Several teams, including Sri Lanka, that are participating in the Tokyo Olympic Games 2020 are facing issues in travelling to Japan.
Under normal circumstances, the Sri Lankan team would have taken a flight to Singapore and from there onto Tokyo.
However, with Covid-19 cases still averaging almost 2,000 a day, Sri Lanka is on many countries’ banned lists. Singapore does not allow anyone with a recent travel history to even transit through the city state.
As a result, the 10-strong team across disciplines including badminton, judo and archery, is booked on Qatar Airways via Doha.
According to National Olympic Committee of Sri Lanka President Suresh Subramaniam they have got a backup flight on Sri Lankan Airlines in case the situation changes.
“I hope and pray nobody falls ill once we go to Japan. We’ve got an extra doctor flying with us this time to look after any Covid issues. We’re taking every precaution,” Subramaniam said.
Meanwhile, the team from Fiji is not flying coach so much as cargo. The Rugby Sevens men’s and women’s, plus a handful of other athletes including some swimmers and sailors, are flying from Nadi to Narita on a service that generally transports chilled seafood and express mail.
Papua New Guinea’s team plans to fly to Brisbane and then onto Tokyo while Samoa’s squad is likely to go first to Auckland and then fly Air New Zealand. (NewsWire)