Saturday, 6 March 2021
The canoe sprint Pan-American Olympic qualifiers in Curitiba in Brazil have been cancelled due to ongoing COVID-19 concerns.
The decision from the International Canoe Federation (ICF) was based on the advice of the Pan American Canoe Federation (COPAC) that the event should be cancelled.
The ICF is now in discussions with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over how to allocate the 14 quota spots for the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Local authorities in Curitiba enforced tougher restrictions due to an upturn in COVID-19 cases, meaning COPAC would not be able to hold the event fairly and safely.
COPAC had considered postponement of the event, but local health authorities were unable to guarantee the safety of athletes.