Amid numerous cancellations of sporting events across the globe due to the outbreak of COVID-19 on Thursday, Swimming Canada hasn’t made any changes to the upcoming Olympic & Paralympic Trials as of yet.
The organization released a lengthy statement on Thursday night, stating that its “evaluating the feasibility of running the Olympic and Paralympic Swimming Trials as planned March 30 – April 5 in Toronto.
The statement continues:
“As always, participant safety is of paramount importance. Swimming Canada has been closely monitoring the situation, consulting with team physicians and experts from partner organizations. We recognize that other measures such as suspending scheduled events, or running events without spectators, have been implemented in other jurisdictions.
We also recognize that swimmers and coaches have been working hard for months and years in preparation to be at their best at this exact time period to qualify for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Therefore, Swimming Canada’s senior staff are meeting regularly and exploring all potential adjustments to the Games qualification path that may be necessary to put the safety of our athletes, staff, contractors, volunteers and spectators at the forefront. This may include significant adjustments such as postponing the event to a later date.”
Swimming Canada does not recommend making speculative travel changes at this time. They will respect the Government of Canada guidelines and update the event plans accordingly upon further updates from the government and relevant provincial and/or municipal guidelines.
If the event is cancelled, Swimming Canada will work to issue refunds and/or replacement tickets for those purchased through Ticketmaster.
The organization is also reviewing all other sanctioned meets for 2020, including the Eastern and Western Championships, Open Water Championships, and Masters Championships.
As noted above, the Trials are currently scheduled to run March 30-April 5 at the Toronto Pan Am Sports Centre.
You can read the full statement here.
Most of the training pools are shutting down in Ontario and Quebec right now. It’s just a matter of time before City of Toronto and UofT closes TPASC. Then it becomes totally unrealistic to host Trials.
Swim Canada needs to make a decision now. Time push them back to July and let the athletes be able to refocus; everyone is in limbo. Make a decision!
Postponing is very good news by Brent Hayden. He can more train after long retirment.
Except if the Olympics are delayed or cancelled he might just head straight back into retirement.
Australian age and open championships cancelled. No word on OTs.
Love swimming, but it’s on the back burner now
Be smart Swim Canada
The prime minister’s wife has it so RIP Canadian trials
Growing number of cases in Toronto, doubtful they start on time. Postponement probably in the best interest of all involved.
Also many cities such as Montreal have closed down pools which leaves a lot of swimmers with no where to train. Additionally, the government is asking everyone that left the country to stay in quarantine for 2 weeks after arrival in Canada. Consequently, the hpc ontario who’s in Florida right now will not be able to train for two weeks after they comeback unless they break quarantine. If we look at the situation rationally, they need to cancel it NOW.
And yet Sydney has more cases than TO or MON – NSW championships taking place as I write…. but not the Australia Grand Prix in Melbourne.
They probably shouldn’t be going ahead tbh especially given the whole of the St Peters Western club had to withdraw because some of them are sick and Australian Nationals and Age Championships have just been cancelled. What a nightmare 🙁
The key comment is ” the government is Asking everyone that left the country to stay in quarantine for 2 weeks….”. Asking instead of Forcing them. It should also be noted that in the Swim Canada press release, they state ” Training and other activities May still be allowed under certain circumstances in line with the guidelines of local health authorities.”
HP Ontario on arrival to Toronto Should self quarantine for 2 weeks. And they should not be training at TPASC in their small group when the complex is supposed to be closed. Time will tell, if they take the proper apporach.
I agree with Teddy!