د . إAEDSRر . س

Maltese Athletes Unable To Support Fellow Peers As Tokyo Enters State Of Emergency Ahead Of Olympics

Article Featured Image

Host city Tokyo has gone into a state of emergency with less than two weeks left until the start of the Olympic Games.

Tokyo is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, prompting the Olympic Games organisers to ban all domestic spectators from attending any venue, with foreign spectators banned months ago.

Malta is preparing to send up six athletes to compete in the Olympic Games under a set of restrictions and measures that make this edition of the sporting event starkly different from what everyone is used to, for better or worse.

“We have taken all the necessary precautions and the organisers have implemented a number of different protocols and restrictions,” said Malta Olympic Committee President Julian Pace Bonello at a press conference.

“For example, athletes can only remain in their bubbles whilst staying at the Olympic village and while training and competing,” he said.

Unlike previous Olympic Games, athletes won’t be allowed to attend different events to cheer on their peers. Furthermore, movement will also be restricted around the Olympic site, with athletes having to stay within their designated bubble at all times. 

“I will definitely miss that games experience, however at the end of the day, the most important part is to compete,” weightlifter Yazmin Zammit Stevens told Lovin Malta.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)

Athletes will arrive at the venue for the day of their event and will have to leave the village the day after.

“As part of the precautions we are flying at different times,” said Chef de Mission Lucienne Attard. “We’re not sending everyone together, they’re going into their own bubbles”.

All six of Malta’s athletes heading to the Olympics are vaccinated and will receive a COVID-19 test upon landing. If they test positive for the virus, they will be isolated and tested again. If positive once more, they will enter quarantine.

“It’s a shame not to see my companions compete. It would be nice to watch other sports to soak up the atmosphere but we’re lucky these games are happening,” badminton player Matthew Abela told Lovin Malta.

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Lovin Malta (@lovinmalta)

Athletes and contingent members have also been instructed to down three to four mobile apps to help with contact tracing, locating and health monitoring.

A breakdown of all six athletes representing Malta at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games can be found here.

What do you make of this? Let us know below

READ NEXT: WATCH: Maltese Athletes Complete 18-Hour Nonstop Kayak Challenge To Sicily To Fight Obesity

When JP's not too busy working on polyrhythmic beats, you'll probably find him out and about walking his dog.

You may also love

View All