Covid-19: Mozambique resumes preparation for the Olympic Games this month

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Covid-19: Mozambique resumes preparation for the Olympic Games this month

2:40 CAT | 15 Jun 2020

Deisy Nhaquile. [File photo: com-cga.co.mz]

The five Mozambican athletes qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games will resume training from the 22nd of this month, after the suspension of activity due to Covid-19, the executive director of the Mozambican Olympic Committee (COM) has told Lusa.

Penalva César said that, in addition to the five athletes already qualified, those who might still qualify will be back in action.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympics, initially scheduled to run from July 24 to August 9 this, has been postponed to the period 23 July to 8 August, 2021. Deisy Nhaquile, Maria Machava and Denise Parruque, in Sailing, and Rady Gramane and Alcinda Panguane, in women boxing, have already qualified.

Athletes will return to training only after they have undergone a second round of tests for the Covid-19. The first series of tests was carried out on June 5, and all came back negative.

“We are currently coordinating with the Ministry of Health in order for the second tests to take place between Thursday and Friday,” said César. Depending on the results, COM would be “in a position to authorise the athletes to resume activities”.

“Monday of next week is the date indicated for training to restart,” Cesar said, adding that conditions had been created for athletes, coaches and support staff to carry out their work safely in face of Covid-19 risks.

“We have been looking at all procedures and requirements, so that training restarts in conditions, some created by the respective federations, others together with the Olympic Committee, of maximum security,” he emphasised.

The executive director of COM said that the federations had had time to ensure Covid-19 security conditions because President Nyusi had announced on May 28 that a date for the return to training would be studied as exception to the restrictions imposed under the state of emergency.

The safety protocols prescribed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Mozambican Ministry of Health would be observed in those sports venues where activities were taking place, Cesar said.

Mozambique already has three yachtswomen and two boxers qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, but the COM executive director still has hopes for beach volleyball (pairs), athletics, swimming, boxing, taekwondo and karate.

Source: Lusa