IOC refugee team cleared to head Tokyo

The members of the International Olympics Committee's Refugee Team have been cleared to depart for the Tokyo Games.

Twenty-six athletes, 16 coaches and 10 officials will be travelling to Japan in the next three days.

"I feel very excited. Finally, we are going to Tokyo!" said badminton player Aram Mahmoud.

"You could think that it is like going to any tournament. But it is not. Despite the situation, I feel ready mentally and physically and want to give my best," he added on Sunday.

On July 12, an official from the team returned a positive test for COVID-19. A follow-up test confirmed the result, while the tests of all other members of the team, including athletes and officials, returned negative.