Union Sport Minister Kiren Rijiju today ordered closure of all SAI facilities, leaving it open only for Olympic-bound athletes only. This means that the national camps of athletes who are yet to qualify for Tokyo Olympics 2020 will now be shut. Also, the Indian Grand Prix series which was to be held at NIS Patiala on March 20 and 25 will be cancelled. The IGP series, conducted by the Athletics Federation of India, is crucial for top track-and-field athletes to gain important ranking points or fulfil qualification criteria for Tokyo Olympics.
A written directive was also issued by the Union sports ministry to all National Sports Federations, and BCCI saying, "In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic which has led to sports events being stalled across the globe and in India, it has been directed that all sports organisations and their affiliate units are advised against holding any sports events, including competitions or selection trials till April 15th 2020.
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"However for athletes preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, they may be exempt from this, subject to the following restrictions: i) No exposure to athlete be allowed from outside in the campus where training is underway and ii) No coach, technical/support staff, athlete etc. presently in the training camp and not staying in the training campus be allowed to interact or mingle with trainee athletes without following the quarantine protocols," it further clarified.
Speaking to the media today at SAI headquarters, Rijiju said, "Any athlete arriving from outside India, or having visited a country that is in high-risk zone for the coronavirus, will have to stay in quarantine as per provisions. Athletes coming from abroad outside this zone will have to self-isolate themselves."
Rijiju also said that, at the moment, the Olympic preparation getting affected is not a matter of concern but athletes' health is. "Nobody should raise a question about the Olympics at the moment. Nobody knows what the situation will be in three-month's time. However, we have to respond to an emerging situation as per the directions of the international bodies and respective sovereign governments.”
