- Title: New Zealand 'oblivious' to COVID scare in Olympic village
- Date: 19th July 2021
- Summary: JOURNALISTS TEAM POSING FOR PHOTOGRAPHS TOGETHER
- Embargoed: 2nd August 2021 02:51
- Keywords: Japan New Zealand Olympics Tokyo 2020 coronavirus football team reunited
- Location: TOKYO, JAPAN
- City: TOKYO, JAPAN
- Country: Japan
- Topics: Asia / Pacific,Olympics,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA003EMIA8NB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:The New Zealand women's soccer team is focused on Olympic victory and is "oblivious" to COVID-19 scares said coach Tom Sermanni on Monday (July 19) despite reports of positive cases among competitors in the athletes' village in Tokyo.
Games officials on Sunday (July 18) reported the first case of a competitor testing positive for COVID-19 in the athletes' village where 11,000 athletes are expected stay during the Games.
"We're really kind of oblivious to that," said Sermanni, when asked about the reports at a news conference in Tokyo.
"We sort of follow our doctor who is extremely strict. We follow strict protocols, you know, and do everything we can to make sure that we stay safe and healthy and hopefully, by doing that we'll be ok."
Since July 2, Tokyo 2020 organisers have reported 58 positive cases among athletes, officials and journalists.
Any major outbreak in the village could wreak havoc on competitions because those either infected or isolating would not be able to compete.
Sermanni said New Zealand was "just focusing on doing what we need to do" for the games, with the team reuniting after 16 months apart.
New Zealand are set to face world champions United States, Australia and Sweden in Group G at the Tokyo Games.
Team captain Ali Riley said New Zealand was ready to put the 'underdog' tag to rest and saw neighbours Australia as a "fun challenge" in their first game.
"We are here to perform the best we can on these days and on those days I think any team can win," said Riley.
(Production: Pak Yiu, Parniyan Zemaryalai) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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