Paris 2024: Notable athletes test positive as COVID-19 returns

Paris 2024: Notable athletes test positive as COVID-19 returns

Hassan Abdulsalam 17:52 - 30.07.2024

Notable cases include Australian swimmer Lani Pallister, who withdrew from the women's 1500m freestyle, and British swimmer Adam Peaty, who missed the 100m breaststroke final.

The 2024 Paris Olympics has seen a resurgence of COVID-19 cases among athletes, casting a shadow over the global sporting event.

While the situation is significantly improved compared to the Tokyo Games, which were held under strict lockdown, the virus continues to pose challenges for athletes and organisers alike.

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Athletes withdraw due to COVID-19

Several high-profile athletes have been forced to withdraw from competitions after testing positive for COVID-19.

Notable cases include Australian swimmer Lani Pallister, who had to pull out of the women's 1500m freestyle, and British swimmer Adam Peaty, who missed out on the 100m breaststroke final.

Australian swimmer Lani Pallister tested positive at the Olympics Games

Precautionary Measures

Despite the relaxed COVID-19 restrictions, many athletes and teams are still implementing precautionary measures to minimise the risk of infection.

These include frequent handwashing, wearing masks in indoor spaces, and maintaining social distancing where possible.

"We're hand sanitizing and wearing masks everywhere we can."

"It's just being extra cautious when eating and going on buses and communal spaces, just being really conscious so as to not catch it and also, if you've got it not to give it to anyone else. Just being careful really," British swimmer Jacob Whittle told Reuters.

Canada's chief medical officer, Mike Wilkinson, echoed these sentiments, "We continued to implement many of the infection prevention protocols that proved successful during the COVID pandemic including hand washing, sanitisation and good hygiene practices."

While the Paris Olympics is largely proceeding without major disruptions due to COVID-19, the ongoing presence of the virus serves as a reminder of the challenges faced by athletes and organizers in a post-pandemic world.

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