The Chinese gymnastics team will not be traveling to Australia this week for the World Cup in Melbourne due to the Australian government’s travel restrictions related to the coronavirus outbreak.
According to the Associated Press, the Chinese team withdrew from the event after restrictions on foreign nationals traveling from China were introduced in early February and extended for another week on Thursday
The extension made China’s participation at the Feb. 20-23 World Cup impossible. The event includes qualifying points for this year’s Tokyo Olympics.
Related: Wuhan Virus Impacts Olympic Qualifying Events in China
“It has been a very challenging few weeks for us all, but none more so than for the Chinese gymnasts and officials who have been training and preparing to come to Melbourne,” Gymnastics Australia chief executive Kitty Chiller said in a statement.
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“I have been in regular contact with the Chinese Gymnastics Association and its president, who informs me all of their delegation are well and have shown no sign of infection. Despite this, we all have to respect the Australian government’s travel restrictions.”
Chinese athletes have seen disruptions in in other sports as well, including women’s soccer, downhill skiing, field hockey, basketball and boxing.
