South Africa’s squad was severely depleted by Covid-19 infections and withdrawals before they left for the Games and was then hit with the news that two players and a video analyst had tested positive on arrival in Tokyo. Organisers said late on Monday that 21 members of the delegation were close contacts, leaving South Africa walking a tightrope ahead of Thursday’s match against the hosts. There have been 58 positive cases of Olympics-linked athletes, staff or officials recorded in Japan this month. On Monday, a Czech beach volleyball player tested positive at the Olympic Village while an alternate for the U.S. women’s gymnastics team tested positive at the site of their pre-Games training camp just outside Tokyo. Dohi said most of the positive cases had been contracted before the delegations entered Japan.

Source: The Star July 20, 2021 08:03 UTC