Three years after the Tokyo Olympics took place under stringent safety measures with no spectators due to the global Covid-19 pandemic, the virus has compelled athletes to pull out of competitions and wear masks again at the Paris Games. Several competitors have tested positive, among them Australian swimmer Lani Pallister, a potential medalist in the women's 1,500 meters freestyle, who had to withdraw. Pallister has been directed to quarantine in her room. A team spokesperson explained that the decision was made to conserve Pallister's energy for the 4x200m freestyle relay starting on Thursday.
British swimmer Adam Peaty tested positive a day after narrowly missing gold in the 100 meters breaststroke, settling for silver shared with American Nic Fink. Peaty, 29, shared on Instagram his focus on a speedy recovery to perform well in the team relays later in the week. His British teammate Matt Richards assured that Peaty was fine, just suffering from a cold, and they would do their best to avoid illness.
Several Australian women's water polo players tested positive for Covid-19 shortly before the opening ceremony, necessitating isolation from their teammates. The Tokyo Olympics were postponed by a year due to Covid-19, and the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics were conducted under strict measures, making Paris the first Olympics post-pandemic. There are no stringent Covid-19 protocols in Paris.
Anne Descamps, Paris 2024 chief communications director, noted that while athletes testing positive must wear masks and adhere to best practices, Covid-19 cases are low in France. British swimmer Jacob Whittle mentioned that his team was tightening precautions, emphasizing hand sanitizing and mask-wearing. Team Canada's chief medical officer, Mike Wilkinson, highlighted the continuation of successful infection prevention protocols from the pandemic, including hand washing, sanitization, and hygiene practices.
