Tournament of Roses Requires Royal Court Applicants to be Vaccinated Against COVID-19

[Updated] All applicants trying out for the Royal Court must be fully vaccinated, according to a statement released Monday by the Tournament of Roses Association. 

The Tournament began accepting applications on its website on Monday. 

“Please note that all Royal Court interview participants, and those who are selected for the Royal Court, are required to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination during the application process,” according to a statement posted on the organization’s website. 

“A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after having all doses of a CDC approved COVID-19 vaccine; two doses for Pfizer or Moderna and one dose for Johnson & Johnson,” the statement says.

Tournament of Roses CEO David Eads told Pasadena Now that the royal court will make more than 100 appearances, including visits to members of vulnerable populations.

“We cannot risk a super spreader event, where a member of the court spreads the virus,” Eads said. 

Eads also said the Tournament wanted to protect the health of the members of the royal court and the applicants during the tryouts.

The Tournament is not mandating staff or members be vaccinated, but is requiring they get vaccinated if they are going to participate in indoor Tournament events. 

“Vaccinations are key to our success and returning to large scale, mass gatherings. We have 750,000 people on the parade route every year.  Our future is going to be determined by people getting vaccinated.”

Members of committees are still meeting online. Members of three key committees are being required to get vaccinated because of their dealings with the public. 

Eads said the Tournament is encouraging staff and members to be vaccinated. 

“We are close to 100 percent vaccinated,” Eads said. “We are working with the city on its initiative to vaccinate Pasadena and our members are volunteering at vaccination clinics. We want to be part of the solution.”

Applicants trying out for the Royal Court will be interviewed on Sept. 11 and Sept. 13.

Last year, the Tournament did not select a Royal Court or a Queen due to the pandemic, which forced the cancellation of the parade for the first time since World War II.

The Tournament later decided to move the Rose Bowl Game to Arlington, Texas.

“With the cancellation of the 2021 Rose Parade, those who were looking forward to applying for the 2021 Royal Court, are encouraged to apply for the 2022 Royal Court. 

Eligibility requirements have been extended to include applicants who would have been eligible for the 2021 Royal Court,” according to the statement.

The seven Royal Court members who are ultimately selected to preside over the 133rd Rose Bowl and 108th Rose Bowl Game will each receive $7,500 scholarships and serve as ambassadors of the Tournament of Roses.

The final interviews will be held from 3 to 6 p.m. Sept. 28.

The Royal Court will be announced at 9 a.m. Oct. 4. The Rose Queen will be crowned at 5 p.m. Oct. 26.