Athletics in limbo as travel restrictions imposed

Local track and field athletes have already suffered setbacks due to the Covid 19 pandemic as they missed quality international competitions.

by Reemus Fernando

Athletes who were looking forward to vie for Olympic entry standards at weekend’s first stage of the 99th National Athletics Championships were in dilemma yesterday after government imposed new travel restrictions due to the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Yesterday, the government announced new travel restrictions starting from 11pm on May 11 to 4.00 am on May 25 and 11.00pm on May 25 to 4.00 am on May 28. That will put in jeopardy the first stage of the National Athletics Championship, which is the final opportunity for local athletes to reach entry standards for the Tokyo Olympics.

Last week, Sri Lanka Athletics decided to conduct the National Championship in four stages (during four weekends) in a bid to minimize participation at venues and scheduled Olympic targeted events of the 99th National Athletics Championship to the May 22-23 weekend.

Sources said that the Olympic targeted events were scheduled for the first weekend in anticipation of a possible lockdown during the Wesak week. But now with travel restrictions imposed to minimize the spread of the virus the Sri Lanka Athletics is faced with a dilemma.

Local track and field athletes suffered several setbacks due to the Covid 19 pandemic as they missed quality international competitions, which help improve their world rankings. They also could not get enough local competitions to get closer to entry standards for Olympics. The cancellation of several international events including the Asian Championships and the Asian Relay were severe blows.

While Italy based Yupun Abeykoon and US based Ushan Thivanka have improved Sri Lanka National records in men’s 100 metres and high jump after taking part in quality competitions this season , local athletes were yearning for competitions from early last year.

When contacted, a top official of Sri Lanka Athletics said that the track and field governing body was in a dilemma. “We had almost completed necessary arrangements to conduct the meet. Now we are in a dilemma,” a top official told The Island.

A source said that that there had been requests to provide accommodation for all competing athletes in Colombo in a bid to avail the final qualifying opportunity for Olympics.

It would be a huge logistical nightmare for Sri Lanka Athletics to provide all participating athletes lodgings in Colombo.

Last year, Sri Lanka Athletics postponed the National Championship to December due to the pandemic. This year’s National Championship was earlier scheduled to be held in April.

Sri Lanka Athletics is likely to take a decision regarding the meet today.