Despite the extension of the lockdown, the table tennis team world championship in the Chinese metropolis of Chengdu is scheduled to start in three weeks.
“We are very confident about our plans and the closed circuit that was successfully used at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing,” said Petra Sörling, President of the World Association ITTF, the news agency “AFP”.
They are working closely with China’s Table Tennis Association, the local organizing committee and the Chengdu city authorities “to organize a great event where all participants arrive smoothly, participate safely and return safely,” said the Swede.
A little more than 1000 people, including around 300 players, are said to be in the so-called “closed loop” during the World Cup (September 30th to October 9th).
The 21 million city of Chengdu has been effectively sealed off for around a week due to numerous new local corona infections, this measure was extended on Wednesday. Furthermore, Chengdu was shaken by an earthquake last Monday.
No international sporting event has taken place in China since the end of the Winter Games in Beijing in February. The World Team Championships in table tennis, which was originally scheduled for April, was moved to autumn at the end of February.