Sept 22 (Reuters) – The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee on Wednesday said all U.S.<\/p>\n
athletes hoping to compete at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics will need to be vaccinated against COVID-19.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“Effective Nov. 1, 2021, the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee will require all USOPC staff, athletes and those utilizing USOPC facilities – including the training centers – to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19,” USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland wrote in a letter reviewed by Reuters.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“This requirement will also apply to our full Team USA delegation at future Olympic and Paralympic Games.”<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Athletes and staff would have to opportunity to obtain a medical or religious exemption to the mandate, the USOPC said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
None of the major North American sports leagues require their athletes to be vaccinated.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The International Olympic Committee did not require athletes who competed at the Tokyo Games to be vaccinated although it was encouraged.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Hirshland said the USOPC had hoped COVID-19 restrictions would be lifted by the end of the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games but in reality the pandemic is “far from over”.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
“This step will increase our ability to create a safe and productive environment for Team USA athletes and staff, and allow us to restore consistency in planning, preparation and service to athletes,” she said.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
The move has the support of the Athletes’ Advisory Council and National Governing Bodies Council, she said, dewadominoqq aplikasi<\/a> which was further reinforced by the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of the Pfizer vaccine and the recent mandates by the U.S.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n federal government.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n