Daphne Schippers and other top Dutch athletes were forced to cancel their planned training training in the United States. Shippers will go to Florida with the sprint team for a three-week training, and long-distance runners prepare for the Olympics elsewhere in America. “Yes, we’re not coming anymore,” says Athletics Association Technical Director Ad Roskam.
US President Donald Trump suspended all flights from Europe to his country for a period of thirty days, starting Friday. Banning the entry of Europeans is a measure to prevent the spread of the new Coronavirus in the United States.
Dutch athletes now continue to train at Papendal. Shippers, a silver medal winner in the 200 meters at the 2016 Rio Olympics, had already taken an internship in South Africa at the start of this year.
Uncertain
Since several international events have also been canceled, such as the indoor world championships that were due to be held this coming weekend in China, it is uncertain when Schippers and his teammates will take action. “They will mainly train in the coming months,” Roskam said. “It remains to be seen where we will receive the matches. Perhaps the World Athletics will adjust the qualification process for the Olympic Games, because many things are now” flexible “due to the situation. We are looking at our planning from day to day.”
Some additional measures have been taken at the Papendal Training Center to protect the athletes. “Outsiders are being turned away, and we are very alert for athletes who have complaints. We are now asking them to stay home when they complain,” Roskam said.
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