An Ugandan athlete is missing from a training camp in Japan

TOKYO – Local authorities are investigating the case of a missing Ugandan athlete in western Japan on Friday, which raises questions about the control of Japanese organizers among Olympic participants about the local coronavirus.

The missing 20-year-old man was training as part of a nine-member Ugandan team in Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture, city officials said.

The team’s comrades noticed the athlete was not present on Friday at noon when his saliva test was not delivered, and they found his hotel room empty, city officials said. There was no rehearsal on Friday morning, and he was last seen in his room early Friday.

After finding him inside the hotel, officials informed police of the wider search. There was no 24-hour control of the hotel, and exactly when or how he got to the hotel, according to officials.

The pandemic’s delayed Olympics begin on July 23, despite growing concern about an increase in infections in Tokyo. The host city reported 1,271 cases on Friday, after a six-month high of 1,308 the previous day.

The Ugandan team has previously performed in the Japanese health and surveillance system.

Arriving at Narita International Airport on June 19, the team member was positive and quarantined, while the remaining eight members were allowed to travel more than 500 kilometers (300 miles) by charter bus to Izumisano. Olympic camp in the western prefecture of Osaka.

Days later, another member of the group from East Africa tested the virus positively and forced seven city officials and drivers with close ties to the team to isolate themselves. According to health officials, both infected Ugandans had a delta variant.

Both team members have ended their quarantine claims and the team has been practicing since July 7th.

The case encouraged the Japanese authorities to step up border controls and change isolation policies to require entire groups to be quarantined in airport areas when one of the members is positive.

Although Japanese officials have demanded the use of health and location applications and restricted the operation of the “bubble” to isolate athletes from the Japanese public, violations have been reported.

The screens previously promised by Olympic Minister Tamayo Marukawa have not been seen to work in several hotels. Marukawa told reporters on Friday that he is asking organizers to step up measures and increase hotel control staff to ensure compliance.