MEMBERS of Trinidad and Tobago’s Olympic delegation have begun to arrive in Tokyo ahead of the July 23 to August 8 Games.
Sailor Andrew Lewis, his manager Kairon Serrette and physiotherapist Maytas Toth have already touched down in Enoshima Islands, Kanagawa, Japan.
Additionally, the TT Olympic Committee’s covid19 liaison officer Rheeza Grant, chief medical officer Dr Rudranath Ramsawak and Dr Nailah Adams (doctor) are expected to arrive on Thursday. Chef de mission Lovie Santana begins her trek to Tokyo on Saturday.
The sailing trio will be based in Kanagawa for the entire duration of the Games in a satellite village. This is a smaller version of the main Olympic Village set up in another location to host events there.
Sailing and cycling are the only two disciplines in which TT athletes will be housed at satellite villages.
TT’s cycling sprinters Nicholas Paul and Kwesi Browne will reside and train at the same satellite village while road cyclist Teniel Campbell will be placed in another location closer to where her event rides off.
Meanwhile, Grant, Ramsawak and Adams have been strategically deployed en route to Tokyo beforehand to arrive ahead of the majority of TT’s Olympic delegation. This was done to ensure all covid19 countermeasures were in place to welcome the travelling contingent.
The remainder of TT’s locally-based delegation, inclusive of track and field doctor Dr Anyl Gopeesingh, departs later this week.
During an online press briefing hosted by the TTOC on Wednesday, chef de mission Santana confirmed, “The completion of the Olympic delegation registration meeting was completed and that means that Tokyo is prepared to receive our delegation.”
Local Olympic committee president Brian Lewis was pleased to announce that a “significant percentage” of TT’s contingent had already fully vaccinated for covid19.
He also said that one member of the TT Olympic delegation was replaced after he/she returned a positive covid19 test before leaving Trinidad on Wednesday. Lewis said the person, who was a member of the medical team, will no longer travel with the team.
Before arriving in Tokyo, it is mandated that all delegation members must have in their possession two negative PCR tests taken 96 hours prior to touchdown.
In this regard, Lewis was pleased with the protocol put in place by the International Olympic Committee, Tokyo organising committee, Japan government and Tokyo metropolitan government.
“Unfortunately, that individual will not be able to travel and we have put in place the replacement. It highlights the rigorousness of the covid19 countermeasures put in place that the TTOC is adhering to,” he said.
Lewis, however, outlined a plethora of protocols that must be adhered to by all athletes/officials and staff to ensure their safety at the Games.
If a member encounters travel delays and will arrive in Tokyo beyond the mandatory 96-hour life of their PCR test results, they will be allowed to take another set of tests at another airport before entry into Tokyo. Upon arrival th
