CWG 2022: Indian Contingent Requested To Avoid Public Places Amidst Covid Scare in Birmingham

During the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has encouraged Indian athletes to be careful and avoid public places as much as possible. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, the IOA issued the statement.

The CWG 2022 is set to begin on Thursday, July 28th. The IOA requested that the Indian contingent take precautionary actions in preparation for the event.

"The Indian Olympic Association has requested the players of the Indian contingent at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games to not spend much time in public places because of the threat of Covid-19, which can jeopardize the health and participation of the players," IOA said in a statement.

"The players have been instructed to keep public interaction to a minimum and take safety precautions wherever needed," it stated.

The CWG organising committee has separated the athletes based on disciplines and venues. According to the rules and regulations of the competition, each participant must have an RT-PCR test for coronavirus 72 hours before arriving in the United Kingdom (UK).

Earlier, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) nominated a strong 322-member continent for the Commonwealth Games, including 107 officials and support staff and 215 athletes. India earned 66 medals (25 gold, 19 silver, and 20 bronze) in 2018 and will be seeking to increase its total in Birmingham.

Meanwhile, the event will feature sports like hockey, badminton, triathlon, cycling, weightlifting, swimming, squash, wrestling, judo, athletics, boxing, and table tennis, among many others. Women's Cricket has also been introduced in the CWG for the first time.

Neeraj Chopra, who was supposed to head the Indian delegation in the opening ceremony and compete in the Javelin throw event, has withdrawn owing to injury. He was one of the top contenders to win a medal for India at the mega event.

"Hello everyone, I'm extremely disappointed to inform you all that I will not be able to represent the country at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. I had been feeling uncomfortable after the pull I felt in my groin during my fourth throw at the World Championships. On having it investigated medically yesterday by a group of doctors here in the US, a minor strain was discovered and I have been advised to undergo rehabilitation and give it rest for the next few weeks," he said in a statement.