NOC: Each athlete coming to Baku will be examined

The International Olympic Committee discussed the issue of coronavirus at its meetings yesterday, and today, Vice-president of Azerbaijan's National Olympic Committee (NOC) Chingiz Huseynzade told reporters.

"There are no plans to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games. Everything is under control. The competitions will take place as planned. No changes are expected," he said.

He also commented on how the suspension of several competitions may affect the athletes' training schedule.

"Such issues do not depend on us or anyone else. Some matches may be suspended or moved to a safer place. But all scheduled events will take place," Huseynzade said.

The NOC official also touched upon the participation of karate fighters from Italy, which reports a high number of coronavirus cases in Karate European Championships that will take place in March in Baku.

"Every athlete coming to Baku will be examined while crossing border checkpoints. We will demand health certificates. Healthy athletes will be allowed into the games, whereas those with suspected cases will be quarantined. This is a requirement of the World Health Organization," he said. 

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