However, \ufeffthe dreary conditions sent fears through Aussie tennis champion Dylan Alcott, who believes athletes were at significant risk of illness due to the prolonged festivities.<\/p>\n
RECAP:<\/strong> Incredible scenes on the Seine for opening ceremony<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE:<\/strong> Queen Mary faces loyalty test in Paris<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<\/p>\n PHOTOS:<\/strong> Single snap confirms big Paris rumour<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The Aussies had to wait until the end of the ceremony to grace the waters with their presence, with Team USA – led by Coco Gauff and LeBron James – next to feature before the host nation arrived.<\/p>\n Flagbearer Jessica Fox<\/a> is scheduled to compete in the women's kayak on Saturday – one of three events in her Olympic campaign.<\/p>\n "I hope she (Fox) is under a warm blanket, with a hot water bottle, defrosting," Dylan Alcott said on Nine.<\/p>\n "But you could see what it meant to Eddie (Ockenden) and Jess. The front of that boat with the flag, flying in the air.<\/p>\n "An incredible moment for them. Had to brave some tough conditions, but definitely something they'll never forget."<\/p>\n Former Irish boxing world champion Bernard Dunne expressed similar concerns, saying many athletes in the Olympic village have questioned why others would bother attending the ceremony.<\/p>\n "\ufeffEveryone looks like they're having a fantastic time, but I'd say there's some people sitting in the Olympic village looking at that and saying 'oh why did you go?' because they're going to be soaked to the bone," he said on RTE's coverage.<\/p>\n "Somebody could get up in the morning with some sniffles and you don't want any sort of sickness at this stage.<\/p>\n "But an opening ceremony of an Olympic Games is something special for any athlete to go to so you can't discourage them from going. It's their decision to go.<\/p>\n "They're there since four o'clock, it's after nine o'clock now… so they're over five hours (on the boats) now which at this stage is a long time for any athlete that's in full-time training."<\/p>\n Watch every moment, every medal of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 live and free on Channel 9 and<\/strong><\/em> 9Now<\/strong><\/em><\/a>. Plus, every event streaming ad free, live and on demand with 4K on<\/strong><\/em> Stan Sport<\/strong><\/em><\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Health concerns have already struck the Australian team<\/a> with five water polo players testing positive for COVID-19, while two athletics competitors are in isolation.<\/p>\n Australian chef de mission Anna \ufeffMeares declared the village environment is treating the concerns in a diligent manner<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<\/p>\n
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