Beijing (dpa) – The International Olympic Committee has intervened in the case of the Belgian skeleton driver Kim Meylemans and has assured the athlete of continued support after her Corona odyssey.
The IOC learned of Meylemans’ “difficult situation” and immediately contacted Belgium’s National Olympic Committee to provide her with rapid assistance, the IOC said. “The IOC will continue to support Kim Meylemans and the National Olympic Committee,” the statement said.
The 25-year-old athlete had tested positive for Corona when she arrived in China before the Olympics and was finally taken to the Olympic village in Yanqing after a turbulent day. A video of the athlete on Instagram had previously caused a stir in which she reported her experiences in tears. “I don’t know if I can last another 14 days at the Olympics if I’m in quarantine,” she said.
After Meylemans’ arrival and a negative result, a third test was positive again, after which she was taken to a quarantine hotel. After she was allowed to leave this accommodation on Wednesday, she was first taken to another quarantine location. In the meantime, however, she is in the Olympic village, as the Belgian team announced. There she will be taken to a separate room and tested twice a day. She can also train in isolation on the track.
The IOC said Meylemans, as a close contact, had to be accommodated in a single room, move about in isolation and eat alone. Because there was initially no room for the Belgian, she had to be temporarily accommodated in a hotel near the Olympic village. She is now in the Olympic village. “We are glad that the efforts have led to a successful and quick solution,” said the IOC.