Tokyo 2020: Next best-placed to be automatic replacement for Covid-infected athletes

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Tokyo 2020
Only 20 Indian athletes will attend the Tokyo Olympic Games opening ceremony.

The next best-ranked competitor will get an automatic entry if an athlete is found Covid-19 positive in the Tokyo Olympic Games. The relaxation, however, will not be allowed for the 10,000-metre race, marathon and race walk events.

Events which have a direct final or a single races will happen with one athlete less in any athlete is forced due to infection.

The Sport-Specific Regulations (SSR) for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were issued on Sunday. If a track and field athletes is unable to feature in any phase of competition after testing positive for Covid during the Games, the next best performer from the previous round will get an automatic qualification for the next stage.

The regulations developed by the International Olympic Committee and the international federations said the athletes unable to compete due to Covid will not be disqualified. For records purpose such athlete will be marked as Did Not Start (DNS).

“As track and field events are held over multiple days, in case of an athlete being unable to compete because of Covid infection in track events the best next-best placed athletes from the previous round will be brought forward to replace that athlete in the next phase,” the regulations said.

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“For the field events where possible athletes unable to compete in the final will be replaced with the next best placed athlete.”

These rules will, however, not be applied in 10,000m race, marathon and race walk events which are either direct final events or single races. In these cases, the races will happen with one athlete less.

“The exception is for the 10,000m which is a direct final and takes place as a single race and therefore the results of the daily COVID-19 test will determine if an athlete can start, otherwise the event will go ahead with one less athlete

“The minimum level of results of the athlete with a positive COVID-19 test will be recognised.”

The SSRs are contingency plans that will be activated in case a confirmed case appears so that all stakeholders are ready to implement these and not impact the athletes or delay the competition.

“The implementation is subject to the individual circumstances of each situation and in particular the timing at which the COVID-19 cases are confirmed relative to the start of the respective competition impacted, as well as the applicable International Federation’s rules and regulations.”

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