By Pearl Gumapos
The Philippine Olympic Committee decided on Thursday (July 22) to send home one coach from the national team who tested positive for COVID-19.
The unnamed coach first tested positive and was immediately brought to the clinic to take a confirmatory test which gave negative results.
However, the POC has decided to send the coach home regardless of the test results.
“So, nag-meeting kami na whether it’s negative or positive, kung negative we’ll just send him home kasi ma-aano anxiety mo. Kaning umaga, talagang nag positive siya. Buti nag-iisa siya sa kwarto,” Team Philippines chef de mission Mariano Araneta said in an interview with PTV.
“He was accepting his fate. Ang kanya naman is, whatever is good for the athletes, tatanggapin niya naman,” he added.
Meanwhile, Araneta also said that a number of countries backed out from joining the Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony which was held last Friday (July 23).
“‘Yung mga iba, nag-downsize na rin sila ng athletes nila. Safety muna ang masusunod,” Araneta said.
Filipino boxer Eumir Marcial and judoka Kiyomi Watanabe led the eight-member Philippine contingent that paraded during the Parade of Nations at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics. – jlo
