The Philippines has offered to host next month's Asia and Oceania Olympic boxing qualifier if the event is moved from Wuhan because of a pneumonia outbreak.<\/p>\n
Fears over the outbreak, caused by what is believed to be a new type of coronavirus, have grown today after the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed the first human-to-human transmission.<\/p>\n
Maria Van Kerkhove, acting head of WHO's emerging diseases unit, sought to ally concerns by insisting the organisation had not found sustained human-to-human spread of the virus.<\/p>\n
The first case outside of China has also been reported, after a woman in Thailand was diagnosed with the new coronavirus.<\/p>\n
The latest developments have raised the possibility of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) having to move the competition, scheduled for February 3 to 14.<\/p>\n
Ed Picson, secretary general of the Association of Boxing Alliances in the Philippines, said the country would be willing to stage the event if the IOC has to relocate it.<\/p>\n
Picson claimed other countries had also expressed an interest in hosting the tournament.<\/p>\n
\"We only have a little over two weeks to go,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"I know there are countries that have offered to host the event in lieu of Wuhan, China.<\/p>\n
\"We are also thinking about hosting it and I already sent feelers to the IOC task force regarding this.<\/p>\n
\"We feel that with the recent staging of the Southeast Asian Games, we have the mechanics in place and the people who can perhaps undertake the hosting.\"<\/p>\n
In an update posted yesterday, the IOC boxing task force - set up after it suspended recognition of the International Boxing Association - said \"no specific actions or changes to standard travel health advice\" had been decided.<\/p>\n
insidethegames understand the IOC is in contact with the Chinese Olympic Committee and is prepared to move the event if the situation worsens.<\/p>\n
Wuhan is also set to host Group B of the third round of the Asian Football Confederation Women's Olympic Qualification Tournament from February 3 to 9.<\/p>\n
According to China's state news agency Xinhua, 41 people have been diagnosed with the pathogen.<\/p>\n
A 61-year-old man died from the disease at the weekend, but a total of 739 people who have come into close contact with those affected have been cleared, the Wuhan Municipal Health Commission said.<\/p>\n
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Philippines offer to host Asia and Oceania Olympic boxing qualifier if moved from Wuhan - Insidethegames.biz<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The Philippines has offered to host next month's Asia and Oceania Olympic boxing qualifier if the event is moved from Wuhan because of a pneumonia outbreak. Fears over the outbreak, caused by what is believed to be a new type of coronavirus, have grown today after the World Health Organisation (WHO) confirmed the first human-to-human transmission Continue reading