The group of Australian athletes really performed well in this Tokyo Olympics, as they are managed to get 46 medals, which included 17 gold medals. However, citizens back at home are not pleased with the government’s decision of extending the quarantine period for returning athletes.
As per Olympics.com.au, it is said that the South Australian government has imposed an additional quarantine period for the returning athletes who belong to the region. As a result of which the total number of quarantine periods has increased to 28 days including the hotel quarantine in Sydney.
Glenn Maxwell the Australian all-rounder was also not pleased with the way South Australian Government has decided to treat their athletes.
Maxwell wrote on Twitter wrote: “This is actually disgusting. What a way to treat our Olympians who represented us so well”.
The South Australian athletes who have returned from the Olympics, will undergo another period of quarantine after finishing their hotel quarantine that the whole Australian Olympic Team is undergoing in Sydney.
South Australia was the only state to do this. There are 56 members returning to South Australia. Among which 16 of them are currently quarantined in Sydney.
Matt Carroll who is the AOC chief executive officer says the decision lies in the face of expert medical advice of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS)Chief Medical Officer David Hughes felt that the mental health of athletes can be challenged severely after returning from a highly constrained Tokyo Games environment into the further isolation to extend lockdown.
Matt Carroll stated by saying that “While other countries are celebrating the return of their athletes, we are subjecting ours to most cruel and uncaring treatment. They are being punished for proudly representing the country with distinction at the Olympic Games”.
The AOC wrote formally to the South Australian Chief Medical Officer after weeks of discussions with the departmental staff. It was on Wednesday, the AOC was informed of the decision that the Olympians would be required with home quarantine. After two weeks, the hotel quarantine was just completed.
