Partying rowers and rugby players reprimanded after trashing rooms

Ten athletes required Covid tests after joining an unauthorised party in which rooms were trashed and cleaners called to mop up vomit.

Athletes let off steam at two parties in the Olympic village on the weekend

Australian men’s rowing and rugby team members have been severely reprimanded for bad behaviour in the athletes village after a wild weekend in which rooms were trashed and cleaners called in to mop up vomit.

The drunken hijinks raged throughout Friday and Saturday nights, upsetting athletes who were still competing, including several from within the Australian contingent and rivals such as Team GB.

The Australian Olympic Committee confirmed “a few individuals did leave their rooms in a messy and unacceptable state”.

“Two apartments had minor damage, one each involving athletes from the men’s rowing and rugby teams,” an AOC spokesman said. “The CEOs of both organisations have apologised to the AOC and have made their own inquiries into the athletes’ behaviour.’’

A village source said while the behaviour was common at Olympic s when athletes had completed their competition, this Games had been far more regulated due to the Covid risk.

Athletes were only allowed to drink in their room and were not permitted to socialise.

The source said the behaviour was out of line and disrespectful to athletes still competing and the mess they left was “disgusting’’.

Australian chef de mission Ian Chesterman said: “Let’s be clear, the vast majority of athletes have absolutely done the right thing through their stay and been model citizens both on and off the field of play.

“A few have let themselves down and, as we have high standards, the matters were reported to the national federations and they will deal with those athletes involved. It has all been appropriately dealt with and we have put the matter behind us here. I continue to be happy impressed by the behaviour and spirit of this team.”

Ten Australian athletes had to briefly isolate and undergo Covid tests after mingling the athletes from other nations at the parties.

“Afterwards we became aware of that and that a few of our athletes had been mixing with other athletes not in the heat of the party but in places … outside of our direct allotment.

“That’s clearly something we don’t encourage.’’

Covid rules prohibit athletes mixing with athletes and delegates from other countries in a bid to prevent cross-infection.

Chesterman said officials identified 10 athletes who had been mingling with others, and “we took the necessary precautions around that.

“We brought that small group into our procedures, tested them, proved they were (negative) non-infectious and they’ve rejoined the group,’’ he said.

“That was just a very, very small number of athletes out of the total cohort.”