Dick Pound, who has been one of the most visible members of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) since the beginning of the coronavirus shutdown, has said that he believes athletes should be moved to the front of the Covid-19 vaccine queue.
While Pound advocated for the prioritization of Olympic athletes, he did state that health care workers and those at most from the disease should receive the first treatments.
“Clearly health workers come first and the really vulnerable would be a close second. Then you start triaging how you would use the remaining dosages. And as I say, for the very, very small numbers involved and the very symbolic meaning of a successful Games in this context, my guess, and it’s only a guess, would be that most countries would be very much in favor of it. Both from a policy perspective and probably from the perspective of the public as well.”
Pound went on to state that he feels that the world would benefit from what he referred to as a “worldwide success” such as the Olympic Games.
Speaking specifically of his home country of Canada, Pound stated that, with only 300 to 400 vaccines being needed of the millions available, he didn’t feel as if there would be a public outcry if it ensures the country’s ability to participate in the Games.
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games are currently slated to kick off on July 23, 2021, following their year-long postponement due to coronavirus concerns. Last April Pound stated that,if the Games don’t occur in 2021 as currently planned, they won’t be able to occur at all.
Late last year, IOC president Thomas Bach said that he was ‘very confident’ that the Tokyo Olympics will go on in 2021.
I’m amazed that most of you had not heard of this man until last year. How? He’s been on the IOC for a long time. Anyway, he has a point. (But then I live in a country with very few covid cases). Also, I’m wondering and worried about how many people will refuse the vaccine.
Excuse us for being late to the Dick Pound party.
Dick Pound & Richard Jewell were the stars of Atlanta 96.
I will be competing in Oly trials and I am getting my vaccine this month, am I a bad person?
Trick question, I am a gorilla
Dick Pound should get the vaccine first. He can’t do his job safely with any viruses.
Dick Pound opening lines are just priceless.
“Dick Pound, who has been one of the most visible members”
What fantasy world have athletes been living in the last 10 months? Whats happening is bigger than sports, an unnecessary institution for our amusement. Vaccines need to go to health care and frontline workers, people at highest risk, and essential workers. Athletes take a step back and realize you arent important in the grand scheme of humanity
Those athletes train hard to reach their lifelong dream to represent their country in the Olympics Games. You are the one off-base. The world has many talented athletes and watching them compete against each other IS inspiring and good for our mental health. This is very much needed in this unique Covid time where we have to isolate ourselves from everybody.
Nearly 2 million deaths worldwide and youre talking about a kid fulfilling his dream? Who cares at that point. Get some perspective
I’m sorry but sports are not more important than healthcare workers and the general publics well-being and safety
He literally said the same thing you state. Did you actually read the quotes?
“Clearly health workers come first and the really vulnerable would be a close second.”
Try reading the article.
just here for the DP comments.
oh god the double meaning
I wonder if he ever considered changing his name to Richard just to save himself a little ridicule
Whether or not there would be a public outcry is irrelevant but there damn well should be. What a self serving an inappropriate message to send. Imagine thinking that a group of people should be prioritized based on their athletic ability. Read the room Dick.
My thought is essentially this:
By July, most of the highest-risk populations in most developed/wealthy nations will be vaccinated (or have declined the opportunity) and there will no longer be a formal pecking order. There will still be social pressure for young and healthy people to wait, but they’ll be able to dance around that by just being quiet about it.
In the countries that are going to be last in line to receive vaccines, it is highly likely that the vaccines will be given out from the top down via the power and influence within a country, and Olympic athletes in those countries would probably be fairly high on the list regardless of what Dick Pound says.
So, while… Read more »
It’s kind of like that NEA president who said years ago “I’ll worry about what’s good for students when they start paying union dues.”
All I’ve read here for months is the “let them play, they’re young and COVID won’t affect them — they’re low risk and we’re stealing their dreams.” Now we want to put them ahead in line to get the vaccine? smh