The Olympics in Ecuador are analyzing the return to training, especially in individual sports such as athletics, weightlifting, cycling, or boxing, when the country is ready to lift the isolation restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The president of the Ecuadorian Olympic Committee (COE), Augusto Moran, told Efe that the organization is ready for the return to activity, but it still depends on the local health authorities giving the approval, after implementing the 'semaforización' by cantons on Monday.
"We are constantly in technical meetings with our Ecuadorian federations for each sport, especially with those in individual sports, so that our athletes are ready when the health authorities approve the return to training," expressed Moran.
- 'Social distancing will be difficult to apply in every sport'
The 'semaforización' is a system designed to gradually lift restrictions according to the health situation in each region, although for now, it is still red for all 221 cantons in the country.
The director highlighted sports such as weightlifting, which would be the first to return because it would have international participation this year, as well as athletics, cycling, boxing, wrestling, and shooting.
"We will continue with these dialogues to know the times that the international federations for each sport have forecasted to start their activities," he said.
International support, present
He also emphasized the action of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Pan American Sports Organization (Panam Sports) who "will collaborate with concentrated efforts in the continent" given the restrictions regarding travel and concentrations in some parts of the world.
"Panam Sports is planning to focus the training camps in America so that athletes from this continent can train at the highest level with a view to the upcoming Tokyo Olympics," he revealed.
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There is optimism in archery and weightlifting
And he considered that it will be important to now double the sanitary security measures for the benefit of everyone, not just the athletes who remain at home and limit their preparation to virtually guided physical activities by their coaches.
The time for athletes to regain their competitive level depends a lot on each sport, according to Moran.
The intention of the IOC is for the sports that will be in the upcoming Olympic Games to start their activities in December of this year, but everything still depends on COVID-19.
Las nuevas tecnologías y el tiempo de este confinamiento han sido muy bien aprovechados por las Federaciones #FETKD @FebEcuador y @FEG_EC, que han encontrado la manera perfecta para capacitar vía online a sus entrenadores, deportistas y jueces...
DETALLES ⬇️— Comite_Olimpico_Ecu (@ECUADORolimpico) May 6, 2020
The national director placed hopes in boxing with athletes like Julio Castillo, Carlos Gongora, and Italo Perea, who are hoping for the rescheduling of the Continental tournament that was supposed to take place this year in Buenos Aires.
He also assured that Ecuador has a delegation that could be very important for the Tokyo Olympics in various sports, not only in athletics, boxing, cycling, shooting, judo, and golf. (D)