The Bermuda Olympic Association has partnered with Coral Coast Clothing, a Hamilton store, to sell Team Bermuda and BOA-branded face masks to assist with preparing teams for international competitions, including next year’s Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

The masks, which are reusable and adjustable, are available in the Bermuda colours of pink and blue and will retail for $20 with all proceeds going to the BOA, a registered charity, to support the development of Bermuda’s young athletes and helping maximise their participation in overseas competitions.

Branwen Smith-King, the BOA secretary-general and a former Bermuda track athlete, said the BOA saw the opportunity to benefit from the use of face masks because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“With the pandemic still affecting our daily lives, and requiring us to wear face coverings to protect ourselves and others, the BOA came up with mask designs that will let our supporters show their pride in Bermuda and our athletes,” Smith-King said.

“Available in the national team colours, they are perfect stocking stuffers. And since they are sourced for us by Coral Coast and carried in their shop, you know they are great quality, too.

“I’d like to thank Adam and Sam at Coral Coast for assisting us with this project and for their generosity in passing all profits from the sale of these masks back to the BOA, where the money will be put to good use, supporting our young athletes on their journeys to success.

“Pick up a BOA mask at Coral Coast and wear your Team Bermuda colours this holiday season!”

Adam Petty and Sam Outerbridge, co-founders of Coral Coast Clothing said they were pleased to partner with the BOA for a good cause.

“We’re pleased that we are able to support the BOA with this initiative,” they said. “Everything we sell at Coral Coast is a celebration of Bermuda, so the BOA and Team Bermuda merchandise fits right in.

“The masks are of the same high quality as our other popular designs, and you can feel good knowing the money you spend on them is going to help our current and future elite athletes.”

The pandemic forced the Olympic Games to be postponed this summer, rescheduled for next July, with the International Olympic Committee ruling out postponing the Games for a second time.

A government-led task force in Japan is working on how the global event can be staged safely, with suggestions that it will put on a more simple version of the Games. Specific details around different scenarios are being finalised, such as adjusting immigration protocols in the event that Japan’s borders remain closed to tourists.

The government is also considering allowing athletes to enter Japan without a 14-day self-quarantine, in favour of testing at point of entry into Japan and at stadiums.

The Japanese Government is also mulling a “pledge” signed by athletes promising to limit their activities to the stadium and Olympic Village. The pledge consists of a pre-arranged itinerary outlining destinations and modes of transport. Failure to abide by the rules may end in eviction of athletes from the village.

It is anticipated some 11,000 athletes from 206 countries will be in Japan for the Olympic Games, making it difficult to prevent a coronavirus outbreak in the Olympic Village. Organisers are considering the idea of housing athletes in hotels to prevent the spread of Covid-19 between the athletes.