The Tokyo Olympic Games and the Risk of COVID-19

Van Thuan Hoang; Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq; Philippe Gautret

doi:10.1007/s40475-020-00217-y

The Tokyo Olympic Games and the Risk of COVID-19

Curr Trop Med Rep. 2020;7(4):126-132. doi: 10.1007/s40475-020-00217-y. Epub 2020 Oct 30.

Authors

Van Thuan Hoang^{1

2

3}, Jaffar A Al-Tawfiq^{4

5

6}, Philippe Gautret^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Aix Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France.
² Institut Hospitalo-Universitaire Méditerranée Infection, 19-21 Boulevard Jean Moulin, 13385 Marseille Cedex 05, France.
³ Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Thai Binh, Vietnam.
⁴ Infectious Disease Unit, Specialty Internal Medicine, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia.
⁵ Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN USA.
⁶ Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD USA.

Abstract

Purpose of review: We reviewed the occurrence of outbreaks at past Olympics and discuss the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic at the Tokyo Games.

Recent findings: Evidence for large respiratory tract infection outbreaks at past Olympics is scant. Nevertheless, in order to control the spread of the COVID-19 outbreak, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were postponed for 2021. Given the high contagiousness of the disease and the epidemiology of COVID-19 in Japan, this decision was appropriate and important in order to safeguard athletes and the public. However, it is a major problem for Japan, involving massive financial losses and a lost opportunity for athletes, coaches, and instructors.

Summary: Up-to-date epidemiological data is needed on which to base an appropriate decision regarding the Tokyo 2021 Olympics. The actual effect of cancellations of such events in reducing the spread of COVID-19 needs to be determined.

Keywords: Athletes; COVID-19; Mass gatherings; Olympics; Paralympics; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

Review