Australian Olympic Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman welcomes Tokyo COVID guidelines

After serving as national team Chef de Mission at six Winter Olympics, Legana father-of-three Ian Chesterman has taken on the role for this year's summer equivalent.

With the Australian Olympic Committee planning to ensure all athletes receive a COVID-19 vaccination first jab by the end of May, Chesterman welcomed the latest guidelines based on advice from Japanese health authorities and the World Health Organisation.

"This certainly helps with our planning," he said.

"The increased testing is important. Now all athletes will be tested twice with 96 hours before arrival into Japan and again on arrival. Testing during the Games will also be stepped up to occur every day.

"We also know that a raft of countries are in the same position as us, rolling out vaccination programs for their athletes. That is reassuring.

"Once we receive the final playbook in June the AOC will then finalise our own additional protocols. The news that our athletes can be vaccinated before arriving in Tokyo adds that welcome layer of relief and we hope all will have received their first jab by the end of May."

With 80 per cent of the team under the age of 50 and eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, the majority of athletes should receive their two shots well ahead of the Games.

Fresh off a contribution of 11 in Rio de Janeiro and a record 15 in London, Tasmania is again well placed to play a big role in Tokyo.

Grove canoeist Daniel Watkins, Perth track cyclist Georgia Baker, King Island runner Stewart McSweyn and Launceston triathlete Jake Birtwhistle have already been nominated for selection.

Several others remain in contention headed by Huon's multiple rowing world champion Sarah Hawe, Launceston-born basketballer Chris Goulding and Hobart's national hockey captain Eddie Ockenden.

West Pine track cyclist Amy Cure was also selected for what would have been her third Olympics but has since retired.

Further guidelines are expected later this month and through June.

They relate to social distancing measures in the Olympic village, use of dedicated Games vehicles and other measures around pre-departure requirements, compulsory mask wearing, hygiene practices and restrictions on athlete movements.