Sports News Roundup: Olympics-Athletics-Briton Rowden fears self-isolation will dent teammates confidence; Olympic Village COVID-19 infection bubble already 'broken' - health expert and more

The 26-year-old will be chasing gold in both the men's road race and individual time trial but his first priority was recovery, he told Belgian television reporters on arrival. Olympics-Softball-Japan, Australia to meet for first event of Tokyo Games Action at the Tokyo Olympics is scheduled to start on Wednesday as Japan meet Australia in softball with each team holding vastly different stakes in the sport's return to the Games.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Olympics-Athletics-Briton Rowden fears self-isolation will dent teammates confidence

British 800 meters runner Daniel Rowden said news that six of his teammates had to self-isolate following contact with an individual who tested positive for COVID-19 had left him feeling anxious ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. The British Olympic Association said on Sunday the athletes and two staff members had been identified as close contacts to a positive case on their flight to Japan.

Olympic Village COVID-19 infection bubble already 'broken' - health expert

The so-called bubble to control COVID-19 infections at the Olympic Athlete's Village in Tokyo is already "broken" and poses a risk of spreading infections to the general populace, a prominent public health expert said on Tuesday. Games officials on Sunday reported the first COVID-19 case among competitors in the athletes' village in Tokyo where 11,000 athletes are expected to stay. Since July 2, Tokyo 2020 organizers have reported 58 positive cases among athletes, officials, and journalists.

Olympics-IOC's Bach lauds medical workers, says Games will send powerful message of peace

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach on Tuesday praised medical workers and volunteers for making the Tokyo Games possible amid the coronavirus pandemic and said the event would send a powerful message of "peace and solidarity". The Games, postponed last year because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, begin on Friday but will be without spectators after Japan's decision earlier this month to leave venues empty to minimize the risk of infections.

NHL-League to schedule break in season for Beijing Olympics - report

The NHL has not yet announced whether it will send its players to next year's Beijing Olympics but the schedule for the 2021-22 season will include a break to accommodate participation in the Winter Games, according to ESPN https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/31843898/nhl-schedule-break-2022-winter-olympics-player-participation-not-yet-guaranteed report on Monday. The article, which cited unnamed sources with knowledge of the schedule being released this week, said the break will run from Feb. 5-22 and include a caveat that NHL participation in Beijing is not yet guaranteed.

Olympics-Basketball-Team USA's Lavine not traveling with team to Tokyo

American guard Zach LaVine has entered health and safety protocols and will not fly to Tokyo on Monday along with the three-time defending men's Olympic basketball champions, USA Basketball said. The organization said in a statement the decision to leave without the 26-year-old LaVine was made "out of an abundance of caution" and that they hope he will be able to join the team in Tokyo later this week.

Olympics-Gymnastics-Biles pushes her limits by doing the 'unimaginable'

Olympic all-around champion Simone Biles said the gymnast she most wants to beat in Tokyo is herself and that she is excited about trying things in the sport that were once "unimaginable". The 24-year-old has won a record 25 world championship medals, 19 of which are gold, and has won every all-around competition she has contested since 2013.

Olympics-Baseball-Two Mexico team members test positive for COVID-19

Two members of Mexico's Olympic baseball team have tested positive for COVID-19 at the team hotel before their departure for the Tokyo Olympics, the federation said. The athletes, Hector Velazquez and Sammy Solis, who tested positive on July 18, have been isolated, as have all team members pending results of more tests, it said.

Olympics-Japan pressed to tackle discrimination, abuse in sport

Japan should use the Olympics as a chance to commit to tackling discrimination over gender identity and sexual orientation in sport and prevent physical abuse of youth athletes, activists said on Monday, just days before the start of the Tokyo Games. Though known for its strong civil society and democracy, Japan had serious rights issues to address, Human Rights Watch said, adding that the Olympics charter bans discrimination of any kind.

Olympics-Van Aert arrives in Tokyo day after riding to Champs Elysees victory

Belgium's Wout van Aert arrived at the Olympic Games on Monday one day after winning the last two stages of the Tour de France and said there was not much left in his legs after the grueling three-week tour. The 26-year-old will be chasing gold in both the men's road race and individual time trial but his first priority was recovery, he told Belgian television reporters on arrival.

Olympics-Softball-Japan, Australia to meet for first event of Tokyo Games

Action at the Tokyo Olympics is scheduled to start on Wednesday as Japan meets Australia in softball with each team holding vastly different stakes in the sport's return to the Games. With the Olympics getting underway a year late because of the COVID-19 pandemic, hosts Japan will throw the first pitch at 0000 GMT in Fukushima. Spectators are banned.