The Polish Olympic Committee said that one of those infected was speed skater Natalia Czerwonka, who had been chosen to be one of Team Poland’s two flag bearers during the opening ceremony for the Games next week, the state PAP news agency reported.
In addition, two other speed skaters, Magdalena Czyszczoń and Marek Kania, as well as two officials, a physician and a biathlon technician returned positive tests, the Polish Olympic Committee said on Twitter.
Forty-five of Team Poland's 57 athletes arrived in the Chinese capital on Thursday afternoon local time. After undergoing COVID-19 tests at the airport, they were transferred to the Olympic village, the team’s press officer, Jerzy Jakobsche, told reporters.
Meanwhile, speed skaters Karolina Bosiek and Damian Żurek had missed the flight after testing positive for the coronavirus before departure from Warsaw on Wednesday, the PAP news agency reported.
The Beijing Olympics take place between February 4 and 20, with athletes from 84 countries set to compete in more than 100 events. The Polish team will be represented in 10 of the Games' 15 disciplines.
Poland has so far won 22 medals at the winter Olympics, seven gold, seven silver, and eight bronze.
The Beijing Games will be held under strict safety protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
(pm/gs)
Source: PAP