Australia Olympic health scare worsens days before start of Paris 2024

A Covid-19 outbreak within the Australian ranks at the Paris Olympics has spread to nearly half of the nation's women's water polo team as they prepare to compete at the Games.

The number of athletes who have tested positive for the virus now stands at five on the eve of the spectacle, as they prepare to take part between July 26 and August 11. Australia's chef de mission Anna Meares confirmed a first case of Covid-19 in the team as she addressed the media at a press conference on Tuesday.

After confirming that the individual in question had been isolating after testing positive, it has now been revealed that four more stars have been struck down. Now, Meares has issued a further update to fans as she insisted that all five infected athletes will be able to train in the build up to the Games - if they feel fit to do so.

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She also confirmed that the entirety of the Australian 13-woman squad for the event have been tested for Covid-19 in light of the outbreak. Deyailing the state of play, she said: "It is confined to the water polo team. There is training again this afternoon and if those five athletes are feeling well enough to train they will."

"We treat COVID no differently to any other respiratory illness," she said, as she asserted the team's commitment to their protocols, adding: "We want to ensure that we have our protocols working as well and dealing with these illnesses and minimizing them is a part and parcel of every Olympic Games."

"More broadly, we have our respiratory illnesses protocol in place and we have reinforced with all of the teams as they arrive into our village. Two basic rules around that really simple hygiene practices are effective. And if you are feeling unwell or have any symptoms, get tested."

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After confirming at a single athlete had contracted the virus on Tuesday, Meares had said: "Currently we have had one athlete from the (water polo) team isolating with COVID which was detected last night. So as a precaution, they're not joining us this morning.

"I need to emphasise that we are treating COVID no differently to other bugs like the flu. This is not Tokyo," she continued, as she appealed for calm as they continue to monitor the situation. "The athlete is not particularly unwell and they are still training but sleeping in a single room,

The chef de mission added: "It was late last night when she was discovered with symptoms and the good thing is that having our own testing equipment means that we can get that information really quickly and intervene both in diagnosis and treatment. In terms of competitions, we will wait until she gets the all-clear and we get the information from our chief medical officer Carolyn Broderick."