Following discussions between the IOC and the International Federations (IFs), a specific solution for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 has been found to provide further flexibility for team selections in several sports.
Previously, “alternate” replacements were available in the sports of football, handball, hockey, rugby and water polo; however these were available only as permanent replacements for the Olympic squads. Now each National Olympic Committee (NOC) will be able to use these athletes in each match.
This will not increase the number of athletes on site in Japan, but will give more flexibility to select within the wider squads, recognising the unique situation for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 and giving NOCs maximum flexibility in choosing match squads.