Two SA footballers test positive at Olympic Village
TWO football players and a coach of the South Africa team have tested positive for the coronavirus at the Olympic village in Tokyo and all three are in quarantine, the South African Olympic Committee said.
The infected players are Thabiso Monyane and Kamohelo Mahlatsi as well as video analyst Mario Masha. All other members of the team returned negative tests twice and the South Africans assured they had previously complied with all hygiene measures.
These were the first coronavirus cases at the Olympic village, which is under strict measures against the spread of the virus. The cases were first reported by the Kyodo news agency and then confirmed by the organizers, but without nationalities or names.
The South Africans are also battling a coronavirus outbreak in their rugby team. A fourth case of infection has been detected in the team at the training camp in Japan. Coach Neil Powell is isolated and none of the four people affected are currently allowed to train or have contact with the team.
Six British athletes isolated
Six British athletes have been forced to quarantine in Tokyo after being deemed close contacts of an individual who tested positive for coronavirus following their ight to Japan.
The six, all members of the athletics team, plus two support staff, are now isolating in their respective hotel rooms at Team GB’s training camp in Yokohama.
In addition, the PA news agency understands that two members of Team GB’s HQ team are in isolation in the Olympic Village following close contact with another individual who tested positive in Japan, taking the total number of affected Team GB individuals to 10.
The British Olympic Association (BOA) confirmed that the group of eight have all tested negative for the virus and will continue to follow the direction of Games and Japanese government officials. It is understood the same applies in the further two cases.
The BOA said in a statement: “The British Olympic Association can confirm that six athletes and two staff members from the athletics team, who through no fault of their own have been identified as close contacts of an individual - not from the Team GB delegation - who tested positive for Covid-19 following their inbound ight on 16 July 2021.
“This was identified through Tokyo 2020’s reporting service and the group have since started a period of selfisolation in their rooms at the BOA’s Preparation Camp, in line with Tokyo 2020’s Playbook protocols.”
Russian quadruple sculls team out of Games
The Russia Olympic Committee’s (ROC) quadruple sculls team won’t take part in the Olympic rowing regatta in Tokyo, the ruling body World Rowing said on Sunday.
The decision was taken by the Russian rowing federation after crew members Nikita Morgachev and Pavel Sorin returned positive doping tests and were excluded from the Games.
The Russian federation said it “deeply analysed training results of two potential substitutes” but “concluded that their level of skills does not meet the Olympic Standards.” World Rowing said that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has confirmed that, “on an exceptional basis at this late date”, the spot can be awarded to Lithuania as per the Olympic Qualification System.
“World Rowing has contacted the Lithuanian Rowing Federation to offer this available slot to its M4x crew and awaits its decision,” a statement read.
Russians will compete at the Olympics as neutrals without their ag or anthem as a result of previous sanctions for doping.
Slovenia offers to carry EU flag at opening ceremony
The Slovenian Olympic team have offered to carry the European Union ag alongside their national ag at the Olympic Games opening ceremony in Tokyo.
This proposal was made by EU Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas and Slovenia Prime Minister Janez Jansa to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach.
In a letter published on Twitter on Sunday, Schinas and Jansa also wrote that both the Olympics and the EU promote peace and understanding. These shared values unite the two institutions, they said.
Slovenia currently holds the rotating presidency of the EU.
The opening ceremony of the postponed Tokyo Games is set to take place on Friday.