Colombian athletes heading to Tokyo 2020 are the latest to be given priority in the COVID-19 vaccination programme ©Getty Images

The Colombian Olympic Committee (COC) has announced that its athletes will be part of a prioritised programme of vaccination against COVID-19 in time to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

In an official statement the COC said: "In order to guarantee the health and continuity in the process of preparation and participation of Colombia in the next Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the Ministry of Sports has achieved, with the coordination of the Colombian Olympic Committee, that the Ministry of Health prioritises vaccination against COVID-19 to all athletes and officials who are in the process of qualifying and participating in the next Olympic Games in Tokyo.

"The determination will favour the members of the national delegation who are not yet old enough to receive the vaccine and, therefore, are at high risk of being infected and having their aspirations to classify or participate frustrated."

Colombian athletes such as Rio 2016 triple jump gold medallist Caterine Ibarguen will receive prioritised access to COVID-19 vaccines before heading to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics ©Getty Images
Colombian athletes such as Rio 2016 triple jump gold medallist Caterine Ibarguen will receive prioritised access to COVID-19 vaccines before heading to the Tokyo 2020 Olympics ©Getty Images

Colombia are the latest in a series of nations due to compete in Tokyo who have announced prioritised vaccination programmes for their athletes.

Fiji, South Africa and Australia are among those who have announced similar programmes within the last month.

According to the latest Tokyo 2020 playbooks, anyone travelling to Tokyo 2020 has to have two negative COVID-19 test results prior to leaving.

The first test needs to be administered 96 hours before travel and the second 72 hours before.