IOC tries to reassure Olympic athletes over virus liability waiver

What a fun Olympics it is becoming...

The Olympic image will forever be tainted after this.

IOC gets all the money, everyone else gets all the risk....

IOC tries to reassure Olympic athletes over virus liability waiver

You know how you make it so the Athletes don't have anything to worry about? Cancel the suicide mission!

The IOC maybe the “Biggest bunch of liars!”

- “The IOC claims at least 80% of people staying in the Olympic village at Tokyo Bay will have been vaccinated.” -

Olympic athletes were told by the IOC on Thursday that a waiver they must sign releasing Tokyo organizers from liability for COVID-19 issues was “standard practice” for major sports events.

This is beyond sad at this point.

I used to be a huge fan of the Olympic Games.

Never again, as this revealed the real “Olympic $pirit”.

I hope the japanese people’s voice is heard and this event is cancelled last minute, as it should.

“No government, no health authority can or has taken over guarantees against infections,” Haddad told athletes. “This is a risk that we all bear. We are all following the same rules.”

No, they aren't all following the same rules.

Clown number 1 : Abe the disgraced liar

Clown number 2 : Japan’s ineffective leadership

Clown number 3 : Money hungry IOC

The IOC claims at least 80% of people staying in the Olympic village at Tokyo Bay will have been vaccinated.

Only athletes are staying at the Olympic village. It has a capacity for about 10,000-12,000 people.

What about the "tens of thousands more coaches, officials, media and other support workers" coming in? Where will they stay, eat, work? How will they get around? How many of them will be vaccinated?

Currently, due the prevalence of mutant virus strains, Japan has required 10-day quarantine in government monitored facilities for all people arriving from several countries (India, Nepal, Pakistan, SL), and 3-day monitored quarantine from dozens of countries (including several in Europe) and then 2 weeks self quarantine....

...but no monitored quarantine is necessary for ANY Olympic related arrival (including those tens of thousands of media and staff), just the basic 2-week unmonitored self-quarantine at their hotel.

Oh, and Olympic people don't need the GPS tracing app, since it violates their privacy... but every non-Olympic arrival (like J-citizens and PRs) must have it.

Didn’t they guarantee a safe Olympics? Isn’t it in their charter to protect the safety of athletes?

Why the waiver then? If they fail in their duty if care, they should be sued.

Oh, wait, you mean the insurance companies won’t cover this?

The only thing that will be safe at this Olympics if the personal wealth of the IOC members.

I can't wait to see this Olympic mess this summer. It's going to be biblical.

Did you notice the word 'mostly' snuck in here?

The IOC and Japan’s government insist the games will be safe and secure with participants kept mostly isolated from the general public.

Mostly isolated is not the same as isolated! I wonder what the original Japanese was.

that a waiver they must sign releasing Tokyo organizers from liability for COVID-19 issues was “standard practice” for major sports events.

Is it?

What “expert”?

“I know this is a concern for you,” Bach said, before asking IOC CEO Lana Haddad to give what he called “an expert’s answer.” -

Bach is always hiding behind others, skirting issues and passing the buck. Later he can claim “I didn’t say it. She did!”

It seems that the only sensible decision made so far, is that of North Korea.

Olympic athletes were told by the IOC on Thursday that a waiver they must sign releasing Tokyo organizers from liability for COVID-19 issues was “standard practice” for major sports events.

Standard practice for the most irresponsible to not be held responsible.

It seems to me that baron von ripper-off will never give up the Olympics. They don't want to lose a lot of money. Olympics is the best business for IOC.

So the IOC care little for the population of the hosting country and the athletes who compete in the events. What is it they care about? The gravy train.

Olympic athletes were told by the IOC on Thursday that a waiver they must sign releasing Tokyo organizers from liability for COVID-19 issues was “standard practice” for major sports events.

Just because they are athletes doesn't mean they are dumb. Whatever you do, don't sign it!

