Several elite Singaporean swimmers are now able to return to training, per relaxation of restrictions by national sport agency Sport Singapore (SportSG).
As of Monday, June 1st, those athletes who have qualified or close to qualifying for the postponed Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan are allowed to resume training at selected venues under controlled conditions. (The Straits Times)
The elite athletes total 30 across 10 sports including para-archery, badminton, para-cycling, gymnastics, fencing, sailing, shooting, para-swimming, swimming and table tennis. A maximum of 5 persons will be allowed in any facility at any time, with precautions pertaining to social distancing, temperature-taking, and additional safety procedures being put in place.
Per Singapore’s Ministry of Health, “the general public are still advised to stay at home and avoid going out where possible. However, for those who need to go out, the wearing of masks, in combination with other preventive measures such as hand hygiene and safe distancing, remain important to help reduce and prevent the spread of COVID-19.”
Per Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Center, Singapore has had 35,292 coronavirus cases reported at the time of publishing, resulting in 23 deaths.
Defending Olympic champion Joseph Schooling and Quah Zheng Wen are the two Singaporean swimmers who have already obtained the minimum Olympic-qualifying time (FINA ‘A’ cut) for the 2020 Olympic Games. However, both athletes are training in the United States.
Joe and Quah are currently back and training in Singapore