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First coronavirus case hits Tokyo Olympics athletes’ village

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2021/tvpatrol/07/14/tokyo.jpg"/><figcaption>A man wearing a face mask walks past Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games signage at the Main Press Center during the COVID-19 outbreak in Tokyo July 17, 2021. <em>Thomas Peter, Reuters</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Tokyo Olympics organizers revealed the first COVID-19 case in the athletes’ village on Saturday as they sought to reassure competitors that the pandemic-delayed event would be safe.</p><p>Six days before the opening ceremony, organizers said an unnamed person had tested positive for coronavirus in the Village, where thousands of athletes and officials will stay during the Games.</p><p>&quot;There was one person in the Village. That was the very first case in the Village that was reported during the screening test,&quot; Masa Takaya, spokesman for the Tokyo organizing committee, told a press conference. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/16/21/tokyo-olympics-bradley-beal-health-protocols-ruled-out-for-team-usa">Tokyo Olympics: Bradley Beal (health protocols) ruled out for Team USA</a></li></ul><p>&quot;Right now this person is confined to a hotel,&quot; Takaya said. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/15/21/covid-cluster-at-olympic-hotel-as-tokyo-cases-surge">COVID cluster at Olympic hotel as Tokyo cases surge</a></li></ul><p>Japanese media reported that the person who had tested positive was a foreign national. The Games are facing opposition from the Japanese public, who fear a fresh wave of infections.</p><p>Seiko Hashimoto, the chief organizer of the Tokyo 2020 Games, said organizers were ready to respond swiftly if there was a wider outbreak.</p><p>&quot;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,&quot; she said.</p><p>Hashimoto conceded that competitors at the Games, which were postponed for a year because of the pandemic, would be anxious about the virus situation -- and she vowed that organizers would not hide cases.</p><p>&quot;Athletes who are coming to Japan are probably very worried. I understand that,&quot; she said.</p><p>&quot;That is the reason why we need to make full disclosure.&quot; </p><p>Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto said it was not yet known if the person had been vaccinated against COVID-19.</p><p>&quot;We don&#x27;t have any information on whether this person was vaccinated or not,&quot; Muto said. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/15/21/bach-says-virus-rules-working-ahead-of-tokyo-games">Bach says virus rules &#x27;working&#x27; ahead of Tokyo Games</a></li></ul><p>He said competitors at the Games would be tested every day &quot;so if someone tests positive, that person will be isolated immediately whether there are any close contacts or not&quot;.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/07/14/21/questionable-whether-olympics-should-go-ahead-says-golfer-adam-scott">&#x27;Questionable&#x27; whether Olympics should go ahead, says golfer Adam Scott</a></li></ul><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1726383" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

<p>Organizers revealed the first COVID-19 case in the Games Village Saturday, as they sought to reassure competitors that the pandemic-delayed event would be safe.</p>

Organizers revealed the first COVID-19 case in the Games Village Saturday, as they sought to reassure competitors that the pandemic-delayed event would be safe.