The corruption stink of these organizers is beyond comprehension.

They are clearly stating Japan is in no way ready,...

- “No govt, no health authority can or has taken over guarantees against infections,” Haddad told athletes. This is a risk that we all bear.” -

... nor will they ever be ready:

- “We are all following the same rules.”

No “We” aren’t.

- “too much risk and responsibility is being placed on the 11,000 competitors. The games will bring 10’s of 1000’s more coaches, officials, media and other support workers into Japan.” -

I'd been supportive of the Olympics, but this waiver has me wavering....

The IOC and Japan’s government insist the games will be safe and secure with participants kept mostly isolated from the general public.

BS! If that was true they wouldn't need a waiver.

”We get the money. You get screwed.”

I think we can pretty much guarantee the only time athletes will be 'mostly isolated' from the general public will be when the are actually on track in competition. the rest of the time they are going to be (sneaking) out and about.

IOC: attend at your own risk. As for the host population? Well, nobody cares about you!

The athletes would be insane to sign such a waiver. It is to allow the organizers and IOC to protect their ¥¥¥, and not pay out to athletes when things inevitably go bad.

At this stage, only the selfish and greedy want this rotten games to go ahead. Simple as that.

Cancel the trainwreck Olympics NOW.

Actually, I think the residents of Japan need to have the IOC sign an agreement that states they are 100% liable for all medical and economic costs if the Olympics causes a new surge in Covid.

Please read the article in the New England Journal of Medicine regarding the IOC's playbook. You'll find an easily readable chart that compares best practices for protecting public health versus the playbook's protocols. Needless to say, the IOC is seriously lacking in the necessary rigor to ensure the safety of the games.

Please read the article in the New England Journal of Medicine regarding the IOC's playbook. 

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2108567?query=featured_home

We’ve been citing this report for days now but still no dedicated coverage from JT specifically on the contents of report.

JT, could we get an article on this? It’s not only extremely relevant, it’s in the public health interest of JT readers. Thanks!

This is a risk that we all bear. 

The point being that the risk is completely unnecessary and comes on the tails of serious incompetence both from the Japanese government and the IOC. Forcing the games to happen no matters what is the problem.

I guess they are not as confident in the risk reduction measures being taken as they say they are. The are asking the most protected group (the athletes) to sign a waiver.

I wonder if this waiver is also being given to the support staff, coaches, media, etc.

At this point even supporters of these games need to start thinking deeply about what they are supporting.

The IOC cronies care about one thing only: $$$$$

Who pays for the athletes when they get sick? Do they require insurance? How many will just leave town without paying?

This is just abhorrent.

Sure, athletes usually have to sign a waiver stating they agree to compete at their own risk - but the main risks are usually injury.

We don’t usually hold Olympics in the middle of health pandemics, or war etc. Would they hold an Olympics in the middle of a war zone and ask the athletes to sign a waiver saying they compete at their own risk?

Before reading this article I would’ve said ‘of course not’, but who knows? The need for the IOC to get their money is clearly trumping all common sense and absolutely putting the health of all those involved at risk - a risk they don’t want any association with.

Well, the Japanese (and foreign) locals haven’t signed a waiver, so if there is a big spike in positive cases, or strains brought in to the country, or any proven association between the Olympics and future infection, I’d suggest a class action lawsuit to sue the hell out of the IOC.

dbsaiyaToday 08:00 am JST

Please read the article in the New England Journal of Medicine regarding the IOC's playbook. You'll find an easily readable chart that compares best practices for protecting public health versus the playbook's protocols. Needless to say, the IOC is seriously lacking in the necessary rigor to ensure the safety of the game

Here's the article. The comparison graphic is at the bottom. The authors are both highly critical of the IOC playbook and the IOC's failure to learn from professional sports. This is really grim.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2108567?query=featured_home

“This is a risk that we all bear. We are all following the same rules.”

