Chinese athletes train in isolation amid coronavirus outbreak

BEIJING - Ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, China's athletes are training behind closed doors amid the current coronavirus outbreak, a senior sports official told Xinhua on Sunday.

"They are training in behind-closed-doors camps in various domestic and overseas cities in preparation for the Olympic Games and qualifying tournaments," said Liu Guoyong, vice president of the Chinese Olympic Committee (COC).

"Up until now, no athlete from the national team has reported to be or is suspected of being infected with the virus," he stressed. "We will do our best to prevent all athletes from becoming infected."

Liu revealed that special arrangements for accommodation, transportation and training have been made to protect athletes and coaching staff from contracting the virus.

"There will be over 100 Olympic qualifying tournaments around the world between February and April. Hopefully the Chinese athletes can prepare well and claim more Olympic berths," said Liu.

The COC has been in close contact with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) regarding the participation of Chinese athletes in Olympic qualifying events, according to Liu.

"The IOC has asked various international sports federations to provide all possible assistance and convenience to Chinese athletes," he said.

IOC president Thomas Bach said earlier that he fully supports, highly appreciates and respects the efforts made by the Chinese people, and that the Chinese people are fighting the epidemic in a proactive and orderly way.

Liu also said that overseas coaching staff working with Chinese national teams were being given as much help and assistance as possible.

"Our staff have very good communication with the foreign coaches working with the national teams, updating them with the latest anti-virus news and offering assistance in their daily lives. They are doing well," he said.

Various sporting events, including the Chinese National Winter Games, the Chinese Basketball Association League and football's Chinese Super League have been postponed, relocated or canceled outright since the outbreak first emerged in December.

"We will keep a close eye on the development of the situation to decide when sporting events can be resumed," Liu said.