Coronavirus outbreak forcing people tweak foreign travel plans, especially to Asia   

NEW DELHI: Deadly Novel Coronavirus that has killed 361 of innocent people in China and rendered thousands infected others across the world, and is casting its shadow on the future of upcoming Tokyo Olympics to be held in July-August this year, recently forced Chinese football team to withdraw its nomination at the last moment from Barca Academy Cup – Asia Pacific tournament held in Gurugram on January 30 – February 2.

Japan has confirmed 20 cases of Coronavirus testing positive in its nationals who returned from China recently. The virus has spread in a total of 27 countries across the world including India that has reported three confirmed cases of coronavirus.

As per the initial schedule, players from seven countries – India, China, Australia, Turkey, Singapore, Japan, and Spain were scheduled to participate in the tournament in four categories – Under – 9, 11, 13 and 15.

The event was hosted at the Barca Academy, Gurugram at The Heritage Xperiential Learning School, Gurugram near New Delhi second time in the row. Last year too, Barca Academy, Gurugram was the proud host of the same event.

However, China that had sent a large contingent of 50 players last year in the same tournament, and was set to participate in 2020 tournament too with a similar strength, withdrew its nominations on account of two reasons, said the organizers.

“First the dates of the tournament clashed with the Chinese New Year – January 25, as the organizers had earlier set the launch date as of January 25 instead of January 30,” said Anupama Jain, Director, Barca Academy, Gurugram and Conscient Football.

Somehow, on persistent persuasion of the organizers, China agreed to send one team for the Barca Academy Cup – Asia Pacific tournament.

But since many cities in China witnessed lockdown, schools and colleges were ordered to close following the outbreak of Coronavirus originating from Wuhan city, the only team that was supposed to participate in the tournament, also could not make it and the tournament had to go on with players from six nations without Chinese participation.

Though the Japanese government has reiterated that the Quadrennial mega sports event Tokyo Olympics would happen as per the schedule, the people planning to visit Japan around that time, have started giving it a second thought, and are in wait & watch situation.

“Recently only after the news of the outbreak of Coronavirus spread, a family of four from New Delhi that was earlier planning for a 2-week tour to Japan in July-August around Tokyo Olympics has asked us to defer airplane and hotel bookings. The family has asked us to look for alternative destinations in Europe like London,” said Ankur Ankur Khanna, Tristar Holidays.

However, some of the MICE players like Saman Abidi of Leading Waves said that it was too early to speculate about the Tokyo Olympics as the event was a few months away.

“I believe that China would be able to contain the spread of virus soon and it wouldn’t affect the happening of Tokyo Olympics,” he added.