A blatant lie. You're staying in $3,000 five-star hotel suites subsidised by Tokyo tax money, the athletes will be sharing small rooms in the Olympic Village, and that's just for starters.

A couple of Japanese people I spoke to about this situation have voiced their opinion that the IOC wouldn't dare to try and foist this pathetic, dangerous shambles on a European country because there would be rioting in the streets from furious taxpayers but because Japan is a quasi-military state run by autocrats largely indifferent to the public's suffering, the IOC has their backing.

https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMp2108567?query=featured_home

Yes, compared to the timing of the postponement last year, there are nearly one hundred times as many active cases in Japan, and about sixty times as many cases worldwide, now including much more virulent strains.

"Oh, but some of them are vaccinated!" is irrelevant, isn't it.

We can now replace “At any cost” with: “At your own risk.”

Hopefully, the Paralympic athletes, their families and their ‘supporters’ will finally realize they’re at an even greater risk ...

@Laguna 7:32am - “I'd been supportive of the Olympics, but this waiver has me wavering....”

... and the ‘Antique/Flag’ debates can end peacefully.

@hbj

I agree. Actually, everyone who lives in Japan should think about a class action law suite against the IOC and the Japanese Government if things go wrong.

Yeah no. You'd be crazy to sign any waiver during a global pandemic. If it's so safe, put your money (as in your own money but what is now the IOC's money) where you mouth is

Olympic athletes were told by the IOC on Thursday that a waiver they must sign releasing Tokyo organizers from liability for COVID-19 issues was “standard practice” for major sports events.

"Hey relax, the way we are screwing you over is standard practice, we screw everyone else over like this too. Feel reassured?"

I hate answers like that.

Also are there any statue laws in Japan that cannot be signed away and are being ignored here?

The waiver proves the athletes (and us taxpayers in Japan) are just being exploited.

It’s worth remembering that the IOC and Olympics is only 126 years old and has its roots in aristocracy with the belief that some people are just born to be champions (read: to rule over others). Sporting practice/training was initially banned.

Although there are ex-athletes among them, many members and attendees are billionaires (like Coates) and royalty. The Olympics is just a networking event for a powerful clique, sport is just the entertainment for the event.

The athletes get paid nothing (except USA track and field team). Athletes and taxpayers are just being exploited so these inbred sociopaths can hobnob in luxury without paying.

meanwhile B.1.617.2 (India variant) is ripping through the UK and USA.

Japan 5% not enough coverage to prevent fatalities for anything, let alone the next level

Impossible to take the “devils advocate” on the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

I try.

in Ancient Greece there was not a contract about immunity to sue the IOC, but as an international body, it has the right as Greece isn’t important anymore. Maybe we can admire the fact that capitalism and sport sponsorship provide many jobs. Especially high paid jobs which, will trickle down to low paid workers, those who actually still have an income during lockdowns.

world is overpopulated so decreasing will help slow down climate change.

The medals awarded in these Olympics will forever carry the stench of power, corruption, and death.

The IOC claims at least 80% of people staying in the Olympic village at Tokyo Bay will have been vaccinated.

But very few of the cleaners, cooks, drivers, security, volunteers and other people who work at and service the 'Bubble - (Olympic village and venues) will have been vaccinated. As many of them are young, they have no chance of receiving a vaccine, unless they are given priority.

They still carry a risk of being infected, and passing it on to others as they journey home and mix wth friends and families.

Something that the IOC, Tokyo OC and Japan OOC seem unable to comprehend.

"you will not catch the virus in our wonderful country but in the case you happen to, since we ARE in a state of emergency, sign this paper saying we are not responsible for your health while you are here. Oh yeah and the hospitals are all full so if you do catch it go home. Sign please"

There are big differences in insurances for amateur and professional athletes and even between federation registered amateur and the irregular amateur sportsperson.

as part of a federation and club the amateur is mostly insured agains the difference of the actual costs an what the health insurance covers. Professional athletes are fully insured by their teams or personal insurances also covering loss of revenue and other damages.

in an amateur marathon race for example, yes, the runners sign disclaimers. But not in professional sports. It would be hard these days to claim the Olympics are an amateur event. On the other hand, which insurer would now agree to cover covid risk on the Olympics ?

