Softball Australia fully supports the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) in stating that the South Australian Government’s decision to ignore expert medical advice and the decision of National Cabinet by imposing a 28 day period for returning Australian Olympians poses a significant mental health risk for those athletes.

The fully vaccinated Australian Olympic Team has returned home and is currently undergoing the mandatory quarantine arrangements at hotels and facilities around Australia, as any other Australian is required to do. No special treatment has been sought.

However, the South Australian Government has chosen to impose a further mandatory quarantine period when South Australian athletes return from hotel quarantine in Sydney, effectively inflicting a 28 day quarantine period for athletes at a time of mental and emotional vulnerability.

South Australia is the only state to do this. There are 56 team members returning to South Australia with 16 currently quarantined in Sydney.

Olympian Belinda White, a member of the Aussie Spirit softball team leadership group for Tokyo 2020, will complete her mandatory 14 days hotel quarantine in Sydney by Thursday morning, 12 August following an intense and gruelling Olympic campaign.

The Australian women’s softball team were the first international sport to arrive in Japan back on 1 June in order to prepare for the sport’s return to the Olympic cycle, meaning White has spent more time than most away from loved ones as she prepared to represent the country with pride in Tokyo.

“To force Belinda to undergo an extra 14 days by herself upon returning to her hometown of Adelaide frankly gives us concern for the mental well-being of our returning Olympian,” said Softball Australia Chief Executive Officer David Pryles.

“Belinda has been away from friends and family since June 1 in Japan, fully vaccinated, undergoing stringent daily PCR and temperature testing throughout the entire period and has not once returned a positive Covid result, nor presented any Covid symptoms.

“All of our Olympians have sacrificed an enormous amount both financially and personally in their pursuit of representing the country at the Olympic Games.

“Should Belinda be required to quarantine again. She would have been away from loved ones for a total of 87 days.

“The Olympics brought Australians together with their incredible achievements and filled us all with immense pride for the green and gold.

“To force another 14 days quarantine on athletes returning to their home state is extremely disappointing and we fully support the Australian Olympic Committee’s stance on this matter.”

AOC Chief Executive Officer Matt Carroll says the decision flies in the face of the expert medical advice of the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Chief Medical Officer Dr David Hughes that the mental health of athletes can be severely challenged after returning from a highly constrained Tokyo Games environment into the further isolation of extended lockdown.

“While other countries are celebrating the return of their athletes, we are subjecting ours to the most cruel and uncaring treatment. They are being punished for proudly representing their country with distinction at the Olympic Games,” said Mr Carroll.

“We are all promoting the obvious benefits of vaccination, but this important layer of protection is not working in favour of these athletes, given this decision. By any measure, this group of returning Olympians is extremely low risk.

“Not only are our Olympians fully vaccinated, but they have also been living in a highly controlled bubble in Tokyo, taking the upmost precautions – tested daily over many weeks.

Mr Carroll says the AOC has expressly followed the South Australian Health Department’s Exemption process, submitting medical evidence based on highly qualified advice.

“We have received no explanation as to why our application on behalf of these athletes has been rejected. If you run an exemption process, presumably that includes the prospect than exemptions can be granted based on scientific advice. We have received no response related to the expert advice we have provided,” Mr Carroll said.

AIS Chief Medical Officer Dr David Hughes says while he respects the South Australian process is designed to keep the state safe, the decision to reject the athletes’ application is profoundly flawed.

“To have individuals quarantined for such a lengthy period of time is in my opinion unreasonable and cannot be scientifically justified. It poses a significant risk to the physical and mental wellbeing of the individuals concerned,” Dr Hughes said.

Mr Carroll says numerous attempts to resolve this matter over some weeks without success.

“National Cabinet took a position that a double quarantine arrangement was unacceptable. Every COVID-safe procedure we have asked the Olympians to undergo, they have complied with. They can safely transfer to their home states after the mandatory hotel quarantine period without interacting with the public.

The AOC wrote formally to the South Australian Chief Medical Officer after weeks of discussions with departmental staff. Today the AOC was informed of the decision that the Olympians would be required to home quarantine, on top of the two weeks hotel quarantine just completed.

Mr Carroll says the home quarantine option is no less impactful. First, the athletes are required to apply for home quarantine, with no certainty of approval.

“Athletes subject to home quarantine will not be permitted a welcome home hug. Either the athlete’s family must move away, the athlete must find a way of isolating from the family or the entire family goes into quarantine. That is not an acceptable option for someone who is fully vaccinated and who has already just completed two weeks’ quarantine,” Mr Carroll concluded.