An official from the Philippine delegation to the Tokyo Olympics has tested positive for COVID-19 a week before the opening rites of the Games.
Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham "Bambol" Tolentino bared the development on Saturday, July 17, on ONE PH's The Chasedown show.
"Unfortunately, ang bilin ko rin bawasan 'yong paglabas, may nag-positive satin sa Manila na isa (I urged them not to go outside anymore, but one person tested positive who's here in Manila)," said Tolentino, clarifying that the individual is a sports official. "So 'di na siya makakatuloy , Wala ganon talaga e.
"Dalawa ang kalaban talaga natin dito. Ang opponents natin dito ay fellow Olympians at tsaka the virus (We have two opponents here. Our opponents are our fellow Olympians and the virus itself)."
The POC chief reiterated his reminders, especially for those currently staying in Tokyo's Olympic Village, to double their precautions against the virus.
Tolentino said he's been monitoring all the movements of the Philippine delegation, starting from the 14 Viber chat groups with different concerns on respective sports.
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Aside from the 19 Filipino Olympians, Tolentino bared that the Philippine delegation consists of around 80-90 members.
Even the official who tested positive for COVID-19 wasn't spared despite being fully vaccinated, he added.
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"'Pag vaccinated ka at least additional protection pero ingat pa rin. Dahil nag-positive ka, 'di ka na makakalipad. Ganon din lalo sa atleta natin, ingat pa rin (When you're vaccinated, at least you have additional protection but you still need to be careful. Once you tested positive, you cannot fly to Tokyo anymore. The same goes for out athletes).
The news also came after an Olympic organizer revealed the first COVID-19 case in the Olympic Village.
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Per reports, the person who had tested positive is a foreign national who is currently quarantined in a hotel.
Meanwhile, five Filipino athletes from boxing and rowing already arrived in Tokyo, Japan on Saturday.