With the risk this high the solution is, postpone to 2022 and for the athletes, do not participate in 2021. Not too complicated

“Not our fault if you die in our pursuit of profits. Sign here.”

Great! Welcome to the Olympic games. We, the mega-rich IOC, will not take any liability should you die from covid or kill others. Have fun running around in circles and stuff. Good luck with your health. Try not to die or infect too many others, or start off any new strains. Meanwhile, we'll be laughing all the way to the bank.

While the situation does present a few concerns, there is nothing to worry about and cooler heads will prevail and the Tokyo Olympics will be a huge success and a shining example that will inspire the world!

This has all the makings of a Benny Hill themed comedy hour as we watched everyone scramble and fumble around.

Reasonable. Your country should cover this if you represent it at the Olympics.

When national sports associations are threatened with some form of punishment or penalty by the IOC and its affiliates for refusing to take part, I completely disagree.

To make a perfect bubble, send for med staff and other key logistical officials only from own home countries, spend all the time using private transportation and meeting places including airports (how about the Yokota airbase open temporarily to Olympians?). No sightseeing, no physical contact to locals. Only things can be moved and retrieved in need after fully sanitized. Never allow them to overwhelm local healthcare resources.

I know such would be far from fun. I also think it's still a minimal requirement to fulfill if IOC/Tokyo are to avoid the full cancellation.

While the situation does present a few concerns, there is nothing to worry about and cooler heads will prevail and the Tokyo Olympics will be a huge success and a shining example that will inspire the world!

The only thing that has the potential to provide "a shining example that will inspire the world" in relation to these stupid games would be Tokyo getting its act together and saying "Get lost and never come back" to the IOC.

That would be wonderful and inspiring. Cramming the games down our throats is the opposite of that.

Not only putting everyone at higher risks but also making them waive their rights to compensation. Then getting paid millions of dollars for it. That’s how you make money and ensure you keep your money. IOC is a disgrace.

It seems the only places people can have fun are riots and protests, but Japanese are too shy. Doctors and nurse should strike!

Ka-Boom

Major travel agency JTB Corp. has resumed sales of official tours for this summer’s Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics with packages that include tickets and accommodations. The tours, which vary from short stays of two nights and three days to extended trips of 18 nights and 19 days, went on sale at the firm’s stores and call centers starting Monday on a first-come, first-served basis. The other two agencies have a plan in progress.

For developed countries, no issue because their hospital and general health systems will provide what is necessary.

For amateurs coming from devloping countries who cannot rely on a secured health system, they judt pu their lives at their own risk while their country for some at lesst are saying please don't gather and remain home.

Hospitals in Japan won't pay for your health (pay first policy or you die, unlike my country by the way). Hence the waiver.

Unacceptable for many countries who treat their citizens equally. North Korean athletes may come, no problem.

Hold Olympics, athletes will come =

“If you build it he will come”

field of dreams . well I bloody well would not that’s for sure

This is a normal procedure for events such as this. Nothing underhand happening, everything is open and above board.

As Mr Bach stated this is for transparency so everyone knows what is happening. Nobody is forced to sign anything against their will.

A partial list of what The New England journal of medicine says about the IOC plan:

We believe the IOC’s determination to proceed with the Olympic Games is not informed by the best scientific evidence. 

The playbooks maintain that athletes participate at their own risk, while failing both to distinguish the various levels of risk faced by athletes and to recognize the limitations of measures such as temperature screenings and face coverings.

the IOC has not heeded lessons from other large sporting events. 

The IOC’s playbooks are not built on scientifically rigorous risk assessment

And a lot more!

