Swimming Canada Cancels Summer Swim Season Through August In Coronavirus Crunch

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Swimming Canada has announced the cancellation of all summer 2020 national events due to the global coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic.

The cancellations include the suspension of the Olympic and Paralympic trials that had been slated for rescheduling, and the wipe out of the Canadian Masters Swimming Championships (May 22-24, Etobicoke, Ont.), Canadian Junior Championships (July 22-27, Montreal), and Canadian Swimming Championships (Aug. 6-9, Edmonton).

On the Olympic Trials Swimming Canada noted: “In light of the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, those plans are no longer necessary and the Trials remain suspended until new timing can be determined.”

High Performance Director John Atkinson has instructed athletes to train “at home, on their own, under the advice of their coaches and/or other qualified experts”. Encouraging the swimming community to follow all government mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19, Atkinson said:

“We all have a responsibility to ensure we do our part in flattening the curve and follow the guideline of social distancing.”

Atkinson also announced that all scheduled national camps and activities will be postponed until at least the fall. Existing national team selection and nomination criteria will be withdrawn and reviewed, then reworked and posted as applicable once more detail on the international competition calendar is known. Athletes carded under Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program will continue to receive funding, however, adjustments will need to be made for 2020-21.

The Statement from Swimming Canada in full (English and French Canadian)

Remaining 2020 national events cancelled

Following the lead of the International Olympic Committee, International Paralympic Committee, Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Paralympic Committee, Swimming Canada has announced the cancellation of all summer 2020 national events due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.

This includes the Canadian Masters Swimming Championships (May 22-24, Etobicoke, Ont.), Canadian Junior Championships (July 22-27, Montreal), and Canadian Swimming Championships (Aug. 6-9, Edmonton).

After announcing the postponement of the Olympic and Paralympic Swimming Trials, presented by Bell, Swimming Canada had been evaluating contingency plans for a potential late June Trials. In light of the postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, those plans are no longer necessary and the Trials remain suspended until new timing can be determined.

“We would like to thank the COC, CPC, IOC and IPC for their leadership in these difficult times. We understand that postponing the Games was an incredibly difficult decision, but one that needed to be made for the safety of all, therefore we are following suit with our national events,” said Swimming Canada CEO Ahmed El-Awadi.

The previously announced moratorium on all sanctioned competitions continues through April 30. Should provincial health authorities allow recreation facilities to reopen, Provincial Sections may resume local, regional, and/or provincial swimming activities at their discretion.

Pending further details on the rescheduling of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, Swimming Canada’s 2021 national events calendar is being assessed, and 2021 national events will be confirmed at a later date.

“The world needs healing. It takes time. The sun will rise again for the most celebrated Games, and for our Canadian championships. The athletes will awe us with their amazing talents once more. The world just needs some time to heal. Once the storm is over, we will swim again,” El-Awadi said.

Meanwhile, the Swimming Canada executive team and staff, along with 1976 Olympic medallist and President Cheryl Gibson, held a videoconference Wednesday for hundreds of swimmers, coaches, integrated support team staff, Provincial Section representatives, and representatives from partners such as COC, CPC, Own the Podium and the CSCTA.

High Performance Director John Atkinson instructed athletes to train at home, on their own, under the advice of their coaches and/or other qualified experts.

“We all have a responsibility to ensure we do our part in flattening the curve and follow the guideline of social distancing,” Atkinson said, encouraging the swimming community to follow all government mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Atkinson also announced that all scheduled national camps and activities will be postponed until at least the fall. Existing national team selection and nomination criteria will be withdrawn and reviewed, then reworked and posted as applicable once more detail on the international competition calendar is known. Athletes carded under Sport Canada’s Athlete Assistance Program will continue to receive funding, however, adjustments will need to be made for 2020-21.

Annulation des évènements nationaux restants du calendrier 2020

À l’instar du Comité international olympique, du Comité international paralympique, du Comité olympique canadien et du Comité paralympique canadien, Natation Canada a annoncé l’annulation de tous les évènements nationaux du calendrier estival 2020 en raison de la pandémie mondiale de la COVID-19.

