An Australian Olympics team has been rocked by the spread of COVID-19 with at least five players testing positive just days out from their opening match.
Five members of Australia’s women’s water polo team test positive to COVID-19 days out from first game
Opinion: Let the Games Begin. And I am not talking the Olympics. Its the Covid theatre, but that rerun isn’t hitting the box offices this tie. Does anyone even watch the olympics anymore? SHTF.tv
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Australia has been rocked on the eve of the 2024 Paris Olympics after several members of the same squad tested positive to COVID-19.
The Australian Women’s Water Polo team, also known as the Aussie Stingers, recorded as many as five infections after only one person initially tested positive a day earlier.
Just one case was later updated to two, before a further announcement from the Australian Olympic Committee confirmed the number had reached five – nearly half of the 13-women squad.
“The Water Polo team followed the Australian Olympic Team Respiratory Illness protocols correctly which allowed for early diagnosis and treatment,” the AOC said in a statement.
“A reminder has been sent to all teams to reinforce the protocols.
“No other athletes in the Australian Team have been diagnosed with COVID and teams and officials will continue to observe common sense precautions in line with Team protocols.”
Five members of Australia’s women’s water polo team have tested positive to COVID-19, just days from their opening match in Paris. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
The players have been advised to wear masks and isolate, with Australian chef de mission Anna Meares flagging they could return to training as soon as possible if they are feeling well enough.
“It is confined to the water polo team,” she said, adding all of the women’s squad had been tested,” Meares said on Wednesday.
“There is training again this afternoon and if those five athletes are feeling well enough to train they will.”
The Aussie Stingers begin their Olympics campaign with a match against China on Saturday local time (Sunday AEST).
The Australian team have their own medical team in the Olympic village, allowing for a quick return of tests.
Meares explained earlier the Paris Olympics was a different situation to Tokyo in 2021 when the COVID-19 pandemic was still in full swing.
“This is a high-performance environment, so we are being diligent, but I need to emphasise we are treating COVID no different to other bugs like the flu – this is not Tokyo,” she said.
“We’ve been able to get a really good handle on what may be going about.
“This allows our medical team to act very quickly.”
Two members of Australia’s athletic team have also been isolating with symptoms, despite testing negative.
“A couple” of unidentified Aussie officials also have cold and flu symptoms and have been treated the same as the water polo players.