Olympic officials on Wednesday unveiled the first of many Covid-19 rules for the Tokyo Games this summer, starting by banning singing and chanting during events and mandating event participants to wear masks at “all times” except when eating, sleeping or outdoors.

The rules for international federation delegates — jointly published in a “playbook” by the Tokyo Olympic organisers, the International Olympic Committee, and the International Paralympic Committee — range from regular hand washing protocols to disinfecting dining tables after eating.

The IOC will work with national Olympic committees to encourage and assist athletes and staff to get vaccinated in their home countries. But it is not a requirement for participation in the Games.

Not respecting the rules may have an “impact on your participation to the Olympics... and in some cases your participation to competitions”, the playbook says.

There will be separate playbooks for athletes, media and broadcasters.

Some of the main guidelines are:

Hygiene: The organisers’ playbook says Games participants should wear face masks at all times, expect when eating and sleeping or outside. The playbook suggests ventilating rooms regularly or at least every 30 minutes and to avoid sharing items wherever possible.

Social contact: The ‘book’ says participants should limit physical contact with athletes and maintain a two-metre distance at all times. It also says people should avoid crowds and enclosed spaces whenever possible and avoid “unnecessary forms of physical contact” such as hugs, high-fives and handshakes. It says participants should not use public transport unless they are given permission to do so.

Entering Japan: It says physical contact with others should be kept to a minimum during the 14 days before travelling to Japan. Games participants are told to prepare a list of all people that they may come in contact with during the Games, including roommates and teammates.

Test, trace and isolate: Participants will have their temperature checked every time they enter venues and will need to report their results on a health reporting app. In addition to taking tests within 72 hours before flying to Japan, they will be tested for the novel coronavirus at the airport and during the Games. Athletes will be tested at least every four days, the IOC's Games operations director Pierre Ducrey said during a media briefing. Positive cases will prompt immediate isolation.