Zika Fears Push USA to Shift Pre-Olympic Training Camp to Atlanta

Zika is carried by mosquitos and has been linked to birth defects. Physicians also fear it might contribute to other health issues.

With concerns over Zika virus exposure, USA Swimming has moved a pre-Olympic training camp in July from Puerto Rico to Atlanta.

The American sport governing body informed coaches and athletes of the change, shifting the last workouts ahead of August's Rio Olympics to the Georgia Tech aquatic center where the 1996 Atlanta Olympic swim events were held.

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‘USA Swimming has moved a pre-Olympic training camp in July from Puerto Rico to Atlanta over concerns regarding exposure to the Zika virus. ’

Zika is carried by mosquitos and has been linked to birth defects. Physicians also fear it might contribute to other health issues.

There are concerns about Zika in Brazil but the Olympics will be staged in winter in South America and most swimming events will be staged in an indoor pool.

The American squad will be determined at the US Olympic swim trials starting June 26 at Omaha, Nebraska. US swimmers also will train from July 11-21 at San Antonio, Texas, as previously planned.

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Major League Baseball moved regular-season games between the Miami Marlins and Pittsburgh Pirates that were to have been played May 30-31 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, to Miami over player concerns about Zika.

Source-AFP

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