It also calls into question as to how when Japan had only a little over 800 cases and the world just over 350,000 case in 2020 were the games cancelled but now with nearly 70,000 cases in Japan and 20 million worldwide with new more powerful variants do the organisers think it will be safe.

Imagine being part of the IOC, and there being a chance that your paycheck is on the line! I know most of them (Cotes, Bach) have it as a side job, but the chance of losing out on 500k (speaking in the worlds strongest currency) is enough to keep someone up at night.

Even plying with many questions, IOC means insensible and no panic-stricken in a presence of mind at all.

Our anxious voice , etc no matter .

Antiquesaving

The work towards safety goes on daily regarding the Olympics. These New England fellows are not privy to the details or do they take into account the fact this is Japan not the West. A one size fits all approach is not the way to deal with Covid, Virusrex admitted so himself.

“standard practice”

Sure, but THIS is not a STANDARD situation! Is IOC an acronym for Idiocy Over Care?

IOC we don’t know if you infected .

Infected athlete means wrong for the IOC rule .

These New England fellows are not privy to the details or do they take into account the fact this is Japan not the West. A one size fits all approach is not the way to deal with Covid,

So the Japanese doctors know nothing, the New England journal of medicine knows nothing, the BMJ, knows nothing, the hospitals, doctors, nurses in Japan know nothing, this is what we are supposed to believe and only the IOC *honest" Bach, Coates and their paid IOC experts know what is right.

That is quite amazing!

Huh. The Abe Olympics. He is ultimately responsible. He cut the deal to postpone the games until 2021. IOC had offered to postpone the games until 2022. The intent, he would bask in the glory and slide out in September, 2021, when his term in office ended. Seems forgot, Abe sliding thru a tube in Rio de Janeiro, dressed as Mario - the man had no shame - announcing the Games would be held in Tokyo.

Instead, in order to avoid a shameful scandal, he resigned for health reasons, same day his cronies were indicted for nefarious deeds. And it fell into his enforcers lap, Mister Suga. Suga was just supposed to keep the throne warm for the next usurper, but instead seized the crown and refuses to vacate.

Now. An incredible fiasco awaits. As said above: these Olympics will be Biblical.

The IOC and the LDP and all the scallywags who were part & parcel of the corrupt process, will top it off by holding the games during a pandemic - to use their phrasing: the games will take place no matter the cost. One thing is for certain: those who are intent on holding the games are completely mental.

The organizers of the Olympics, the IOC and the Japanese governing heads, such as Suga, are completely mad. Simply read this, from, the Japan Times:

With two months until the Summer Olympics, doctors such as Saito, as well as nurses and public health experts, have become one of the most outspoken groups voicing their concerns about the Games, saying the event would put the public at risk and further strain the healthcare system.

"It's difficult to achieve zero cases when the infection is spreading around in different communities. In that sense, having a large-scale event would pose an inevitable risk," Saito said.

Other staff at the hospital west of Tokyo were more direct: "This is not the time for the Olympics," said Chizu Kawabata, a nurse on a morning shift at the hospital's emergency centre.

IOC believes no risk anywhere.

Japan get done pretty loyal puppy of IOC which means anyway go ahead to the Olympics only with no doubt .

Really unruly .

Standard waiver for very non-standard conditions...(a global epidemic)

That’s quite ‘an epic tale’ you’re telling @RichardRRGalagher 5:50pm:

- ”A mad “King”, secret deals, political intrigue, lies, betrayal, plots, plans, ‘schemes within schemes”, All plagued by an almost, unstoppable plague from ‘other’ lands and unknown origins” -

They say GRRMartin will never finish his story. Yours will have conclusion.

However, will our expectations, again, be subverted by another unexpected ‘twist’?

An expert's answer, from Lana Haddad, former executive with Procter & Gamble. An accountant. In her quiver: Lorded over: Cosmetics: Covergirl and Max Factor. Not an attorney. Not a medical doctor. Not a scientist. An accountant.  That she has expertise in cosmetics, is fitting.

"Trust me! What could go wrong?"