NEWS
MULTIPLE ATHLETES CAUGHT CONSUMING ALCOHOL IN OLYMPIC VILLAGE CAN FACE PUNISHMENT
By Susan Lewis
2-8-2021
Credit: Kyle Dias/Unsplash
Multiple Olympic athletes can face disciplinary action after being caught drinking alcohol in public areas at the Olympic Village in Tokyo.
Toshirō Mutō, director general of Tokyo 2020, has confirmed that athletes and other members of an unnamed delegation were spotted consuming alcohol in a park within the Village on Saturday night.
An investigation is now underway into the incident. Muto stressed that the organisers are prepared to take action if the athletes are found to have breached COVID-19 rules.
Athletes and all participants have been warned about the ban on alcohol as part of COVID-19 rules, offenders can face fines and being thrown out of the Games.
"On the night of 31 July, multiple athletes and members of the delegation were at the park within the Village and they were drinking alcohol and we are aware of this fact," said Mutō.
"Currently, we are investigating the situation and based on the results we will take appropriate action."
Prior to the start of the Games, the organiser confirmed that athletes could bring in alcoholic drinks, but the alcohol must be consumed in their private rooms and not in public and common areas of the Village due to COVID-19 rules.
Banning all alcohol in the Village is to align the facility with coronavirus measures that are in place in large areas of Japan.
It was originally reported that alcohol would be allowed before organisers changed their minds following a public outcry in Japan, where most areas are under a state of emergency where pubs and restaurants are banned from serving alcohol.
The sale of alcohol is also banned at Olympic venues to mitigate the risk of spreading COVID-19, to the detriment of drinks giant Asahi which had got exclusive rights to sell alcoholic drinks in Olympic venues.
(the writer can be contacted at: info@thewinechronicle.com)
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