Nanjing Organizing Committee takes measures to prevent Ebola

NANJING - The Nanjing Organizing Committee were taking all necessary precautionary methods to keep the Youth Olympic Games clear of the Ebola virus, it said here on Friday.

The spokesman of the Nanjing Youth Olympic Games Organizing Committee (NYOGOC) told Xinhua that they have been fully prepared by working together with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to follow the Ebola outbreak while maintaining communication with the World Health Organization (WHO).

The precautionary methods including quarantine measures at entry port, regular physical checks during the games, etc. All athletes are subject to daily temperature and physical assessment at venues and the Youth Olympic Village. The measures were not targeted to examine the teams from the Ebola-affected nations, the spokesman added.

According to IOC, Sierra Leone and Liberia, both affected by the deadly Ebola virus, would not send young athletes to take part in the upcoming Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing.

The spokesman said the NYOGOC were truly appreciated as the two NOCs' decision were a big support for the success of the Games and they were welcomed to visit Nanjing to train or compete some time in future.

More than 1,000 people have died in an Ebola outbreak in West Africa that has affected Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia and Nigeria.

The Guinea delegation has arrived at Nanjing to compete in the YOG while Nigeria has yet to decide whether to travel to the eastern city in China.

IOC and NYOGOC also announced Friday that the athletes from the affected areas would not compete in combat sports or in the pool for the risk of potential infection.

The 2nd summer Youth Olympic Games, featuring over 3,700 athletes from over 201 countries and regions, will be held in Nanjing from Aug. 16 to 28.