Tokyo takeaway: no compromise on Covid rules

Representation pic. Pic/iStock

Two Georgian athletes, both silver medallist judokas, were told to leave the Olympics as they violated Covid-19 rules. They were seen sightseeing at a prominent Tokyo spot. Reports have claimed that they met a mutual friend. Rules are in place that say athletes need to leave within a timeframe, usually 48 hours after they compete. Some officials from Georgia claimed that the athletes did not know that they were violating any rules. If they did not, then it was up to the team's officials to apprise them about the current rules.

While Japan's government is steadfast in its defence about hosting the Olympics, saying even now that infections are not too many at the Games, cases have been going up outside, with Tokyo witnessing a surge. This is all the more reason to become absolutely watertight with rules in Tokyo, currently.

It is good that tough action is being taken on violators, even if ignorant, and we want to see the same discipline here in different aspects of our life. With the festival season coming up, we are bound to see gatherings even with repeated warnings, an uptick in shopping at markets and a general tendency to get just slightly laxer when it comes to social distancing or no meeting in groups rules.

Let us leave rules aside. In our minds, and the way we conduct ourselves, let us show that we will not be violators of non-Covid rules. Let us become non-negotiable with ourselves, practising absolute adherence so that there is no need for any external agency to do so for us.

Finally, if this does not happen, we want to see no fears or favour when it comes to Covid rules. We need to get ready to mete out punishments to violators in a fair, and no-excuses-accepted manner. It is not just athletes and stirring performances that should inspire us, but Japan's absolute respect for rules.