As the world’s top athletes gather in Paris for 2024 Olympics, a new and unwelcome competitor has emerged: COVID-19. With over 40 athletes already testing positive for the virus, the World Health Organisation (WHO), is warning of a global surge in cases, threatening to disrupt the Games and beyond.
Several high-profile athletes have suffered from COVID-19 at the Paris Games. Olympic champions Adam Peaty Britain and Lain Pallister of Australia have become the latest high-profile casualties of the COVID-19 outbreak at the Paris Games. Peaty, who won silver in the 100m breaststroke, tested positive for the virus just a day after his triumph, despite feeling unwell. Meanwhile, Pallister, a strong contender in the women’s 1500m freestyle, was forced to withdraw from the event due to illness.
According to Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO Epidemic and Pandemic Preparedness and Prevention Director, data from 84 countries indicates a concerning trend. “The percentage of positive tests for SARS-Cov-2 has been rising for several weeks,” Van Kerkhove revealed in a recent statement to the Eyewitness News. She adds that the high circulation was not typical for respiratory viruses that trend to increase in circulation in the colder months. “It’s not surprising to see athletes being infected, because as I said before, the virus is circulating quite rampantly in other countries.
Anne Descamps, chief communications director for Paris 2024, confirms that Olympic organizers are taking steps to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Descamps explains that athletes who test positive are required to wear masks and that officials are urging everyone to follow best practices. Descamps also points out that cases are low in France, based on the organisation’s monitoring.
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Written by: Ntokozo Khumalo
Image: Paris Olympics
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