Society | Mar 18

Olympic training camps canceled across Japan

NHK has learned that foreign countries' national team training camps for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games have been canceled or postponed in 16 cities across Japan due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.

The table tennis and gymnastics teams from Colombia had planned to train for the Olympics in the western city of Kitakyushu, but they have informed the city of their cancellation.

Britain's wheelchair basketball team was scheduled to practice next month in Urayasu City, near Tokyo, but canceled because of concerns over health care for the players.

In addition to those moves, Sabae City in Fukui Prefecture has asked China's gymnastics association to cancel its team's training camp in the city in April.

NHK also learned that events or projects to promote exchanges between foreign athletes and local residents have been canceled or postponed in nearly 60 municipalities throughout Japan. They include a project by Matsukawa Town in Nagano Prefecture to send high school students to Costa Rica. The town is set to host the Central American country's national team.


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