National athletes get COVID-19 vaccination as they bid for Olympic qualification
SINGAPORE — Singapore has been progressively arranging COVID-19 vaccination for national athletes who are bidding to qualify for the upcoming Tokyo Olympics.
This is due to the athletes having to travel overseas frequently for qualifying competitions in the coming months.
Minister for Culture, Community and Youth Edwin Tong said in a Facebook post on Wednesday (24 February) that the vaccinations will ensure the athletes remain safe ahead of their overseas travels, and can focus on their competitions.
"We must support our athletes as they travel, train, and compete for Singapore on a global stage," he wrote in his post.
Tong had earlier said in a media engagement session in January that while frontline workers and seniors remain "front of the queue" in Singapore's national vaccination drive, his ministry are working within that framework to see what can be done for the national athletes bidding for Olympic qualification.
Shooters, shuttlers, paddlers being vaccinated
On Wednesday, Tong joined three national shooters – Adele Tan, Tessa Neo and Ho Xiu Yi – and their coach in getting their first doses of COVID-19 vaccine at the National Centre for Infectious Diseases.
The three shooters had planned to travel to South Korea in April to compete in the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) World Cup. While the event has since been postponed, the shooters will also be taking part in other qualifying events for a place at the Tokyo Summer Olympics, which is scheduled to be held from 23 July to 8 August.
Three other national shooters – Martina Veloso, Teo Shun Xie and Teh Xiu Hong – have been vaccinated earlier in the month, ahead of their trip to New Delhi for the ISSF World Cup stop next month.
National shuttler Loh Kean Yew and paddlers Koen Pang and Zeng Jian were also inoculated earlier this month, while Tokyo-bound table tennis players Yu Mengyu and Lin Ye will be vaccinated when they return from competition in Qatar in April.
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