AOC backs down on bid to overturn double quarantine orders for SA Olympians

The AOC has effectively conceded defeat in the battle to overturn double quarantine orders for returning SA, as athletes speak of the emotional drain of isolating.

The Australian Olympic Committee has effectively conceded defeat in its battle to overturn double quarantine orders for returning South Australian Olympians, declaring profound disappointment and urging a shorter home isolation period.

AOC chief executive officer Matt Carroll said the focus now would be on taking further measures to care for team members and monitoring their wellbeing.

Returning South Australian Olympians say a requirement they complete 28 days in quarantine has taken an emotional toll, and authorities failed to take into account that they were “extremely protected” while overseas.

The state government has come under fire after 16 athletes quarantining in Sydney were told they would be required by SA Health to isolate for another fortnight.

The ACO said South Australia was the only state that inflicted double quarantine on the fully-vaccinated athletes.

Mr Carroll said the AOC had provided compelling scientific evidence when applying for Olympians to be exempted but no reasons had been provided for this and a subsequent appeal being rejected.

“Our concern from the outset has been the mental and physical health of the athletes and we have respected the 14 day quarantine period,” he said.

“But without the detailed reasons, it’s very hard to understand why these athletes are being required to undergo this additional quarantine period. A reduction in the period of quarantine would be a good outcome.”

Softballer Belinda White, who started her second quarantine period after landing in Adelaide on Thursday morning, described “an emotional rollercoaster” of a long stint away from home before being “cooped up for another 28 days”.

Olympian Bel White with her puppy Leo, in home quarantine. Picture: Tom Huntley

Premier Steven Marshall defended health advice to impose double quarantine, saying the AOC could not guarantee a “sterile corridor” from athletes’ Sydney hotels to SA.

But federal Labor health spokesman Mark Butler blamed Prime Minister Scott Morrison for failing to arrange for the athletes to dodge SA’s tough quarantine requirements by returning through another city.

White’s first two weeks were spent in a Sydney medi-hotel, and she has been granted an exemption to complete her final 14 days alone at her Park Holme home.

White said she understood SA Health’s motives for the decision but felt the athletes’ circumstances had not been fully considered.

She said Olympians were “extremely protected”, undertaking daily Covid-19 testing while overseas, and adhering to strict conditions to prevent them from contracting the disease.

White said she was not told she would be required to complete a second stint until she was nearing the end of her Sydney quarantine.

“We got slapped with this and it was an emotional rollercoaster. It’s such a long stint away from home and the Olympics is such a big event, it’s very emotional and draining,” she said.

“Then, to be cooped up for another 28 days is really, really tough.”

Michelle Hill, whose son Alex won a rowing gold medal, said he was due to fly to SA from Sydney on Sunday and was hopeful of isolating at a cottage on their Riverland property.

“We’ve waited so long, what’s another 14 (days)? I’d be pretty ropeable if it was another stint of hotel quarantine but if it’s home quarantine I’m half-comfortable with it.

“It will make that first hug a lot sweeter.”

Mr Marshall said: “It is a tough decision but we’ve got to take tough decisions to protect South Australia, when we look interstate we see devastating conditions really affecting lives in South Australia.”

Asked about the athletes’ double quarantine, Opposition Leader Peter Malinauskas said: “As we have throughout the entirety of the Covid-19 pandemic, we back the health advice.”

Federal Finance Minister Simon Birmingham said it was understandable SA would take extra precautions for Sydney arrivals, given the statewide lockdown’s cause.

“It’s disappointing the AOC ignored the early advice given by SA, which would have allowed those Olympians to transit through any city other than Sydney,” Senator Birmingham said.

Mr Butler said the Morrison government should have known SA’s quarantine stance when making travel arrangements for the Olympians.

“They’ve let those Olympians down by bringing them through a city that they should have known would have subjected them potentially to a double quarantine period,” he said.