The novel coronavirus, COVID-19, continues to spread around the globe. The number of cases is now over 80,000 in at least 47 countries. Nearly 2,800 have died as a result. The World Health Organization has not declared it a global pandemic yet, but it is impacting all corners of the globe.

With those sobering numbers, talking about beach volleyball seems trivial. But that is the subject of this blog and there is no denying that the coronavirus is going to have a huge impact on the final stages of the Olympic qualifying process. It may impact the Olympics, too. Four extremely important events on the FIVB calendar have already been cancelled or postponed.

Fan Wang of China hits against Miki Ishi at last summer’s World Championships. Fan Wang has lost the chance to play in at least two home four-stars in the final stages of Olympic Qualification. Photo by FIVB.

Tournament Date Gender Star Rating Status Bandar Abbas March 3 - 7 Mens 3-star Postponed Singapore April 15 - 19 Mixed 4-star Canceled Yangzhou April 22 - 26 Mixed 4-star Postponed Siming April 29 - May 3 Mixed 4-star Canceled

That is every four-star event in the pivotal month of April suddenly removed. A one-star scheduled for Vietnam is no longer on the FIVB website, although it isn’t clear if that is due to the outbreak or for other reasons.

For teams desperate for chances to improve their qualification chances, this is not good news. VolleyballMag.com got the reactions of several American teams in this article. Unfortunately, for Sara Hughes and Lauren Fendrick, this is the doomsday scenario that ends their Olympic quest.

One of the three remaining three-star tournaments is in Jinjiang, China. It is very likely we will hear of a cancellation or postponement there very soon, too.

Tournament Date Gender Star Rating Status Jinjiang May 13 - 17 Mixed 3-star Waiting decision

Athletes spreading the virus

I woke up this morning to some worrying news just a few kilometers from my apartment. The UAE Tour is an international cycling event that was entering it’s final stages when two Italian cyclists tested positive for coronavirus. Italy has been hit harder than any other European country, with over 400 cases and at least 12 deaths in northern Italy. Apparently some of their cycling team came to the event not knowing they were carrying the virus. The final stages of the race were called off and many riders are being quarantined in a hotel.

Implications for FIVB Tour

Will the local officials in Australia be happy to invite players from Italy or China to the Gold Coast three-star next month? What about Cancun and Itapema? Can Olympic qualification be considered fair if they allow American, Australian and Dutch players but not Italian or Chinese teams? We are entering uncharted territory.

Will Nicoli and Lupo be welcome by World Tour tournament organizers? Photo by FIVB.

Nicoli and Lupo have qualified through the Olympic Qualification Tournament, but they still have to play in two more events to reach the minimum 12 events. They will need to find at least two countries not gripped by coronavirus panic.

Five-star Jeopardy?

Much further down the line is the biggest event remaining in the Olympic qualification cycle, the huge Rome 5-star. Serie A football postponed four matches last weekend. Tonight Inter Milan played one of the strangest match ever in the famous San Siro stadium. All fans were banned from their Euro League clash and it sounded more like a high school practice session than Inter playing in their iconic stadium. Players didn’t celebrate their goals to the roar of a packed stadium when Inter came back to secure a 2 -1 victory.

June is a long way away and Rome is not in northern Italy, but at the rate this is spreading, this five-star could be under threat.

Tournament Date Gender Star Rating Status Rome June 10 - 14 Mixed 5-star Waiting decision

If that is the case, then we may be talking about a cancellation of the entire Olympic games.

That is a pretty depressing thought, so let’s end with this thought instead. If you are in a place with good weather this weekend, then call your friends, grab your ball and head to the beach for some volleyball. Also stay safe and keep updated on the most effective ways to protect yourself from this awful virus.