How will Covid-19 affect the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham?

Australian athletes competing at the Commonwealth Games are set to be hit with strict rules surrounding their movements in Birmingham.

Masks will be on show in Birmingham. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

It’s been more than two years since the world first heard about Covid-19 and despite the time that has passed, the deadly virus is still wreaking havoc the world over.

As athletes descend on Birmingham for the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Covid is once again surging with health authorities on high alert.

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Britain may have removed all coronavirus entry rules for travellers from overseas but the Games are a different story, with stricter regulations in place to ensure everything goes smoothly.

Athletes will be required to produce a negative Covid-19 test result before they can compete in Birmingham.

Athletes and officials are required to test before travelling to Birmingham and then again upon arrival.

While the rules won’t be as limiting as they were for last year’s bio-secure bubble in Tokyo, a host of recommendations are still being put in place throughout the Games to ensure all participants can attend and enjoy the action.

They include many of the rules we’ve become accustomed to over the years: social distancing, maintaining personal hygiene and wearing masks on public transport.

Athletes will be required to wear masks when not in their rooms or exercising outdoors.

Australian team members have been hit with extra rules, with athletes unable to cheer on teammates at other sports.

Covid is still a threat. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)

Australian Commonwealth Games Chef de Mission Petria Thomas said tougher restrictions were necessary for those in green and gold to prioritise their performances.

“Our primary focus is that we can get our athletes to the starting line and they are performance ready,” Thomas told News Corp this month.

“The only time our team members will be able to remove their masks is when they are either by themselves, such as walking outside or in their room.

“We have to put these measures in place to minimise the transmission of Covid and other diseases as well.

“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.

“Some of these decisions that we are putting in place, they have been hard decisions, because as a former athlete I certainly know one of the great things about the multi-sport games is that interaction with other countries and fellow Australian team members and being able to get out and support and watch other sports.

“But it just places too much risk for transmission, which is going to affect the performance of the team.”