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Logo of the Asian Games in Hangzhou
Photo: STR/AFP
Two and a half months after the end of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, the corona pandemic is preventing further major sporting events from being held in China.
The Asian Games and World University Games planned for this year have been canceled due to ongoing problems in fighting the virus.
According to both organizers, the events should be rescheduled.
The prestigious Asian Games with around 10,000 active participants were to take place in East China's Hangzhou (September 10-25).
From June 26th to July 7th, the World University Games, better known under the former name Universiade, which had already been postponed the previous year, were planned in Chengdu in southwest China.
'The Asian Games will be postponed.
The decision was made by everyone involved after careful consideration of the pandemic situation and the size of the games.
A new date will be communicated at a later date," said Asia's Olympic Council (AOC).
International University Sports Federation does not justify with Corona
The International University Sports Federation (FISU) did not mention the corona problem in its reason for cancellation: »It was not an easy decision, but it was the best for all university athletes.
Continued uncertainty about conditions made postponing the wisest choice.”
Last March, Great Britain, New Zealand and Canada canceled their participation in the student competitions, which will take place in the Rhine-Ruhr region in 2025, due to the corona situation in China.
China has zero Covid policy
After the closing ceremony of the Winter Games in Beijing at the end of February, China is having increasing difficulties in containing the corona virus.
In the past few weeks, media reports about ongoing lockdowns in several megacities such as Shanghai have caused a stir around the world.
The Middle Kingdom is pursuing a zero-Covid policy.
The associated restrictions, not least with regard to the entry of participants and visitors, were also clearly visible at the Olympic competitions in Beijing.
In Chengdu, the Table Tennis Team World Championships are planned for the second time in the last quarter of the year.
The Chinese organizers also had to postpone the original date of the title fights in April shortly after the end of the Winter Games due to the problems with the corona pandemic.
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