Two Georgian silver medallists were told to leave the Olympics after breaking Covid-19 rules by going sightseeing, it has emerged. According to reports, the judoka Vazha Margvelashvili and Lasha Shavdatuashvili met a mutual friend in Japan and were seen taking photos while wearing their team kit.

A Georgian official said they had not planned to break rules set out in the official playbook. “No one stopped them at the exit, so they thought that they could go outside,” he said. “They wanted just to have a bit of open air, to relax after a tough day of competition, after a tough lockdown period.”

Both athletes have already left Tokyo under rules which say they have to leave the country no later than two days after they compete. Under such rules, sightseeing and other tourist activities are banned, along with walking around the city and visiting tourist areas, shops, restaurants, bars or gyms.