OTTAWA – Athletics Canada, along with Athletics Ontario and meet directors from Ottawa, Windsor, Toronto and Guelph, made the tough decision last week to postpone the four meets planned for Ontario that would have kicked-off the Tokyo Qualifier Series. The Province of Ontario is currently under a Provincial Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order, which runs through May 20, making it difficult to plan a safe, competitive high performance meet in the province.

“With less than three months until the Tokyo Games get underway, we are committed to helping our athletes based in Canada qualify for the Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Chris Winter, Athletics Canada’s Director, Domestic Programs and Safe Sport. “By postponing the Ontario meets by two weeks, it allows the meet directors to work with local and provincial health authorities to deliver a safe, competitive meet that is in line with COVID-19 restrictions and protocols, where athletes can earn those all-important World Rankings Points without having to travel abroad.”

Though response from public health authorities has been positive, until the Emergency and Stay-at-Home Order in Ontario has been lifted and pandemic conditions improve across the country, it will be difficult to host the meets we had originally planned. All athletes and coaches who are looking to compete in one of the nine meets are encouraged to visit the individual meet website or to contact the meet director to express interest. 

Johnny Loaring Classic awarded NACAC Area Permit Status

Additionally, Athletics Canada and the Local Organizing Committee of the Johnny Loaring Classic, have been successful in their bid to have the meet elevated to NACAC Area Permit Meeting, joining the Victoria Track Classic (June 9), Vancouver Sun Harry Jerome Track Classic (June 12) and Royal City Inferno Track & Field Festival (June 16). As a NACAC Area Permit Meeting, these competitions are designated as a Category “D” meet in the World Athletics World Rankings system, and thus athletes are eligible to earn corresponding Placing Scores. The Classique d’Athlétisme de Montréal scheduled for June 29 has been designated a World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze Meeting and will receive Category “C” Placing Scores.

For more information, including the latest updates and developments, please visit www.athletics.ca/tokyoqualifierseries.

The Athletics Canada Tokyo Qualifier Series will now unfold as follows: