中国卓球協会長、五輪のコロナ対策に不満　対応「極めて難しい」

【北京ＡＦＰ＝時事】中国卓球協会（ＣＴＴＡ）の会長は１４日、金メダル独占の再現を目指す東京五輪で適用される新型コロナウイルス感染拡大防止のルールについて、対応に苦しんでいると不満を漏らした。（写真はリオデジャネイロ五輪、卓球男子団体準決勝。選手を励ます中国の劉国梁監督＜右、当時＞）
　実施競技となって以降、卓球は金メダル３２個中２８個を獲得している中国の独壇場となっている。だが今回の東京五輪に向けた準備過程では、トップ選手の不調をはじめ、新型ウイルス対策の新ルールなど、いくつかの課題に直面している。
　ＣＴＴＡの劉国梁（リュウ・グォリャン）会長は中国中央テレビ（ＣＣＴＶ）で、「手で卓球台を拭いたり、（ボールに）息を吹きかけたりできない感染対策ルールは予測していなかった」とした上で、「今回の五輪に向けた準備は極めて難しい」と話した。
　中国代表チームからコロナ対策に関連した不満が噴出したのは今週２度目で、先日はセーリング代表が一般客との接触を余儀なくされているとして、ホテルの感染対策が不十分だと指摘した。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2021/07/15-14:44）

China's table tennis chief has bemoaned Covid-19 safety rules at the Tokyo Olympics, saying they are making life extremely difficult as his team looks to sweep the golds once again.
China have won 28 of the 32 table tennis titles awarded at the Olympics, dominating a sport in a way that has rarely been matched.
But the lead-up to the pandemic-delayed Games has thrown up several challenges, from inconsistent form among China's top players to new rules to stop the coronavirus spreading.
We didn't expect some epidemic rules like not wiping the game table with your hand, or blowing (on the ball), Chinese Table Tennis Association president Liu Guoliang told state broadcaster CCTV.
The preparation for this Olympic Games is actually extremely difficult, he added, in an interview aired Tuesday.
It is the second Covid gripe this week from China's Olympic team after sailing competitors complained of poor pandemic prevention measures at their hotel.
The Chinese sailing team said competitors were forced to mix with other guests at their hotel.
The table tennis association clip has circulated widely, attracting 140 million views on China's Twitter-like platform Weibo as of Wednesday.
If you can't beat us, so be it. Why look for so many reasons including the pandemic? one user wrote.
In the interview, Liu -- himself a former world and Olympic champion -- said the team is now helping athletes resist pressure and interference at the Olympics.
The most difficult competitions for the athletes are the first two rounds -- during such elimination rounds and 'life-and-death battles', he added.
China's six-member squad this year includes reigning Olympic champion Ma Long and world number one Fan Zhendong in the men's singles, while world champion Liu Shiwen will play the mixed doubles and women's team events.
Aside from China, the only other countries to win Olympic table tennis titles are South Korea (three times) and Sweden (once).
On Wednesday China said it is taking 777 athletes and staff to Japan -- its largest contingent to an overseas Games.
The youngest athlete is diver 14-year-old Quan Hongchan,and the oldest is 52-year-old equestrian Li Zhenqiang, state media reported.