The International Olympic Committee could quickly offer proposals when it comes to holding the Olympic Games scheduled for July, but it is clear that even the IOC cannot decide anything at the moment, until the risk of the spread of the coronavirus epidemic decreases. Will the Olympics even take place this year in Tokyo? No variant is excluded...
- In the event that there are no Olympic Games, the sports year would completely lose its meaning - points out Montenegrin water polo representative Dragan Drašković.
In January, the "Sharks" won a bronze medal at the European Championship in Budapest, and from March 22 to 29 they were supposed to participate in the qualification tournament for the Olympic Games in Rotterdam. That tournament was initially postponed to May 31, but there are more questions - whether it will be held at all, when and where.
- Everything at this moment is under a big question mark and we athletes are powerless. It is up to us to wait, to hope that everything will be fine and that we will have time to make up for everything. We already know that the schedule will be very tight, because we have already missed enough - says Drašković.
It is speculated that there will be no qualification for the OI at all, but that the remaining three participants of the water polo tournament in Tokyo will be sought based on the placement at the World Championship in South Korea from the summer of 2019. If that is Fina's decision, the list of 12 Olympic Games participants would be filled by Croatia, Greece and Germany.
- The rules say that it could be like that, let's hope not. We were ranked XNUMXth in Korea, so we would have no chance to go to Tokyo. It would be good if we get the opportunity to play in the qualifying tournament. The Olympic year is special, I don't even want to imagine what it will be like in the end if the Olympics don't take place or we don't go there - Drašković is honest.
Last week, Montenegrin water polo players participated in a preparatory tournament in Hamburg, and upon returning to the country, they were also under medical supervision. Tests for coronavirus are negative...
- We are isolated from our families, there is no need to risk anything - notes Drašković.
The former water polo player from Primorje, Budva and Jadran has been a member of Italian Palermo since this season, but returning to the Apennines is not an option at this moment.
- Everything has stopped in Italy, water polo is not even thought about. In Sicily, the problems are not as pronounced as specifically in the north of the country, but now the situation is such that the borders are closed, it is almost impossible to enter Italy. I don't believe that anything will change in the next twenty days, even though I am in regular communication with people from the club - concluded Drašković.
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