Lausanne (AFP)
The coronavirus epidemic in China has already forced organizers to cancel or move several international sporting events planned in the country, the latest being the Hainan Cycling Tour scheduled for late February.
Several other competitions are threatened.
. Canceled, postponed or moved events
- Hainan cycling tour: on the program since this year of the UCI ProSeries, the second level of international cycling, the Tour du Hainan scheduled from February 23 to March 1 on the southern island of Hainan, has been canceled "due to the health situation in the country, "announced the International Cycling Union (UCI) on Monday. The event could however be rescheduled in the course of 2020 "depending on the availability of the calendar".
- boxing, qualifications for the Tokyo Olympic Games: initially scheduled from February 3 to 14 in Wuhan, center of the epidemic of the new coronavirus, the tournament was rescheduled in Amman (Jordan) from March 3 to 11.
- women's football, qualifications for the Tokyo Olympics: the meetings scheduled for February 3 to 9 in Wuhan between China, Taiwan, Thailand and Australia, were first relocated to Nanjing (east). Before finally being moved to Sydney (Australia), the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) announced on Sunday.
- women's basketball, qualification for the JO-2020: the tournament scheduled from February 6 to 9 in Foshan (east of China) was moved to Belgrade on the same dates. China was to host Great Britain, Spain and South Korea for a tournament providing three places for the Olympic Games.
- diving, World Series: the Chinese stage of the World Series, an international competition organized by the International Swimming Federation (FINA), and scheduled for March 7 to 9 in Beijing, "has been canceled," AFP said on Monday the director general of Fina, Cornel Marculescu. "It could be the same" for a stage of the World Series synchronized swimming in Suzhou (east) from April 23 to 25, he added.
- esport, Chinese League of Legends: Riot Games, the publisher of the video game, has decided to postpone the resumption of the LPL 2020 championship (League of Legends Pro League), originally scheduled for February 5. The interruption of the competition will continue until the organizers can "ensure the safety and health of the players and fans".
Events and events under surveillance
- wrestling, qualification for the Olympic Games: the Asian wrestling qualification tournament is scheduled from March 27 to 29 in Xi'an (center). "We are monitoring the situation closely and we are in close contact with the Chinese federation and the local authorities," Nenad Lalovic, president of the International Wrestling Federation, told AFP on Monday. "We will make a decision within 15 days," he added, adding that "three countries are already candidates to replace China if necessary: Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and South Korea". Another problem raised by Mr. Lalovic, the participation of Chinese sportsmen who must first submit to "quarantine".
- athletics, Indoor Worlds: the Indoor Worlds are scheduled from March 13 to 15 in Nanjing (east). The international federation (World Athletics) "is closely monitoring the situation and is in close contact with the World Health Organization (WHO)," she said on Monday. "If a WHO recommendation affects the organization of the Worlds, we will immediately inform our partners," added the federation.
- Alpine skiing, stage of the Men's World Cup: Xiaohaituo mountain in the Yanqing district, 50 km north of Beijing, site of the 2022 Winter Olympics, is to host a downhill and a super from February 12 to 16. Alpine skiing l counting for the World Cup. "For the moment the situation presents a low risk", assured Saturday Sarah Lewis, secretary general of the International Ski Federation (FIS). But "if the situation gets worse, no risk will be taken," she added.
- SportAccord convention: the SportAccord convention, which annually brings together the presidents of the major international sports federations and the bosses of the Olympic movement, including the IOC president Thomas Bach, is to take place in Beijing from 19 to 24 April. SportAccord "is closely monitoring the situation" and "is following the recommendations of the Chinese authorities and the WHO regarding travel to and from China," a spokesman told AFP, adding that the organization would follow " carefully developments. "
© 2020 AFP