IOC Controversy Over Requiring Consent Form Stating "We Are Not Responsible Even If You Catch COVID"

Thomas Bach, President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), participated via video conference in the online coordination committee meeting between the IOC and the Tokyo Olympic Organizing Committee on the 19th (local time) and delivered the opening speech. In front is Seiko Hashimoto, Chairperson of the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee, attentively listening to Bach's speech. During the meeting, President Bach expressed the IOC's willingness to dispatch medical personnel to the Tokyo Olympics to respond to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Amid growing concerns over plans to hold the Tokyo Olympics during the spread of COVID-19, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has sparked controversy by requiring participants to sign a waiver stating that if they contract COVID-19 due to the event, it is their 'own responsibility.'

On the 27th (local time), Lana Hadad, IOC Chief Operating Officer (COO), expressed at an online forum held in Geneva that they intend to have athletes participating in the Tokyo Olympics sign an agreement that exempts the organizers from liability if they become infected with COVID-19 during the event, according to a report by the Yomiuri Shimbun on the 29th.

According to the report, COO Hadad emphasized that "there is no government or health authority that can guarantee no infection. It is a risk that we all must bear," underscoring that COVID-19 infection is the individual responsibility of the participants.

He explained that submitting the waiver is not a new condition arising from COVID-19 but "has been done previously," and that other major events have similar requirements.

Even as COVID-19 spreads worldwide and concerns rise that the Olympics could threaten the health or lives of participants, demanding agreement to 'organizer exemption' is expected to be criticized as irresponsible.

The Mainichi Shimbun reported that this waiver unusually mentions the possibility of severe illness or death, prompting voices of concern regarding the matter.