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Tom Bell

An Italian athlete has died after taking part in the World Games in the Chinese city of Chengdu, organisers have said.
The organising bodies issued a statement on Tuesday to “confirm with great sadness the passing of Italian orienteering athlete, Mattia Debertolis”.
Debertolis, 29, had been found unconscious after collapsing last Friday during the men’s middle distance orienteering competition – the first medal event of the Chengdu Games.
Orienteering involves navigating an unmarked course with a map and compass, checking in at points along the route and aiming to finish in the quickest time.

“Despite receiving immediate expert medical care at one of China’s leading medical institutions, he passed away on [Tuesday],” said the statement on behalf of the International World Games Association (IWGA), the local organising committee (LOC) and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF).
The statement did not disclose the cause of death.
Held about 50km (about 30 miles) outside central Chengdu, Friday’s event took place in intense heat and humidity, with temperatures above 30 degrees.
The 6km course included 180 metres of ascent and 20 control points that athletes needed to navigate to.
Footage from the World Games’ social media accounts showed athletes running through crop fields and villages on a largely rural course.
Athletes were also photographed battling the elements and pouring water over themselves to cool down at the finish.
The winner, Riccardo Rancan of Switzerland, completed the course in 45 minutes and 22 seconds.
“I needed to acclimatise quickly with hot and humid conditions,” Chinese state media quoted Rancan as saying.
Debertolis was listed as “Did Not Finish” in the official results, along with 11 other athletes.
The multisport World Games are held every four years and consist of disciplines not included in the Olympics. The present edition, the 12th, features about 4,000 athletes competing in 253 events, and runs until Sunday.
“The World Games Family, the LOC and the IOF are struck by this tragedy and extend their heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the athlete,” the statement continued.
“Our thoughts are with those touched by this event.”
Debertolis, from Primiero in eastern Italy, was studying for a PhD at the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, where he lived.
Ranked 137th in the men’s orienteering world rankings, he had been competing since 2014, according to the IOF website, including in several World Championships and World Cups with the Italian team.
The IWGA, LOC and IOF said they would continue to support the family of Debertolis “in every possible way”.
Italian Orienteering Federation president Alfio Giomi invited the national team to wear black armbands while competing in the World Mountain Bike Orienteering Championships, which began on Tuesday in Poland.
Debertolis’ family had given its blessing for athletes to “participate in the competitions in Mattia’s name and memory”, Giomi said.
Additional reporting by Agence France-Presse


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Games organisers ‘confirm with great sadness’ the death of Italy’s Mattia Debertolis


Games organisers ‘confirm with great sadness’ the death of Italy’s Mattia Debertolis.
