The Games Organising Committee announced on Sunday that three athletes, including two who were living in the Olympic Village, tested positive for COVID-19. This news has added to skepticism about the troubled games that commence on July 23.
This is the first case in which athletes staying in the village have caught the coronavirus. Their identities have not been disclosed by the organizers. One of the infected athletes is staying at one of the designated Games hotels.
A total of 10 cases were detected on that day, which included five five “Games concerned personnel”, one contractor, and a journalist, according to the COVID-19 Positive Case List posted by the OC. As of the latest records from the OC, 55 cases of COVID have been reported associated with the Games. There is no word yet from the organizers about whether the two athletes staying at the village who were infected are being quarantined somewhere else.
“Since 1 July more than 18,000 games participants arrived from overseas. All of them had at least 2 negative tests before arrival. When they arrived, they had another test. When they are here, there is a strict testing regime in place,” Pierre Ducrey, the IOC Games Operations Director told PTI.
“The participants of the Olympic Games are the most controlled population in the world,” he added.
During the past few days, 1,000 cases have occurred daily in the Japanese capital of Tokyo, which will host the Games behind closed doors.
