Tight rules in the Tokyo bubble for Aussie athletes

The extraordinary measures that Australia’s athletes and officials face in Tokyo have come to light, including an order to wolf down meals in a matter of minutes.

Australian athletes can expect to spend a fair bit of time in their rooms in the village

Australian Olympic athletes will have to wolf down their meals in Tokyo, with organisers instructing them they can only be in the dining hall of the athletes’ village for “a maximum of 30 minutes”.

They can only eat with other Australian team members and then it’s straight back to their rooms. While the village gym has been dubbed a “high-risk” area that should be avoided.

The Australian has obtained a copy of the Australian Olympic Committee’s “playbook”, which details the extraordinary measures being taken to ensure all athletes and officials “remain Covid-free across the period of stay in Tokyo”.

The playbook also reveals there will be an Australian athlete lounge, but it can only be used in 15 minute allotments and the Olympians must “move to outdoors” or “apartments” after that time.

The AOC playbook, which has been distributed to all Australian team members heading to Tokyo, details strict measures — including minimising contact with athletes from other nations — to stop them becoming close contacts of Covid cases.

“No one wants to be tested positive or be defined a close contact,” it reads. “The consequences for you personally, for members of your sport and for the entire Australian Team could be dire.”

It says interaction with other nations “outside of the unavoidable interaction at venues” should be minimised. “Where unavoidable, masks must be worn, social distancing maintained and only take place in outdoor settings and for less than 15 minutes to avoid any suggestion of being a close contact,” it reads.

The playbook states the team “is in the fortunate position of arriving in Tokyo Covid-free and nearly 100 per cent vaccinated” and is in “an enviable position and must be protected”.

It has deemed not only the Olympic gym but the Olympic Village Plaza a “high risk area”. It states that queues should be avoided there.

Members of the Australian national softball team gather for a practice game at a field in Ota, Gunma prefecture, Japan, as part of their pre-Olympic training camp. Picture: AFP

Also in the Australian team camp there is a Nutrition Services Centre with slushies and other “grab and go” food available as well as coffee, toasters and microwaves, but again athletes can only remain in the area for a maximum of 15 minutes.

“All team members are requested to move through this area rather than loiter,” the playbook reads. “Masks must be worn, stays of more than 15 minutes avoided and social distancing observed. All users will be required to clean all touched surfaces.”

Olympians are warned to “think carefully” about accessing the athletes’ village gym.

“We acknowledge that access to the Olympic Village Gym for some athletes is a critical part of their preparation, eg. weightlifting,” it reads. “However, we would advise any athletes who are not vaccinated to not use the Olympic Village Gym.

“In the Australian team building there is a small gym (approx 80 sqm, ceiling height only 2.4 metres which will preclude standing overhead lifting for many athletes) and a stretching area in the basement.

“Masks must be worn in the Australian team building gym.”

The Australian team playbook informs athletes there may be biosecurity “bubbles within” the Australian team bubble.

“It also means that some sports will decide to maintain a bubble within our bubble,” it reads. “Please respect this right, while I encourage everyone to still acknowledge each other in passing with a simple thumbs-up or say G’day. We are all in this together and still a proud Australian Olympic team.”

A security guard stands behind a fence during the Olympic and Paralympic Village media tour in June. Picture: Getty Images

The document also reveals close contacts are those who have been within one metre of a confirmed positive Covid-19 case, without wearing a mask, from two days before the person’s symptoms appeared to when they were tested and started isolating.

“To avoid being deemed a close contact therefore, you should keep your mask on at all times in the village when not eating, drinking or sleeping. You should ensure that you maintain two metres distance from other individuals wherever possible. Where close proximity is unavoidable, you should limit the duration of that close proximity to less than 15 minutes.”

When Australian athletes return home they will be quarantined at venues such as Howard Springs in the Northern Territory.

“What we do know is that we will all be going into the standard options provided to all Australians arriving back in this country. We will be in single rooms and allocated to various hotels at the total discretion of each state government,” the playbook says.

“Once in quarantine, we will be working to make the stay as pleasant as possible, with a combined effort with the AIS and your sports to ensure adequate wellbeing assistance.”