Mexico quake concerns
SWIMMING Australia is preparing to send a team to Mexico as Para Swimming authorities advise the world championships will go ahead despite yesterday’s devastating earthquake.
More than 200 people were reported dead late yesterday after a magnitude 7.1 quake hit 123km south of Mexico City yesterday.
Members of the 18-strong Australian para swimming team will leave for the US today, where they will take part in a staging camp in Texas ahead of the world championships in Mexico City from September 30-October 6.
But the participation of Australian athletes in the event is not yet certain, with Swimming Australia (SAL) to continue to monitor the situation in Mexico while the team is in transit.
SAL said the safety of its athletes was paramount and it would work with the Department of Foreign Affairs for travel advice.
The Government’s Smart Traveller website advises a high degree of caution for travel to Mexico at any time, with severe communications disruptions and public transport suspensions in place in the wake of the earthquake.
“The safety of our team is the highest priority and we will be making decisions in line with ensuring that our team members are kept saf,” SAL said in a statement.
“World Para Swimming have advised that the event will go ahead as planned. The local organising committee and the city officials from Mexico City are in constant communication and evaluating the situation.
“Our decision will be based upon Australian advice and ensuring the safety of our team.”
Gold Coast swimmer Monique Murphy said late yesterday she had not received any advice from SAL about the situation in Mexico and how it would affect the team. But she was confident officials would make the right call.
“At this stage I’ve just got to assume that I’m getting on the plane tomorrow morning,” Murphy, a Paralympic silver medallist, said yesterday.
Hearing about the earthquake had been unnerving but Murphy said her first thought was not whether the championships would go ahead.
“My first concern is for the people in Mexico,” she said.
“I’ve got complete faith in Swimming Australia.”