World Athletics U20 Championships General Info Webinar Overview • Team Staff • Update on Event Status • Medical Update • Team Selection • Event Logistics • Travel/Environmental Challenges All subject to COVID • Questions & Answers uncertainties Introductions Team Staff Team Coaches Team Leader: James Cunningham Sprints/Hurdles: Molly Killingbeck Head Coach: Jason Reindl Sprints/Hurdles: Rashed Din Team Manager: Nicole Clarke Jumps: Steve Leblanc IST Lead: Mark Gottfried Throws: Georgette Reed Massage Therapist: Carolyn Daubeny Endurance: Andy Tough Doctor: Dr. Ryan Shields Team Objectives To increase the number of Canadian athletes who improve on their pre- event ranking, seasonal best and personal best, number of medals, top 8 and who place in the top half of their field as compared to the most recent World Athletics U20 Championships. Event Status Update on Event Status • World Athletics (WA) update • 100% committed to hosting event • Confirmed they are following ‘similar’ protocols as World Relays (very successful implementation) • Athletics Canada (AC) update • Committed to moving ahead with event at this time • New information will be reviewed as it becomes available • No defined timeline to review decision (will be based on any new info) • Vaccinations • At this time WA and AC will not require vaccination to attend event • Staff – expectation that all staff will be fully vaccinated • Athletes • Very strong recommendation that all athletes have at least one shot, preferably fully vaccinated • Based on age and provincial roll-out, might not be possible for all athletes to receive both doses Update on Event Status – cont’d • Current Concerns • COVID-19 • Potential security risks • Kenya is listed as “Exercise a high degree of caution” due to the threat of terrorism and high crime rate • This is primarily on the border with surrounding countries and the interior of the country, with concerns in specific regions of Nairobi • Due to Covid-19 protocols, we will be in a more restrictive bubble than usual (direct from hotel to track, no local visits, etc) • Other Countries • Several countries have withdrawn, citing a combination of security and health concerns (AUS, NZ, GBR) – as well as timing of the event (USA) Medical Update Medical – AC IST Team • Physician: • Dr. Ryan Shields • Treating therapists: • Mark Gottfried (Physiotherapy) • Carolyn Daubeny (Massage Therapy) COVID Vaccines • Strongly recommended that all athletes and staff are fully vaccinated • Fully vaccinated = 2 weeks after your second COVID vaccine • There are 3 important reasons to get both doses of your COVID vaccine: 1. Personal Health: It will give you full protection from contracting COVID • One dose is 70-80% effective; both doses is ~95% effective • COVID is still widespread in Kenya and local vaccination rates are low 2. Contact Tracing: It possible that those with both doses of the vaccine may not be considered a “close contact” if exposed to someone with COVID 3. Ethical: there is concerned about the risk of unvaccinated people importing COVID to Kenya. Getting both doses of the vaccine will dramatically reduce any potential risk that the Canadian team might bring to Kenya Medical - Vaccines • AC Medical team is recommending the following other vaccines prior to travel to Kenya: • All the routine vaccines from Canadian childhood vaccination series • In particular the Measles vaccine as there have been outbreaks of Measles internationally in the last few years. • Hepatitis A vaccine (and Hep B if you did not get as a child). • Yellow Fever: mosquito borne illness that can cause illness ranging from mild to severe • Nairobi considered low risk but this vaccine is still recommended, especially if you are traveling outside of Nairobi • The vaccine does have some serious adverse effects that are rare. You should discuss with to your family physician or a professional travel clinic for advice. • Typhoid: diarrheal illness, contracted via contaminated food or water • Vaccine is strongly recommended • Two forms, an oral version and an injection version • oral typhoid vaccine takes 1 week to give all 4 doses. This needs to be completed at least 1 week prior to travel. • The intramuscular injection form is one dose and should be given 2 weeks prior to travel. • Dukoral • Vaccine that offers some protection against the commonest cause of traveller’s diarrhea and cholera • Given as two oral doses 1 week apart. It should be administered at least 1 week (or more) prior to travel. Medical – cont’d • Malaria: present in Kenya, including Nairobi • no vaccine • Prevention is via oral medications that you take while in Kenya • Specific to Kenya; Atovaquone-proguanil (Malarone), doxycycline, tafenoquine or mefloquine. • You should follow up with you family