Australian Commonwealth Games athletes are BARRED from cheering on their teammates under harsh Covid-19 rules that will force them to wear masks almost all the time
- Harsh measures brought in after outbreak at World Swimming Championships
- Australian competitors will have to wear masks in almost all situations
- Won’t be allowed to cheer on Aussies playing in other sports
If you’re tired of all the talk of bringing back mask mandates and social distancing to combat another wave of Covid-19 in Australia, spare a thought for the country’s Commonwealth Games athletes, who won’t be allowed to cheer each other on in the UK next month.
The harsh measure is being adopted by the national team to keep athletes safe from the virus, along with all competitors being required to wear masks unless they’re in their rooms or exercising outdoors.
Australia’s games organising committee released a list of Covid-19 rules but felt the need to add extra restrictions to ensure there isn’t an outbreak when the Games start in Birmingham on July 28.
The harsh restrictions mean Aussie competitors like pop star turned swimmer Cody Simpson (pictured) won’t be able to cheer on teammates in other sports
That means star athletes like swimmer Cody Simpson, hurdler Michelle Jenneke and Olympic heroes Emma McKeown and Cate Campbell won’t be able to barrack for Aussies playing sports other than their own.
‘The only time team members will be able to remove their masks is when they’re either by themselves, such as walking outside, or in their room,’ chef de mission Petria Thomas told News Corp.
Michelle Jenneke was delighted to make the Commonwealth Games team after coming back from injury – but the Covid-19 rules are sure to take some of the gloss off for many competitors
‘They will be permitted to stay with their team and support their team, but there won’t be an opportunity to go and watch other events because unfortunately those seats will be in public spectating areas, which presents a very high risk of Covid-19 transmission.’
Thomas added that an outbreak that saw eight athletes test positive at the recent World Swimming Championships helped drive the decision to bring in the restrictions.
Aussie athletes had to abide by tough Covid rules for last year’s Tokyo Olympics, with public spectators banned from events and competitors tested for the virus daily in addition to mask mandates and a host of other measures.
Team members were also barred from leaving the athletes’ village unless they were travelling to competition venues, mingling with other nations’ team members was highly discouraged, and Aussie Olympians had to fly home within days of competing, regardless of how many days were left to run at the Games.