U.S. Olympic rugby superstars Perry Baker and Carlin Isles were not always rugby players. In fact, they were both gritty football players who learned the nuanced changes necessary to succeed on the rugby pitch.

When asked about how people have reacted to the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee (USOPC) allowing athletes to participate in social justice protests, Allyson Felix claimed that she had not been in communication with other athletes since that decision was made.

On Wednesday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the signing of a deal with pharmaceutical giant Pfizer to supply vaccines for athletes participating in the Olympics.

The IOC and Pfizer reached a memorandum of understanding to supply the Olympics with enough vaccines to cover the athletes. This would enable the upcoming summer Tokyo Olympics to be safer despite pressure to cancel it because the Japanese government handled the coronavirus.

“This donation of the vaccine is another tool in our toolbox of measures to help make the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020 safe and secure for all participants, and to show solidarity with our gracious Japanese hosts,” said IOC President Thomas Bach. “We are inviting the athletes and participating delegations of the upcoming Olympic and Paralympic Games to lead by example and accept the vaccine where and when possible. By taking the vaccine, they can send a powerful message that vaccination is not only about personal health, but also about solidarity and consideration of the wellbeing of others in their communities.”

“We see the importance of vaccination all around the world,” Prof. Uğur Erdener, Chair of the IOC Medical and Scientific Commission, said. “We encourage the athletes and Games participants to take the vaccine whenever possible. Vaccination is an important tool to protect not only themselves but also their communities.”

“With hundreds of millions of vaccines already administered, and hundreds of millions more to go, Pfizer is committed, together with BioNTech, to doing all we can to help end this pandemic and help return the world to a sense of normalcy,” said Albert Bourla, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Pfizer. “The return of the Olympic and Paralympic Games represents a monumental moment of world unity and peace after a grueling year of isolation and devastation. We are proud to play a role in providing vaccines to athletes and national Olympic delegations.”

While the Japanese government continues to push for the Olympics to go on as planned, the government is considering extending a coronavirus-spurred state of emergency in Tokyo and other major urban areas.

On Tuesday, 1996 Olympic swimmer Scott Miller was taken into police custody and charged with drug trafficking after Australian officers seized methamphetamine valued at $AU 2 million (US$ 1.6 million). Miller was accused of directing a criminal syndicate, according to Police Detective Superintendent John Watson.

“Others, it will be alleged, are working under his instruction,” Watson said.

Along with Miller, police arrested a 47-year old man who has yet to be named. This other person was arrested at his Sydney home after police found methylamphetamine concealed in eight candles in January, according to a police statement.

“For all intents and purposes, they looked like regular candles, but they weren’t laced with fragrance, they were laced with death and misery,” said Detective Watson, according to Nine News.

The 45-year old Miller’s arrest is part of a larger investigation. Earlier this year, New South Wales authorities looked into a criminal syndicate involved with the supply of illegal drugs, mostly meth, across the state, according to a police statement.

Miller had won a silver medal in the 100-meter butterfly at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996. He was also a member of the Australian 4 x 100-meter medley relay team in Atlanta, which won bronze. Additionally, he also won a world championship gold medal in the 100-meter butterfly at Rio de Janeiro in 1995.

On Tuesday, the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee relayed the message that the games will be happening to their fellow members of Japan’s Liberal Democratic Party.

“No matter what situation would be with the coronavirus, we will hold the games,” Yoshiro Mori, who is also a former Japanese prime minister, told lawmakers, according to Associated Press. “We should pass on the discussion of whether we will hold the games or not, but instead discuss how we should hold it.”

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Mori has been a big supporter of the Tokoyo Olympics, especially over the past several weeks in Japan. He has been backed in Switzerland by International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach as rumors have arisen about the games being canceled.

Despite the rumors, the IOC has vigorously reiterated that the Olympics will open on July 23 with 11,000 athletes, tens of thousands of judges, officials, media members, sponsors, and others. The Paralympics will follow with 4,400 athletes on August 24. It is unknown if fans will be allowed at the venues, but the ultimate decision will be made in the spring.

Tokyo Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga extended Tokyo’s state of emergency order for another month, along with nine prefectures. The original order started on January 7 due to an increase in coronavirus cases.

“The biggest problem is the way Japanese people see the Olympics now,” Mori told Associated Press. “And secondly, how we should proceed with the preparations for the games while combating the coronavirus. These two points are our primary focus.”

On Wednesday, Tokyo organizers and the IOC will be releasing their step-by-step rule books for those attending or participating in the Olympics before leaving home. They will explain coronavirus testing in Japan and other strict rules of conduct.