In the face of growing anger over the government’s COVID-19 response, the Japanese Olympic Committee on Wednesday said it will begin vaccinating its athletes and officials next month while taking steps to avoid burdening Japan’s taxed medical system.

About 1,600 Olympic athletes, coaches and officials who are expected to make contact with overseas delegations during the games will be eligible for the vaccinations, which will be administered at Tokyo’s National Training Center (NTC) from Tuesday by medical staff from the nation’s governing sports bodies.

Within that pool are 600 athletes, including some who have not yet clinched their berths for the July 23-Aug. 8 event.