New Delhi: COVID-19 has returned to haunt the Paris Olympics 2024 as an Australian water polo player tested positive for the virus a day before the start of the Games. The player tested positive for the virus at the Olympic Village in Paris on Tuesday and has been sent into isolation to curb the risk of the spread of the virus.
This is the first case of COVID-19 in the Paris Olympics 2024. The news of the player testing positive was confirmed by Australia’s Olympic team chief Anna Meares. While she didn’t reveal the name of the athlete who has tested positive, Meares informed that the close contacts of the player are being tested and monitored for any symptoms.
Meares also informed that the Australian water polo team is continuing their practice as planned and that the infected player is not ‘particularly unwell’. She added that the Australian contingent will be treating any COVID-19 cases at the Paris Olympics just like any other bug like flu.
“We were due to have two players from water polo with us; however, currently, we have had one athlete from their team isolating with COVID, which was detected last night,” Meares said in a press conference on Tuesday.
“As a precaution, they’re not joining us this morning. I need to emphasize that we are treating COVID no differently than other bugs like the flu. This is not Tokyo. The athlete is not particularly unwell and they are still training but sleeping in a single room,” she added.
Will the athlete be allowed to participate in events at the Paris Olympics?
When asked about the athlete’s participation in the upcoming events at the Olympics, Meares informed that the Australian team would wait till she receives clearance from the team’s medical staff. While the risk of COVID-19 has reduced significantly in the last few years, the contagious virus remains a significant threat to the Games.
The Tokyo Olympics which was scheduled to take place in 2020 was postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Games were eventually held amid lots of precautions and limited spectators inside the arena.
Earlier, France’s health minister Frederic Valletoux had said there was no significant risk of COVID-19 spreading heavily during the Paris Olympics and that chances of the formation of a cluster of cases were low. However, despite the assurances, the organisers will have to be on their toes to ensure the virus doesn’t spread rapidly inside the Games village.
Any cases detected will have to be isolated and diagnosed quickly to curb the spread of the virus and avoid a major chaos at the Games village.
An Australian water polo player was isolated after testing positive for COVID-19 at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday. The contacts and the teammates of the Australian player are also being tested for the contagious virus. Other Sports Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
