Australian athletes will be banned from supporting their teammates at other Commonwealth Games events in Birmingham due to the risk of COVID-19 transmission, team chef Petria Thomas said.
They will also have to wear masks when not in their rooms or exercising at the July 28 – August 8 Olympics as part of team health protocols.
“Our main focus is being able to get our athletes to the starting line and have them ready to perform,” Thomas told News Corp media on Wednesday.
“We must adopt these measures to minimize the transmission of COVID and other diseases.”
COVID continues to disrupt sport globally, with several swimmers forced to withdraw from the recent world swimming championships in Budapest after testing positive.
Around 5,000 athletes from 72 countries and territories will compete in Birmingham.
The Office for National Statistics estimates 3.95% of people in the UK, or one in 25, tested positive for COVID in the week ending June 29.
Athletes must follow strict COVID protocols while in the “closed loop” at the Beijing Winter Olympics and also at last year’s Summer Olympics in Tokyo.
Unlike the Olympics, athletes will not have to leave Birmingham as soon as their events are over.
Thomas said Australian athletes would be allowed to stay and support teammates but not at their venues.
She added: “There will be no opportunity to go to other events as unfortunately those seats will be located in public audience areas where the risk of COVID-19 transmission is very high.
