rising cases of the Delta variant.
Tokyo 2020 officials said on Tuesday that athletes would not be exempt from the Japanese government rules forcing visitors from Britain to self-isolate in hotel rooms on arrival.
However, Tokyo 2020 published updated guidance on Friday revealing a compromise had been reached and that quarantine will no longer be required for Games participants from red-list countries from July 1.
Team GB will no longer face the prospect of a six-day quarantine when they get to Tokyo
The United Kingdom has been placed on Japan’s red list ahead of an Olympics facing criticism
GB athletes will have to be Covid-tested every day for three days prior to flying to Japan
Instead, British athletes must be tested every day for three days prior to departure to Japan and keep physical interaction with others to an absolute minimum – something Team GB already planned to enforce.
At the Games, the only additional rules Team GB participants must follow will be to not ‘physically interact with anyone from another team, delegation or country’, including in training, for their first three days in the country.
The new athlete exemption will come as huge relief to British Olympians, who were facing the prospect of not being able to properly train for their first six days in Japan, putting them at a disadvantage to rivals from other nations.