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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider Tolentino wants country's Tokyo Olympic participants included in A4 vaccination list

Tolentino wants country's Tokyo Olympic participants included in A4 vaccination list

Published May 9, 2021 11:25 am

Senator Francis Tolentino on Sunday urged the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) to include Filipino athletes as essential workers so they can be part of the government’s priority list to be vaccinated against the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Tolentino noted both of the country’s amateur and professional athletes remain excluded in the so-called “A4” priority list of the government in its ongoing nationwide vaccine rollout amid the upcoming Tokyo Olympics this July and the 2021 Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in Hanoi, Vietnam in November later this year.

Since the Philippines is one of the Asian countries barred from entering Japan due to the spike in local COVID-19 infections, the senator said it would be better if all Filipino athletes qualified to participate in the Tokyo Olympics are inoculated.

A total of 82 Filipino athletes from 19 sports are still seeking Olympic spots in Tokyo, Tolentino noted.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), however, announced that it would provide vaccines to athletes who would want to be inoculated upon their arrival in Tokyo.

Tolentino said that COVID-19 vaccine is not a requirement or prerequisite for athletes to be allowed to participate in the summer Olympics, but it would be best for Filipino athletes to be vaccinated considering the high cases of COVID-19 positive in the Philippines “shots as soon as possible, to prevent any delays in participating in the said sports” event.

Besides Japan, Vietnam also remains close to any foreign nationals until further notice. The country would be sending a total of 626 athletes—competing in 39 of 40 sports—in the Hanoi games, which is supposedly scheduled on November 21 to December 2.

Tolentino also said professional athletes, like those in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and other professional leagues, regardless of sports should also be included in the A4 Priority.

The senator pointed out the IATF earlier approved PBA’s request to hold full practices and scrimmages in areas placed under General Community Quarantine (GCQ) and MGCQ.

Related Tags

Francis Tolentino Southeast Asian Games Tokyo Olympics COVID-19 Vaccination Program Act Filipino athletes
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