ANDY JACKSON / stuff
There have been several positive tests for Covid-19 recorded at the ISA World Surfing Games.
Two Kiwis’ Olympic qualifying hopes could be threatened after the International Surfing Association announced that there had been several positive cases of Covid-19 at the ISA World Surfing Games in El Salvador.
On the eve of the nine-day event, the sport’s governing body confirmed on Saturday (New Zealand time) that there had been 18 positive cases recorded after all 564 competitors and event officials had tested by PCR between May 27 and May 28 (local time).
Eleven of those 18 are athletes, while another 10 cases are currently awaiting further testing.
Paige Hareb and Saffi Vette are the two New Zealanders attending the event, as they chase the two available spots for women on the Kiwi squad for Tokyo, where surfing is making its Olympic debut.
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The ISA said the 18 positive cases are now to be quarantined in a government-provided hotel, according to protocols established for the event, but would not reveal additional information about people who tested positive.
“The ISA is taking this step and releasing this information because it prioritizes the health and well-being of all athletes, officials and coaches at its events,” the governing body said in a statement.
“We also provide this information for the purposes of competitive integrity and transparency.
“No specific details regarding which teams or individuals have tested positive will be released. The ISA will make further statements on Covid-19 once further rounds of testing are completed. “
Ella Williams currently has a provisional berth for Tokyo and has opted out of the World Surfing Games, while Billy Stairmand, who will likely represent NZ in the men’s Olympic event, also opted out of the event. from El Salvador.
Hareb and Vette, both vaccinated against Covid-19, have chosen to compete despite the withdrawal of Surfing New Zealand due to the risk surrounding the pandemic.