Tokyo Olympics: A member of the Serbian Olympic rowing team has been tested positive for COVID-19
Image Courtesy: Olympics
While entering Japan for the Tokyo Olympics, a member of the Serbian Olympic rowing squad tested positive for COVID-19. The Tokyo Olympics begin in just under three weeks. The news was first reported by the Japanese news agency Kyodo on Sunday, citing officials from the Japanese health ministry.
The athlete was reportedly isolated at Tokyo’s Haneda airport, according to officials. Four more passengers were reportedly taken to a facility close to the airport. They were supposed to fly to Nanto, in central Japan, for a training camp. The training camp is likely to be cancelled, according to Nanto officials.
The news comes after two Ugandan Olympic athletes tested positive for the coronavirus after arriving in Japan last month. One of the squad members tested positive at Narita Airport near Tokyo, but the rest were allowed to travel to a training site. A second member of the group was later discovered to be affected by the virus.
On Friday, Seiko Hashimoto, the chairperson of the organising committee, stated that more than 500 people had arrived in Tokyo safely. In addition to tens of thousands of other coaches, judges, and Olympic officials, about 11,000 Olympic and 4.400 Paralympic competitors will come for the Olympics.
Local supporters are still not allowed into venues, according to the organisers. Fans from other countries have been barred for months. Organizers announced about two weeks ago that they would allow indoor and outdoor venues to be filled to 50% capacity for up to 10,000 people.
However, with new infections appearing every day in Tokyo for the past two weeks, local organisers are set to meet this week with the International Olympic Committee and others to discuss lowering the cap or eliminating spectators entirely.
Japan media have reported many possible scenarios: They include no fans at all; no fans at the opening ceremony on July 23; limits on fans at night events; dropping the limit at all venues to 5,000.
A top government medical adviser Dr Shigeru Omi has said repeatedly that no fans are the safest option amid a pandemic, he has also questioned why the Olympics are even being held. It’s “abnormal,” he said.
