by Alfonz Juck
Coronavirus, photo by Journalists Resource
The Coronavirus is in early stages in US, and panic buying, rumors and bad info is everywhere. The numbers that the Trump administration saw last week, based on British calculations, sugggested up to 2.2 million could die in the U.S. This is NO JOKE. Isolate yourself. Do not get your older relatives sick, do not travel, and do not horde anything.
Acts of kindness abound. In San Jose, my Dad’s neighbors are treating him to nice home made hot meals at night. Good people, and that is the majority, will show their true selves. Keep the social distancing-six feet, and stay healthy!
OTHER VIRUS IMPACT AND INFO
TOKYO (JPN): Organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have said ticket refunds would be unlikely in the instance of a cancellation or postponement, informs the Asahi Shimbun. The organisers cited the terms and conditions attached to the tickets: “Tokyo 2020 shall not be liable for any failure to perform any obligation under the Terms and Conditions to the extent that the failure is caused by a Force Majeure,” which includes a public health emergency.
LAUSANNE (SUI): The European Olympic Committees (EOC), Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC), Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) and Panam Sports have reiterated their support to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as it continues to prepare for Tokyo 2020 as planned. Informs insidethegames.
ATHENS (GRE): Swimming Olympian Naoko Imoto received the Olympic Flame on behalf of Tokyo 2020 at an abbreviated ceremony at the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens, the host stadium of the 1896 Olympics, informs insidethegames.biz. Reigning Olympic pole vault champion Ekaterini Stefanidi also took part in the relay.
MONACO (MON): International Olympic Committee (IOC) member Prince Albert II has tested positive for the coronavirus, informs insidethegames.biz. “Prince Albert II, who had tested at the beginning of the week, is COVID-19 positive. His state of health does not cause any concern. Albert is being treated by his GP and specialists at the Princess Grace Hospital. His Serene Highness urges the people of Monaco to respect containment measures and to limit contact with others to a minimum. Only the rigorous observance of these containment rules will stop the spread of the virus,” said a statement.
PARIS (FRA): Track events will not take place until at least 24 May in France, informs L’Equipe. Among the events not taking place on their initially scheduled dates on the calendar include Montgeron (10 May) and Baie-Mahault (23 May) as well as the French Inter-Clubs.
LANA (ITA): The Lana Multistars on 25-26 April (WA CE Challenge) has been officially cancelled, informs FIDAL.
MOSCOW (RUS): Three-time world high jump champion Mariya Lasitskene has been forced to alter her training plans due to the spread of the coronavirus, informs sports.ru. “Traditionally, she wanted to hold her first training camp in Greece, but the stadiums in this country are now closed, so the athlete is going to begin training on March 29 in Moscow in the CSKA arena,” said her manager Olga Nazarova.
WARSZAWA (POL): New Polish minister for sport Danuta Dmowska-Andrzejuk initiated a video conference of European Union ministers responsible for sport about coronavirus impact on sport.
DES MOINES (USA): Drake Relays (WA CT Silver) are now also postponed. “With the Olympic Games and U.S. Olympic Trials still planned as scheduled, we will do all we can to host a world class track and field competition to help athletes prepare for national and international championships. We are monitoring the situation closely and developing plans to share with you after officials determine it is safe for a mass gathering of this type,” said meet director Blake Boldon in a statement.
MILANO (ITA): Italian runner Edoardo Melloni with 3:49.89 and 8:17.35 personal bests at 1500/3000 m tested positive for coronavirus. Informs aipsmedia.com. Edo, as he is fondly called, is one of the best athletes of the Cus Pro Patria Milano and was recently a beneficiary of an internship in Kenya. He is currently hospitalized at the Sacco Hospital in Milan, one of the places for which the disease has become sadly known. “I’m fine. Fortunately I was sent to the emergency room in time, where they later found pneumonia and I also tested positive for the virus. Luckily everything was in the initial phase and we are all confident in a short time I will be able to get out of here.” Read the whole interview at aipsmedia.com.
PORTLAND (USA): All Oregon spring high school sports and activities have been canceled through April 28. While the MHCC and WOU campuses remain open, that could change. The Olympic Trials remain on the schedule, but organizers have suspended ticket sales. It’s unknown how the pandemic is effecting the ability of construction crews to complete the project. The Pac-12 Track & Field Championships, which had been scheduled to open the reconstructed stadium on May 16-17 already had been canceled by the conference. The next event still scheduled for Hayward Field is the Prefontaine Classic, June 6-7. Informs oregonlive.com.
ROTORUA (NZL): After reviewing all available options, Rotorua Marathon organisers have decided to postpone the 2020 Rotorua Marathon until Saturday 26 September. The iconic event, which is owned by Athletics New Zealand, has been part of the Rotorua events calendar since 1965 and attracts around 3,500 participants each year. It had been scheduled for Saturday 2 May.
CHULA VISTA (USA): Brazilian top 400 m hurdles talent Alison dos Santos is currently training in Chula Vista, California. He is the lucky person to train there and plans to remain also in April and until May 3.
