The Vietnamese sports delegation arrived in Tokyo, Japan this morning and did not need to stay in isolation for three days as scheduled. All the members had negative test results for Covid-19 and were brought to the Olympic Village by the organizers.

Vietnamese sports delegation arrived in Tokyo and took a test for coronavirus this morning. Photo: Vanhoaonline.vn

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said each Vietnamese athlete would be a ‘goodwill ambassador’ to represent Vietnam and deliver the national image as a beautiful country with rich cultural tradition, friendly people, and also as a safe destination for international friends.

He wished all the athletes and members of the delegation good health and advise them to strictly follow the pandemic prevention and control measures set by the organizers. They also need to comply with the laws as well as customs and practices of Japan, the host country. 

“Every athlete, with great love for the country, will play their best in the forthcoming Tokyo Olympics and honor the name of the country. The performances of the athletes will greatly encourage the people who are fighting against the pandemic,” Hung said.

Head of the Vietnamese sport delegation Tran Duc Phan asserted that with the desire to devote their best, Vietnam Sports Delegation will stay united, disciplined, and adapt well to all situations to bring home victories.”

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics will take place from 23 July to 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Originally scheduled from 24 July to 9 August 2020, the event was postponed in March 2020 in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. The games will be held largely behind closed doors with no spectators permitted under the state of emergency.

Despite being rescheduled for 2021, the event retains the Olympic Tokyo 2020 name. This is the first time that the Olympic Games have been postponed and rescheduled.

Athlete Quach Thi Lan- one of the top sprinters in Vietnam who won gold medals at Asian Games 2018 and the Asian Athletics Championship 2017 and 2019. Photo: VNA

The Vietnamese delegation who participate in the Olympic Tokyo 2020 features 25 officials, coaches, and experts, along with 18 athletes in 11 sports, which include swimming, weightlifting, judo, shooting, badminton, boxing, gymnastics, taekwondo, archery, athletics, and rowing.

All the members have been injected with the required two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine. They must have negative test results for SARS-CoV-2 before competing. Athletes are also prohibited from leaving the Olympic Village (except for competing and training) without approval from organizers.

The world's largest sporting event will take place at one of the world's most populous cities that are currently under its fourth state of emergency. Thomas Bach, head of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) assures that adequate measures are in place to prevent athletes and staff participating in the Olympics from spreading the coronavirus.

Bach informed Japanese media that 85% of the residents of the Olympic Athletes’ Village and almost 100% of the IOC members in Tokyo have been vaccinated, while between 70% and 80% of the international media have been inoculated.