More than 60% of volunteers registered for next summer’s Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games are worried about how anti-coronavirus measures will be implemented and what format the events will take, according to a recent survey by organizers.
In a multiple-answer question to volunteers at the venues and athletes’ village on what concerns them about their upcoming roles, those who were worried about the antivirus steps and how the games will be held accounted for the largest number at 66.8%.
The online survey was conducted between July 1 and 21 on about 80,000 volunteers, of which approximately 26,000 responded.
The organizing committee had said it has agreed with the International Olympic Committee to hold a “simplified” games partly to secure the safety of the athletes, and that the games would be held at the same competition venues and under the same schedule as planned before the postponement. Reducing the number of spectators remains a possibility, but has yet to be finalized.
Before the outbreak of the virus, the Tokyo Olympics were originally slated to be held between July 24 and Aug. 9 this year. They are now scheduled from July 23 to Aug. 8, 2021, to be followed by the Paralympics between Aug. 24 and Sept. 5.
The survey also found that 21.5% of respondents said they may no longer volunteer for the games due to the impact of the pandemic on their studies and job situation.
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