Two South African footballers have become the first competitors to test positive for coronavirus in the athletes’ village in Tokyo – five days before the Olympic Games.
Meanwhile, six athletes and two staff members from Team GB’s athletics team are self-isolating after being identified as close contacts of an individual who tested positive after they arrived in Tokyo on 16 July.
Mario Masha, the South Africa football team’s video analyst, also tested positive on Saturday.
Organizers say 21 South African players and officials have been identified as close contacts.
They are confined to their rooms in the Olympic village, with all of their meals delivered to the door, and they must take daily PCR tests.
All the results on Sunday were negative and as long as that continues, the squad will be allowed to train in a bubble as they prepare for their match against Japan on Thursday.
“We have three positive cases of Covid-19 in the camp here, two players and an official,” said South Africa team manager Mxolisi Sibam.
“There is daily screening which included taking temperature and saliva testing.
“Masha and Monyane reported high temperatures and positive saliva tests and were then taken to do the nasal test, which we all had initially taken – and they, unfortunately, tested positive for Covid through that test. Mahlatsi is the latest player to go through the same process.”
Monyane, a right-back with Orlando Pirates in his homeland, posted on social media when the team arrived in Tokyo.
South Africa Sevens rugby coach Neil Powell also tested positive on Sunday on arrival in Japan and is now isolating in Kagoshima, where the squad is based for a pre-Games training camp.
On Monday, organizers announced six new cases connected to the Olympics including media, contractors, and other personnel, though none in the village.
That brings the total number of positive cases to 61, with 28 among the 22,000 accredited people who have arrived from abroad.
Infection rates are rising among the general population of Tokyo, topping 1,000 new cases for four consecutive days. Polls show many Japanese people oppose holding the Games with the influx of overseas visitors it entails.
One of the Games’ sponsors, Toyota, said its executives would not be attending Friday’s opening ceremony, event spectators were already unable to attend.
The manufacturer also confirmed it would not run any Olympics-related adverts in Japan because of the uncertainty around the Games among the country’s population, though adverts would still be aired internationally.
BOA confirm eight close contacts
The British Olympic Association (BOA) said six athletes and two staff members from the athletics team were identified as close contacts of an individual who is not from the Team GB delegation in Tokyo.
The group is in self-isolation in their rooms at the association’s preparation camp, have all tested negative upon their arrival in Japan, and under the supervision of the Team GB medical team, led by chief medical officer Dr. Niall Elliott.
“This is disappointing news for the athletes and staff, but we absolutely respect the protocols in place,” said Team GB chef de mission Mark England.
“We will offer them every support during this period and we are hopeful that they will be able to resume training again soon.”
In response to the news British athlete Taylor Campbell, who will compete in the hammer throw in Tokyo, said cases like this would be “unavoidable”.
“I’m on a flight now with GB members and instead of putting us together at the back of the flight we are mixed among the public,” he tweeted.
“We asked at the desk to be moved next to other team members onto empty rows but weren’t allowed to change our seat. We have trained hard to get in this position to now risk it all on something out of our control.”
Speaking on Saturday, Games chief Seiko Hashimoto said: “Athletes who are coming to Japan are probably very worried. I understand that.
“We are doing everything to prevent any Covid outbreaks. If we end up with an outbreak we will make sure we have a plan in place to respond.”
Australia’s entire athletics team for the Tokyo Olympics was quarantined in their rooms on Saturday at their pre-Games training camp in Cairns, following a Covid-19 scare.
An inconclusive test had been returned by an official but subsequent tests were negative, the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) confirmed on Sunday.
Athletes have since been permitted to compete in a warm-up event.
“My understanding is [Athletics Australia] applied an abundance of caution,” said David Hughes, the AOC’s chief medical officer.
