It has only been six days since the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games but already athletes are starting their return trips as strict Covid-19 measures in Japan forbid any extended stays to soak up more of the Games atmosphere. Teams normally stay on for a few days after their events have ended to take in the closing ceremony celebrations, watch other sports and party with other athletes. Australia’s softball team departed for Sydney on Wednesday, as part of the first group of Team Australia’s athletes to leave Tokyo, and will go into a 14-day quarantine back home. “It’s definitely sad because these are my first Olympic Games and I really wanted to enjoy the Olympic Village and the Olympic feeling a bit more,” Funk said. The Games were postponed last year due to the pandemic and opinion polls have consistently shown that the majority of Japanese are against holding the Games during the pandemic.

Source: The Star July 28, 2021 10:41 UTC