Parmi les évènements annulés, on compte les Championnats canadiens des maitres nageurs (22-24 mai, Etobicoke, Ontario), les Championnats canadiens juniors (22-27 juillet, Montréal) et les Championnats canadiens de natation (6-9 aout, Edmonton).

Après l’annonce du report des Essais olympiques et paralympiques de natation présentés par Bell, Natation Canada avait évalué la possibilité de tenir les Essais à la fin juin. À la lumière du report des Jeux olympiques et paralympiques de Tokyo 2020, cette compétition ne s’avère plus nécessaire et sa tenue est suspendue jusqu’à ce que les dates de report soient déterminées.

« Nous aimerions remercier le COC, le CPC, le CIO et le CIP de leur leadership en cette période difficile. Nous sommes conscients que le report des Jeux était une décision incroyablement difficile à prendre, mais nécessaire pour la sécurité de tous. C’est pourquoi nous en faisons autant pour nos évènements nationaux », explique Ahmed El-Awadi, directeur général de Natation Canada.

La suspension que nous avions annoncée pour toutes les compétitions sanctionnées se maintient jusqu’au 30 avril. Si les autorités provinciales de santé autorisaient la réouverture des installations récréatives, les associations provinciales pourraient, à leur discrétion, reprendre leurs activités de natation locales, régionales et provinciales.

Dans l’attente des détails concernant les dates de report des Jeux olympiques et paralympiques, Natation Canada révise son calendrier de compétitions nationales de 2021 et confirmera les évènements nationaux de l’année prochaine à une date ultérieure.

« Le monde a besoin de guérir. Guérir prend du temps. Les Jeux les plus célébrés du monde et nos championnats canadiens connaitront des jours meilleurs. Les athlètes nous éblouiront encore de leur incroyable talent. Il faut simplement du temps pour que le monde guérisse. Lorsque la tempête sera passée, nous pourrons nager de nouveau », dit El-Awadi.

Dans l’intervalle, l’équipe de direction et le personnel de Natation Canada, ainsi que la médaillée olympique de 1976 et présidente de l’organisme, Cheryl Gibson, ont tenu mercredi une vidéoconférence à laquelle ont participé des centaines de nageurs, d’entraineurs, de membres de l’équipe de soutien intégrée et de représentants des associations provinciales et des partenaires tels que le COC, le CPC, À nous le podium et l’ACEIN. Le directeur de la haute performance, John Atkinson, a demandé aux athlètes de s’entrainer à la maison, de manière individuelle et sous la supervision de leurs entraineurs et d’autres experts qualifiés.

« Nous avons tous la responsabilité de participer aux efforts pour aplanir la courbe de propagation et de respecter les directives de distanciation sociale », exprime Atkinson à la communauté de natation tout en l’encourageant à suivre les décrets du gouvernement pour empêcher la propagation de la COVID-19.

Atkinson a aussi annoncé que les activités et camps nationaux prévus au calendrier seront reportés au moins jusqu’à l’automne. Les critères de nomination et de sélection de l’équipe nationale en vigueur seront retirés et révisés pour être publiés lorsque les détails du calendrier de compétitions internationales auront été dévoilés. Les athlètes brevetés en vertu du Programme d’aide aux athlètes de Sport Canada continueront de recevoir le financement. Cependant, des ajustements seront apportés au programme pour 2020-2021.

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Toddjeni Eichberg
4 years ago

Oh no

Oline Stehr
4 years ago

Erin Nielsen Zawadzki Heidi Lampert Seitters wonder what this means for Sharks! ?

Bob Perkins
4 years ago

Better stay here Amy

Amy Burns Vanderkooi
4 years ago
Reply to  Bob Perkins

Guess so! Let’s hope by summer the kids can get back in the water!!!

Carol Inman Greeman
4 years ago

The whole season??? Wow!!

Ciarra George
4 years ago

StephanieHundt…wth ?

Shawn Cowper Daniels
4 years ago

Jack Beachboard

Rosemary Mousseau
3 years ago

Tough decision, but the right one!

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