Coronavirus outbreaks involving Olympic teams in Japan have turned small-town hotels into facilities on the frontline of the pandemic battle, charged with implementing complex health measures to protect elite athletes and a fearful public.

Infections have hit at least seven teams arriving in Japan barely a week out from the July 23 opening ceremony and after host city Tokyo reported its highest daily tally of new Covid-19 infections since late January.

Health experts and hotel staff say the outbreaks underscore the risks of holding the world's largest sports event during the middle of a global pandemic in a largely unvaccinated country.

In one example...