Swimming's world governing body, dissatisfied with Japanese government provisions regarding coronavirus countermeasures, is considering canceling three upcoming events in Japan, including two that are to serve as test events for the Tokyo Olympics, The Yomiuri Shimbun has learned.
According to a source, FINA notified the Japanese side of its leanings, pointing out that the government had not presented adequate plans for such matters as concrete protocols to prevent infections, the bearing of costs and the entry procedures for FINA staff and other personnel.
Because the competitions include test events, foreign athletes are expected to attend, necessitating the coronavirus procedures.
The source said that the three events are a diving World Cup meet scheduled to start April 18, the final Olympic qualifying meet in artistic swimming slated to begin May 1, and the final Olympic qualifier in open water swimming scheduled to start May 29.
The diving and artistic swimming meets are both test events to be held at the new Tokyo Aquatics Center, the venue for the Tokyo Olympics. The open water meet will be held in Fukuoka.
As time is running out before the diving World Cup, countries and regions involved have already been notified that FINA is leaning toward canceling the meet.
Among the reasons mentioned, the source said FINA raised the issue of judges and other meet staff refusing to travel to Japan because of concern about quarantine measures upon entry into Japan, and the fact that the Japanese side has requested that FINA bear the costs of coronavirus countermeasures.
Test events, which serve as a trial run of venue and staff operations, need to be sanctioned by the International Olympic Committee, as specified in the contract between the IOC and the host city. As such, it gives Japan little time to prepare alternate events.
Read more from The Japan News at https://japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/
