ITU postpones Asian Cup and World Cup events, moves Mixed Relay Olympic Qualifier to Valencia

Add another event in Asia that has been postponed  due to the Coronavirus. The International Triathlon Union (ITU) has moved the 2020 Chengdu ITU Mixed Relay Olympic Qualification Event to the city of Valencia (Spain).

You can find a list of other international sporting events cancelled due to the Coronavirus here.

The Chengdu Mixed Relay Olympic Qualification was scheduled for May 9, with the world cup race slotted for the next day. Both events were at the tail end of the Olympic qualifying period and would have been important for athletes trying to make a last go at Olympic qualification.

The Mixed Relay event will now be moved to Valencia, Spain on May 1 – it will be the “the last opportunity for three National Olympic Committees to secure two women and two men quota for the Tokyo Olympic Games,” according to a release from the ITU.

“The 2020 Chengdu World Cup will be postponed until later in the season and unfortunately, due to the lack of available time in this year’s busy schedule with World Cup racing almost every weekend from March through to May, and despite every effort to find a workable solution, it will not be replaced with another World Cup within the Olympic Qualification period,” according to the release.

With a number of Olympic qualifying events being postponed, the ITU says it will increase the size of some of the start fields at other events “over 65 in case it is seen necessary and technically possible.” That won’t happen at any WTS events, though.

“The Asian Cup events in Tainan (TPE), Beihai (CHN) and Dexing (CHN) scheduled to be hosted in March and April have been postponed as well, with the full support of the Asian Triathlon Confederation,” according to the ITU.

In addition to the Mixed Relay Qualification event, Valencia will also host a World Cup race on the weekend of May 1 to 3.