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Aussie athletes caught in Covid breach at Olympic village

A number of Australian athletes broke protocol in a minor breach at the Olympic village in Tokyo. (Getty Images)
A number of Australian athletes broke protocol in a minor breach at the Olympic village in Tokyo. (Getty Images)

A number of Australian athletes have raised concern in Tokyo after breaching the Olympic village Covid-19 protocols on the weekend.

Aussie athletes were deemed to have been interacting with athletes from other nations during a celebration in the village.

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Team chef de mission Ian Chesterman said none of the Australians involved in the Saturday night incident had tested positive and they had rejoined the group.

"It was a very minor offence - I'm not taking any disciplinary action, none was necessary," he said.

"It didn't lead me to any great concern."

Chesterman said the incident involved the Australians "mingling" outside of the team's direct allotment.

He said they had finished their competition at the Olympics and the incident involved "around about" 10 members of the Australian Games team.

In a separate incident, police were called to a party in the athletes' village on the wekeend.

The athletes were caught drinking in a park in the athletes' village on Friday night, Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto told a news conference, adding police were later present at the incident.

"We are looking into the matter. We will take appropriate steps based on our findings," he said. Police were also at the scene, he said, adding it was not clear what action they took, if any.

Muto did not give details of the number of athletes involved or their nationalities. Organisers previously said athletes are permitted to drink alcohol only in their rooms and only if they are alone, as a precaution against COVID-19.

Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic team Ian Chesterman speaks to the media at a press conference.
Chef de Mission of the Australian Olympic team Ian Chesterman speaks to the media at a press conference. (Photo by TREVOR COLLENS/AFP via Getty Images) (TREVOR COLLENS via Getty Images)

Athletes under strict Covid-19 protocols at Olympics

In previous Olympics, athletes would often enjoy a period of celebration after their events at the village.

However, due to strict Covid-19 protocols enforced in Tokyo, athletes have not been afforded the same luxury in 2021.

With Tokyo 2020 taking place without spectators and under tight social distancing measures because of the pandemic, athletes have been subject to daily testing and their movements limited inside a "bubble".

Some have taken to social media to complain of boredom.

with wires

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