IOC Stays in Luxury Hotels... COVID-Positive Athletes' Accommodation Called a 'Prison'

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] Controversy continues over the Japanese facilities used to isolate athletes who tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Japan for the Tokyo Olympics, with criticisms that the conditions are inhumane.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun on the 2nd, there have been cases where athletes and others raised complaints about the isolation environment and meals, or protested that the facilities were inhumane because the windows could not be opened.

Earlier, six athletes and officials from the Netherlands who tested positive for COVID-19 were quarantined at a government-designated hotel in Japan. It was later revealed that on the 27th of last month, they staged a sit-in protest in the lobby for 7 to 8 hours demanding that the windows be opened.

Jakobs Candy (Netherlands), who came to compete in skateboarding but tested positive and was quarantined, posted a video on Instagram urging improvements, saying, "I cannot breathe fresh air outside," and "It is extremely inhumane. I have been pushed into a very dark mental corner," according to Mainichi.

The Netherlands Olympic Committee held a press conference raising the issue that "the windows were locked and opening them was not allowed," and eventually, the Dutch athletes were permitted to open the windows for 15 minutes under the supervision of officials.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) later expressed its intention to improve the quarantine conditions.

However, the Japanese side does not seem to consider this a major issue.

The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee responded, "We are appropriately managing the condition maintenance of those who tested positive," and regarding the Dutch quarantine, "(The) Embassy of the Netherlands in Japan and the Netherlands Olympic Committee understood and appreciated it."

The organizing committee did not explain the reason why the windows could not be opened.

A human rights advocacy group for athletes based in Berlin, Germany, issued a statement on the 30th of last month demanding improvements in the treatment of quarantined athletes.