Organizers of the Winter Universiade in Lucerne cited
“highly dynamic developments in the pandemic and related incoming travel
restrictions” for the decision.
Students from more than 500 universities in at least 50
countries were scheduled to compete in 60 medal events from Dec. 11-21 at
venues across central and eastern Switzerland.
They included delegations from several countries — including
Australia, Britain and the Netherlands — which faced entering a 10-day
quarantine required by the Swiss federal government to limit spread of the
omicron variant.
Sports officials and broadcasting staff traveling from
abroad also faced being quarantined.
“As a result of these official restrictions, the Winter
Universiade 2021 cannot now take place,” organizers said in a statement.
The multi-sport event was already postponed during the
pandemic from its original dates in January 2021.
“We are devastated and very sorry that we will not be able
to welcome the athletes from all over the world, who have been preparing
intensively for their competitions,” organizing committee president Guido Graf
said.
The next edition of the biennial winter games is scheduled
for 2023 in Lake Placid, New York.
0 comments:
Post a Comment