By Canadian Press

Athletics Canada declines to field team at Summer World University Games in China

Feb 9, 2023 | 10:19 AM

OTTAWA — Citing the financial burden and location of the event, Athletics Canada said Thursday that it won’t be sending a team to the 2023 FISU Summer World University Games in Chengdu, China.

The decision was ratified by the national team committee that approves competitions to which Athletics Canada sends representative teams, the organization said in a news release.

U Sports, the national governing body of university sport, does not financially contribute to sending a delegation to the FISU Games, with costs passed along to respective national sports organizations, Athletics Canada said. 

“The estimated cost from U Sports was $8,000 to $12,000 per athlete and staff member to attend this competition, making it our most expensive team in the quadrennial by a significant margin,” the statement said. 

“Athletics Canada does not have the necessary discretionary funding to support this team, nor do we feel it appropriate to pass these significant costs along to athletes.”

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Athletics is one of 18 sports on the program at the July 28-Aug. 8 event. The lineup is similar to the Summer Olympics with sports like basketball, swimming, tennis, volleyball and rowing on the calendar. 

An Athletics Canada spokesperson said no one was available Thursday to speak on the decision. A message left with U Sports was not immediately returned.

The decision was also based on the adverse public health situation in China, Athletics Canada said.

The organization noted the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions and rise of cases in the country, entry and exit controls for travellers, isolation requirements and restrictions on freedom of movement. 

“Travelers would also be subject to mandatory quarantine in a local government facility following a positive test, with the consulate of Canada having extremely limited ability to intervene,” the statement said.

“For those reasons and given that neither FISU or U Sports have published any additional information on COVID-19 mitigation protocols, the national team committee ruled that sending a team would not be prudent.”

U Sports was expected to make an announcement this month on whether it will be sending a delegation to the Games, Athletics Canada said. 

Chengdu was originally scheduled to host the Games in 2021, but they were postponed on two occasions.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 9, 2023. 

The Canadian Press