India’s athletes will get to soak in the view of the picturesque Harumi waterfront from apartments at the Olympic Village, and will dine at a massive two-storey hall serving 700 food options – everything from custom-made pasta to biryani and tandoor-cooked rotis. Amidst the added anxiety, weightlifter Mirabai Chanu, one of India’s biggest medal hopes, was the first athlete from the country to check in on Friday. Athletes have already been told that they cannot mix with those from other countries or roam around freely inside the village to avoid being exposed to the virus. “It’s so silent outside that it doesn’t feel like you are in an Olympic Village. Instead, at the artistically-designed façade of the plaza at the entrance of the Olympic Village are giant boards that list the Covid-19 countermeasures.

Source: Indian Express July 17, 2021 16:33 UTC