The Bhutanese team at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics – four athletes and five officials – confirmed that they are safe and have started training at the Olympic Village. The Village where the athletes who have travelled to Japan for the Games are kept reported three COVID-19 positive cases on Sunday.
Since the beginning of this month, 71 people associated with the Games have tested positive for the Coronavirus. They include both athletes and officials.
Dorji Phurba, the national coach for air rifle shooting, said the athletes are only allowed to go to the training grounds and the main competition area: “We are strictly abiding by it.”
The athletes are also restricted from leaving the Olympic Village.
The coach said that the Bhutanese athletes started training for the Games since Monday. “We are training well,” he added.
Bhutan is participating in air rifle shooting, archery, judo, and swimming.
Meanwhile, the BBC reported that despite the positive cases, the chief of the organising committee of the Games has not ruled out cancelling the event. Toshiro Muto said that discussions would continue if there is a spike in cases. However, he added that at this point, the COVID-19 cases might rise or fall, so the committee will think about what it should do when the situation arises.
The 2020 Olympics and Paralympics were postponed for a year due to the pandemic. It’s the first time the Games have been delayed in its 124-year history.
Pema Seldon Tshering/Tshering Dendup
Edited by Sonam Wangdi
