WHO: Impossible Tokyo Olympics Zero Risk Of COVID-19 Infection Cases

Tokyo 2020 Olympics illustration. (Wikimedia Commons/Antonio Tajuelo)

JAKARTA - The Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom, Ghebreyesus on Wednesday said it was impossible to reduce the risk of coronavirus infection to zero at the Tokyo Olympics.

According to him, the success of holding a multi-sport event between countries in the world every four years, which will be opened this weekend, must be judged by how well infection cases are handled.

In a speech at a meeting of the International Olympic Committee in Tokyo, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said the anti-virus measures that the organizers had drawn up with suggestions from his organization would be tested.

"The sign of success, not zero risks. I know several cases have been detected. The sign of success is to make sure every COVID-19 case is identified, isolated, tracked, and treated as quickly as possible, stopping further transmission", Tedros said as quoted by Kyodo News Wednesday, July 21.

"It is my sincere hope that (the anti-COVID-19 measures) succeed not only for the sake of the Olympics itself and the safety of the athletes, coaches, and officials but as a demonstration of what is possible with the right plans and the right actions", he hopes.

The Tokyo Olympics will open Friday after an unprecedented one-year delay, but organizing committees have reported 79 infections, including four announced by the city hosting athletes' training camps, since earlier this month among people linked to the games.

Today, the committee recorded eight new cases, including an athlete from abroad who did not live in the athlete village. An official later identified the athlete as a female taekwondo athlete from Chile.

According to Chile's National Olympic Committee, the athlete, Fernanda Aguirre, will not be able to compete at the Olympics because she will be asked to isolate for 10 days or more. Chile's National Olympic Committee said he would step down after testing positive.

Meanwhile, Dutch skateboarder Candy Jacobs, who will compete in a women's street event on Monday, said on Instagram that she had tested positive for the Coronavirus.

"I'm heartbroken. Unfortunately, I tested positive for COVID-19 this morning, which means my Olympic journey ends here", he wrote in an Instagram post.

"I feel healthy and have done everything in my power to prevent this scenario. Luckily we have followed health protocols, so my fellow skateboarders can still shine brightly", he continued.

To note, of the eight cases reported by the organizers, the only confirmed case in the athletes' village was someone who had close contact with a Czech beach volleyball player who tested positive for the virus earlier this week. The player had 12 close contacts, organizers said.