China’s Covid-19 lockdowns spark withdrawals from World University Games, UK, Canada, Australia athletes all staying away
- Organisers of event which begins in less than 3 months in Chengdu say they are going ahead
- Countries express concern around ‘management of Covid protocols’ after 26 million people in Shanghai locked down
Organisers of the World University Games, which open in just under three months in Chengdu say they are going ahead despite some countries pulling out of the event.
Officials said on Friday that Britain, Canada, New Zealand and Luxembourg have withdrawn from the event in mainland China because of Covid-19 concerns. Australia has also indicated it is withdrawing its swimmers, volleyball players, and track-and-field athletes.
“Athletics Australia continues to have many concerns around the event and its management of Covid protocols,” Athletics Australia said in a statement. “It is Athletics Australia’s view that it cannot endorse competition for Australian athletes in an environment that could put athletes at risk.”
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Shanghai imposes phased lockdowns as daily Covid infection numbers surge beyond 3,000
A spokesman for Switzerland-based FISU – the International University Sports Federation – told AP that it has raised many concerns with Chinese authorities.
FISU has said Chinese officials have reassured them that Chengdu will not face a lockdown. This is a concern since China’s most populous city Shanghai, with 26 million people, is now under lockdown because of worries over spreading Covid-19 cases.
The Shanghai lockdown was unforeseen, as would be a lockdown in Chengdu.
It’s expected that the World University Games will operate on a closed-loop system similar to one used in the just-completed Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Beijing.