INTERNATIONAL: Covid-19 continues to play havoc at Tokyo 2020. Olympics organisers have reported 29 new Games-related cases, including four athletes, three of them from the Greek artistic swimming team. Tokyo 2020 spokesperson Masa Takaya told the daily International Olympic Committee news conference on Thursday that Greek artistic swimming team officials had also tested positive. Those who did not but were in close contact with those infected have been moved from the Village.

He said, "Of the seven who tested negative, some have already been designated as close contacts, while the status of the others is still being determined. In view of the situation, we proposed to the Greek National Olympic Committee that the seven should immediately be transferred to a holding facility outside the Olympic Village. The Greek NOC accepted this proposal and all seven were moved out of the Village and into the facility yesterday." It means that Greece will not take part in the event.

With Tokyo itself under a Covid state of emergency, spectators are banned from all events and athletes have been subject to daily testing. Their movements have also been limited inside a so-called "bubble". But the Games go on – and so does China – still top of the medals table. The US is still lying in second place with 25 golds and 79 medals in all. Host nation Japan clings to the third spot with a total of 40 medals, 21 of them gold, but Great Britain is closing in thanks to gold medals in sailing. It’s now fourth, with 15 golds and 48 medals in total.