doctor or a travel clinic about getting a prescription for one of these medications that is most appropriate for you. • Insect protection: • Several other diseases that are spread by mosquitoes and other insects in Kenya for which there are no vaccines • Chikungunya, African Sleeping Sickness, African Tick-Bite Fever, and Dengue Fever. • Protection from insects starts with wearing appropriate clothing to limit exposed skin and wearing insect repellant. You can have clothing treating with permethrin to further lower your risk. • Other diseases for which there are other vaccines that are recommended for travelers to more rural parts of Kenya (i.e. Rabies) but are not recommended/required for travel to Nairobi. • Please contact team staff if you feel you might be traveling outside of Nairobi Travel – COVID Precautions • The usual recommendations take on new importance • Being well rested so that your immune system is optimized • PPE for travel • Masks: 3-4 (in case 1 or more are spoiled) • We are recommending that all staff/athletes wear a 3 layer mask and that they change to a dry mask after 5 hours • We are also recommending that everyone wear goggles to protect your eyes as evidence and experiences demonstrate that the newer COVID variants spread easier and the membranes of your eyes are a portal to you to contract COVID. • Disinfectant wipes • To wipe down seat/viewing screen • Hand sanitizer • Should have at least 60% alcohol • Wash hands frequently • Particularly if you leave your seat or are going to handle foot • Hydration/Nutrition • Ensure that you bring appropriate fluids/food to stay hydrated/fed on the flight. • Note caution on being overhydrated so that you don’t spend a lot of time in the bathroom (which is likely the highest risk room on the plane). • Ok to take mask off to eat and drink • But avoid taking mask off when other are feeding/drinking Pre-Travel COVID Testing • The formal pre-travel testing guidelines for the WA U20 event have not been announced • The guidelines for the World Relays (Poland, May 2021) were: • All traveling team members completed a symptom screen prior to traveling • Travelers were required to have a negative COVID test 48hrs prior to departure • PCR COVID test • Everyone had a COVID test on arrival in the host country prior to entry to event bubble Medical - Nairobi • General medical concerns: • Water quality outside team hotel: poor • Food quality outside of hotel: poor • If it isn’t cooked (food), boiled (water/food), bottled (water) or can’t be washed, don’t eat it • Please review Traveler’s Diarrhea document • COVID • Kenya is experiencing a surge of COVID over the last month • Vaccinations rates are low • Kenya - ~2% vs Canada ~ 69% (July 6) • The potential for an exposure in Nairobi is real • Athletes/staff will be limited to inside the event bubble • Please ensure you are fully vaccinated prior to travel COVID testing at the Event • The formal event testing guidelines for the WA U20 event have not been announced • The guidelines for the World Relays (Poland, May 2021) were: • All participants (staff and athletes) were tested every 48hrs • At the hotel • No contact was permitted with anyone outside the event bubble COVID Testing – False positives • There is a false positive rate (and a false negative rate) for every medical test • Rapid antigen tests: 1-10% (depending on the company/brand) • PCR: 0.1-1% • But the numbers do depend on type of machine, user experience and disease prevalence • Athletics Canada’s team should be prepared for: • Positive test results • Some of these tests may be false positives • Our primary goal for any positive result (real or false) is to ensure the health of the individual and their close contacts. So AC will • Isolate all individuals after a positive result and ask any close contacts to do the same • Ensure that they have close medical monitoring, particularly if they develop symptoms • Take steps immediately to arrange for confirmatory tests. • Our COVID protocols are meant to minimize the number of “close contacts” • Developing nodes based on training groups • When possible, limiting the number of team members that gather in closed, indoor spaces Selection Criteria Selection Criteria & Process • Criteria • Criteria remain unchanged from 2020 (date changes and minor COVID-19 updates) • Eligibility Requirements • Process • Qualifying Standards & Ranking Lists • Selection Process • Multiple events • Relays • The criteria published on the AC website are the official source of information if there are any inconsistencies presented here Eligibility Criteria • Registered with an Athletics Canada Branch • Canadian Citizen by the Selection Date • Declare through online form (prior to July 26th) • Canadian passport valid for at least 6 months