Julius Ssekitoleko, 20, who was taking part
in a training camp near Osaka, failed to turn up to a COVID-19 test and was not
in his hotel room.
His disappearance comes with intense
scrutiny in Japan over the risk of virus infections spreading from the postponed
2020 Games, as cases surge in the country.
On Friday, the government said it had asked
organisers to investigate reports of Games participants breaking virus rules, a
day after Olympic chief Thomas Bach insisted the regulations "are working,
and they are enforced".
Among thousands of Games-related arrivals
in July, only a handful of positive cases have been recorded.
But ahead of the opening ceremony on Jul
23, Tokyo is under a virus state of emergency and has in recent days recorded
its highest infection numbers since January.
Organisers have been forced to bar
spectators from all events in Tokyo and most venues elsewhere, while athletes,
officials and staff face strict anti-virus measures including regular testing
and limits on their movement.
Ten positive cases, including one athlete,
have emerged among Games participants in the past two days.
Further cases have been found among teams
arriving for training camps, with Japanese media reporting Friday that a member
of Nigeria's delegation had been hospitalised after testing positive at the
airport.
Ssekitoleko's disappearance in Izumisano
city comes after two members of Uganda's delegation tested positive in Japan,
including a coach who was isolated at the airport.
"The city is making all efforts to search
for the individual. We have reported the matter to police," a statement
from city authorities said.
Japan has seen a smaller COVID-19 outbreak
than many countries, with fewer than 15,000 deaths despite avoiding harsh
lockdowns, but only around 20 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated so
far.
"FEELS LIKE WE'RE IN PRISON"
Dozens of teams are already in Japan - some
at training camps dotted around the country, and others in the Olympic Village,
where national flags have been hung on the buildings housing delegations.
However, Australian basketball star Liz
Cambage announced her withdrawal over the mental health risks of staying in
"terrifying" bubble conditions.
"No family. No friends. No fans. No
support system outside of my team. It's honestly terrifying for me," the
four-time WNBA All-Star said in a statement.
British weightlifter Sarah Davies said
living in the bubble felt like "prison".
"We have what we call the prison
yard," she said in a video posted on her Instagram account as she walked
on a stretch of pavement.
"So we can literally walk up and down
this stretch between the hours of 7 am and 10 am, and that is the only time
we're allowed outside," she said.
"Genuinely, feels like we're in
prison. But, hey, it is what it is ... Welcome to Olympic Games, COVID
edition."
Olympic officials are also in Japan,
including Bach who visited Hiroshima on Friday to mark the start of an
"Olympic truce" that urges a worldwide halt to hostilities during the
Games.
The visit sparked some controversy, with
more than 70,000 people signing a petition opposing his trip and accusing Bach
of using Hiroshima and Nagasaki "to promote the Olympics ... even though
it is being forced through despite opposition".
Polls have shown most Japanese want to see
the Games postponed or cancelled, though some recent polls showed opposition
softening.
The German former fencer laid a wreath at a
memorial to victims of the atomic bombing in Hiroshima, and appeared shaken
after visiting a museum documenting the attack and its aftermath.
Describing himself as "humbled"
by the trip, Bach said the Games would "be a beacon of hope for a better
and more peaceful future".
Bach has been meeting local officials in
recent days and Japanese media said Friday he had asked the prime minister to
consider allowing spectators into Olympic venues if the virus situation
improves.
Up to 5,000 spectators are currently
allowed at non-Olympic sporting events in Tokyo, despite the emergency.
But officials argue the Games is different
because it involves multiple events happening simultaneously, posing a greater
risk of crowds gathering and infection spreading.
0 comments:
Post a Comment