World University Games in Switzerland canceled due to travel concerns
LUCERNE, Switzerland (dpa) – The World University Winter Games in Switzerland were canceled on Monday to stop the spread of the new COVID-19 variant.
Organizers of Winter Universiade in Lucerne named for the decision “very dynamic developments in the pandemic and the associated entry restrictions”.
Students from over 500 universities in at least 50 countries competed in 60 medal competitions in central and eastern Switzerland from December 11 to 21.
These included delegations from several countries – including Australia, Great Britain and the Netherlands – who were faced with a 10-day quarantine prescribed by the Swiss federal government in order to limit the spread of the Omicron variant.
Sports officials and radio staff arriving from abroad were also quarantined.
“As a result of these official restrictions, the Winter Universiade 2021 cannot take place now,” said a message from the organizers.
The multisport event was postponed from its original date in January 2021 during the pandemic.
“We are devastated and we very much regret that we cannot welcome the athletes from all over the world who are preparing intensively for their competitions,” said organization president Guido Graf.
The next edition of the biennial Winter Games is scheduled for 2023 in Lake Placid, New York.