The Athletes’ Village at Tokyo 2020 could be supplied with "health centre-like" functions ©Getty Images

The Athletes’ Village at next year’s Olympic Games could be used to treat competitors and coaches suspected of having coronavirus.

Kyodo News understands Tokyo 2020 organisers are considering supplying the village with "health centre-like" functions to support infected individuals.

Citing officials "with knowledge of the situation", the Japanese news agency reports there is a proposal to create an independent COVID-19 testing centre for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The plan is expected to be discussed at a meeting later this month involving the Japanese Government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Tokyo 2020.


It is also understood by Kyodo News that a special unit tasked with gathering information related to COVID-19 during the Games would be set up.

More than 10,000 people are expected to use the Athletes’ Village and Tokyo 2020 officials are working on measures to stop the spread of coronavirus.

A coronavirus countermeasures taskforce is currently assessing possible scenarios and policies that could allow the Olympics to run on its new dates from July 23 to August 8 next year.

The taskforce is formed of officials from the Japanese Government, Tokyo Metropolitan Government and Organising Committee, with measures expected to be announced by the end of 2020.