ZURICH, 27 apr. The Swiss authorities plan to vaccinate athletes and personnel of the country’s Olympic team who will take part in the Tokyo Olympics against coronavirus as a priority, Matthias Remund, director of the country’s Federal Sports Office (BASPO), said in a briefing on Tuesday, answering a related question. International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach stated that vaccination for athletes will not be compulsory. At the same time, according to him, the IOC expects that most of the athletes arriving at the Games in Tokyo will be vaccinated. «Currently, this (priority vaccination of the Olympic team — ed.) Is being discussed and planned in Switzerland,» Remund said and added that the National Olympic Committee of the country is holding appropriate discussions with the cantons of the Confederation. The Olympics in Tokyo was supposed to be held from July 24 to August 9, 2020, but was postponed for a year due to the coronavirus and will be held from July 23 to August 8 this year. It should become the largest in terms of the number of sports — 33, and categories — 339. Initially, it was planned to participate 10-12 thousand athletes, but due to the coronavirus, this number will be reduced.
