Coronavirus puts Tokyo Olympics in jeopardy for some Chinese athletes

Nancy Armour | USA TODAY

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Even as Olympic officials insist the coronavirus won’t disrupt this summer’s Tokyo Games, it is already threatening to keep some Chinese athletes at home.

China is not sending anyone to a gymnastics World Cup in Melbourne this week, potentially jeopardizing spots in Tokyo for two athletes. This follows the withdrawal of the women’s handball team from next month’s Olympic Qualification Tournament, its final chance to qualify for Tokyo.

The men’s water polo team, meanwhile, awaits a decision on whether it will be allowed to compete at next month’s Olympic qualifying tournament after the Asian championships, originally scheduled for last week in Kazakhstan, were canceled because of the coronavirus.

“The IOC is working closely with the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC) and the Organising Committee Tokyo 2020 to track each qualifier event in which Chinese athletes (or other athletes who have recently been in China) are participating,” the International Olympic Committee said in an email Wednesday to USA TODAY Sports.

“The situation varies between sports and events, and where there are impacts on the participation of athletes, the IOC will work with the relevant (sports federations) to make sure those affected have a fair opportunity to qualify.”

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That’s easier said than done.

There are more than 75,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, or COVID-19, as of Wednesday, and it has been detected in at least 27 countries. It has caused more than 2,000 deaths.

Because of quarantines in parts of China, some Chinese Olympic hopefuls have had their training disrupted. Even those who haven’t are finding it tough to get to competitions, with the United States and many other countries temporarily barring entry to non-citizens who have been in China.

There are several Chinese teams and athletes that have already secured their places at the Tokyo Olympics. Swimmers have until May 19 and track and field athletes until June 29 to achieve the qualifying times that will make them eligible.

But other athletes’ hopes are pinned to competitions. These qualifying events have been scheduled for months, and international sports federations and Tokyo organizers can’t simply put them on hold when the Olympics are only five months away and experts can’t predict how long the coronavirus outbreak will last.

“The (International Gymnastics Federation) is following the situation closely and is in contact with the IOC regarding procedures in the case of nonparticipation of Chinese gymnasts at Tokyo 2020 qualifying events,” spokeswoman Meike Behrensen told USA TODAY Sports.

What those procedures are, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) won’t say. Probably because it’s hoping it won’t have to use them.

China has already qualified four-person teams for both the men’s and women’s competition in Tokyo. But under the FIG’s qualifying rules, it could earn up to two more spots for both male and female gymnasts through the apparatus and all-around World Cup series, or the continental championships.

Because the apparatus World Cup series is an eight-meet competition, and five took place last year, China should still be able to secure one extra spot for both its men and women. Its gymnasts are 1-2 on still rings and uneven bars, making it hard – though not impossible – for an athlete from another country to leapfrog them with wins this week in Melbourne and next month in Baku, Azerbaijan, and Doha, Qatar.

But the all-around World Cup series is only four events, the first of which is the American Cup on March 7 in Milwaukee. If China misses even one of the all-around World Cups, it will have a tough time compiling enough points to finish in the top three and claim an extra Tokyo spot.

The American Cup roster still lists Chinese athletes in both the men’s and women’s fields, but it’s hard to imagine they’ll participate given the travel restrictions.

That would leave the Asian championships, which are May 2-5 in Tokyo, to secure that additional sixth spot.

IOC officials and Tokyo organizers have promised that the Summer Olympics will go on as planned. For some Chinese athletes, however, that will be little consolation.