TOKYO TITBITS
BBC LOCKED DOWN
THE BBC’s Scotland team have been sent into isolation for 14 days after a fellow passenger on their flight to the Tokyo Olympics tested positive for Covid-19. Three members of staff, who are at the Games to cover the performances of athletes from north of the border, will be unable to do so until July 30. All journalists from the UK have to quarantine in their hotel rooms on the day they land, along with a further three days. The trio were two days into their quarantine when they were given the news. They were on the same flight as six Team GB athletes and two officials who were also identified as close contacts of the infected passenger. However, while the athletes can train — and will compete if they continue to record negative tests — the broadcast journalists are confined to their hotel rooms for 14 days. The opening ceremony takes place on Friday and the Games conclude on August 8.
FIFTH FORECAST FOR GB
TEAM GB have been tipped to win 52 medals in Tokyo and finish fifth in the medal table — down from second at Rio 2016. A virtual medal table released by sports data company Gracenote forecasts 14 golds, 23 silvers and 15 bronzes. If correct, Team GB’s haul will be 15 short of the 67 they won in Brazil five years ago, which included 27 golds, 23 silvers and 17 bronzes. But it will be within the target range of 45 to 70 medals set by UK Sport, who fund British Olympic sport.
POLISH GAFFE
POLAND have suffered the humiliation of having to send six swimmers home after they selected too many for the Games. The group of relay only swimmers are now threatening legal action and have signed an open letter calling for the Polish Swimming Federation (PZP) board to resign following the embarrassing administrative error. One of the six, Alicja Tchorz, said: ‘Imagine dedicating five years of your life, giving up your private life and work and striving for a start at the most important sporting event — and your dedication results in a total flop.’ PZP president Pawel Slominski said: ‘I express great regret.’
HECTOR WON’T WOBBLE
HECTOR PARDOE, who will contest the 10km open water swimming event, has had to overcome a fear of jellyfish. The 20-year-old from Wrexham (left) said: ‘If I was just swimming recreationally in the sea I’d still be scared of jellyfish, but when I’m in a race now I’ve got so much adrenaline and stuff, I don’t really think about it.’