IOA President Narinder Batra revealed on Thursday that the first batch of Indian athletes who will compete at the Sydney Olympics will depart from India on July 17. He expressed disappointment as the authorities refused to let them check in earlier than this.
The IOA intended to have the first batch of athletes and officials leave on July 14 and spend three days in quarantine once they reached Tokyo. More than 120 athletes are bound for the Games.
With the necessary approvals still pending, “IOA was left with no other option but to send the first batch on July 17,” Batra told to Kate Yoneyama, Regional Manager (Asia and Oceania, NOC Relations) of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Committee (TOCOG).
The number of members of the group that will leave on July 17 was not disclosed, however. “…since we have not received the necessary approvals from TOCOG hence we are now coordinating for the departure of the Indian contingent from Indian 17 July 2021 and arrive in Tokyo on 18 July 2021,” the IOA chief wrote.
“We are extremely disappointed that our request has not been approved. However, given the medical protocols imposed on India for the 7 days prior to departure we have no other option now but to depart on 17 July and arrive on 18 July,” he added in a statement to PTI.
As a result of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Tokyo Olympics will be held without spectators from July 23 to August 8 under a state of emergency in Japan.
