Team USA athletes signal readiness for COVID-19 vaccine

FILE PHOTO: Rugby Union - United States v South Africa - Hong Kong Sevens Semi-Finals - Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong, China - 09/04/2017 - Perry Baker of the United States in action. REUTERS/Bobby Yip

(Reuters) - United States Olympic hopefuls said they were ready and willing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, as the three-day Team USA virtual media summit kicked off on Wednesday, a year after the deadly pandemic forced a delay to the Tokyo 2020 Games.

The United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC)reiterated that it would not require athletes to get a shot to compete in Tokyo, but will encourage them to do so, as Japan enters what appears to be a fourth wave of the pandemic.