{"id":423348,"date":"2020-03-20T01:51:41","date_gmt":"2020-03-20T08:51:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=423348"},"modified":"2020-03-20T02:47:01","modified_gmt":"2020-03-20T09:47:01","slug":"olympics-at-the-moment-would-not-be-fair-declares-dolphins-coach-jacco-verhaeren","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/olympics-at-the-moment-would-not-be-fair-declares-dolphins-coach-jacco-verhaeren\/","title":{"rendered":"“Olympics At The Moment…Would Not Be Fair,” Declares Dolphins Coach Jacco Verhaeren"},"content":{"rendered":"

Australia\u2019s head swimming coach Jacco Verhaeren<\/strong> knows first hand that this year\u2019s Tokyo Olympics will not be swum \u201con a level playing field\u201d and has sent an impassioned and unprecedented message to the world expressing his concerns.<\/p>\n

To hold the Olympic Games from July 24, 2020, he suggests, “would not be fair”.<\/p>\n

Highlights and the coronavirus (COVD-19)<\/strong> crunch in his message to Olympic bosses (you can read the full passage of what he had to say in the body of the article below):<\/p>\n

\u201cIn Europe they live in circumstances where some\u2026. countries are in lockdown, meaning you can\u2019t go out anymore at all, not even for a casual walk on the street and that\u2019s getting stricter by the hour there.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cA specific situation, and of course I’m close to the Netherlands and getting a lot of information from there, is that they (have) actually shut down all their high-performance centres as is the case in France, as is the case in Germany and many other countries, and of course Italy.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe situation is severe and although we can’t look into the future here and won\u2019t but we need to be ready also in Australia for what’s coming.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOur message is to\u2026.make sure we show empathy with our peers, colleagues but also all the people in the world, businesses that are hurt, people losing their jobs and all kinds of things happening that a few months ago we couldn\u2019t even imagine.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI think we all know what an Olympics stands for …<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course you come across challenges, setbacks, injuries, illness. But this far exceeds this. There is obviously a massive disadvantage for athletes around the world now for athletes that are not in a position and whole countries that are not in a position to prepare themselves for anything, really.\u201d<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Countries such as the Netherlands, Germany, France, Italy and now the US State of California are all in lock down under the cowering scourge of Covid-19.<\/p>\n

\"DEL_7523\"

DOLPHINS COACHING BRAINS TRUST (L-R) Dean Boxall, Michael Bohl, Craig Jackson, Jacco Verhaeren and Mick Palfrey. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).<\/p><\/div>\n

Verhaeren has led Swimming Australia\u2019s heart felt message to his international colleagues<\/a> that an Olympics at the moment would not be fair and revealed he has spoken to colleagues around the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course for me it\u2019s easy to make contacts with a lot of people and a lot of people are making contact with me, particularly from Europe and definitely as an organisation we have been in contact with the US as well,\u201d said Verhaeren.<\/p>\n

While the majority of Australia\u2019s Aquatic Centres and major swimming pools \u2013open to High Performance squads\u2013 European and US athletes are now locked in their homes \u2013 unable to live normal lives \u2013 let alone train in a high performance environment.<\/p>\n

South East Queensland alone is a mecca for Olympic and Paralympic swimmers with over 40 athletes having their sights set on Tokyo 2020.<\/p>\n

High performance pools on the Gold Coast \u2013 at Bond and Griffith Universities, The Southport School, Gold Coast Aquatic Centre and Somerset College are home to more than 25 Olympic hopefuls \u2013 all in full swing and post outstanding results at last week\u2019s NSW State Championships in Sydney.<\/p>\n

\"emily-seebohm-2017-nationals\"

TRIPLE OLYMPIAN: Dolphins backstroking diva Emily Seebohm, eyes on a fourth Games in Tokyo. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).<\/p><\/div>\n

Pools and schools in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast has another 20 swimmers with their sights on the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games \u2013 all genuine hopes \u2013 from triple Olympian Emily Seebohm<\/strong> (under Michael Bohl<\/strong> at Griffith University) to Bond University boys Alex Graham<\/strong> and Elijah Winnington<\/strong> like so many with their sights set on their first Olympics.<\/p>\n

\"Relay

TOP GUNS : Alex Graham (L) with Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers (C) and another top Olympic prospect Clyde Lewis celebrate Australia’s 4x200m freestyle world title. Photo Courtesy:Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).<\/p><\/div>\n

Sydney\u2019s Olympic Park Aquatic Centre \u2013 home to coach Adam Kable<\/strong> and Olympic hopefuls like former world record holder Matt Wilson<\/strong> \u2013 unlucky to miss Rio in 2016 and the Melbourne Sports And Aquatic Centre \u2013 home of coach Craig Jackson<\/strong>, who is preparing Mack Horton\u2019s<\/strong> Tokyo defence.<\/p>\n

The SA Aquatic and Leisure Centre where Peter Bishop<\/strong> prepares Olympic champion Kyle Chalmers<\/strong> and Rio Olympian and world champion Madison Wilson<\/strong> and the UWA West team led by Mick Palfrey<\/strong> with another Rio debutant and world champion Brianna Throssell<\/strong> are in full cry.<\/p>\n

For them it has been business as usual as they train towards the June 14-19 Olympic and Paralympic Trials in Adelaide \u2013 but their training environments are not a situation shared around the world.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Covid-19 pandemic has had very little (impact), of course (on Australia\u2019s HP Squads) we had to cancel our own competitions as well, so Age Nationals and National Championships were planned for next month and obviously they\u2019re not going ahead,\u201d said Verhaeren.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut the training environment as we speak, and we have just coming off a busy morning in talking to our athlete leaders and our high performance coaches, so we have the first-hand \u2018Intel\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re actually still all able to train in good circumstances, of course taking the necessary precautions and doing everything they can themselves to stay safe.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the moment most of our pools and really the highest percentage of our pools are open and if they\u2019re not open for public they\u2019re still open for high performance athletes and coaches.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are talking at the moment from Australia, from a position of strength, we are nowhere near to the circumstances that other countries, athletes and coaches are exposed to at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"2019

DOLPHINS UNITED: Australia’s swimmers know Olympics would not be swum on a level playing field. Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr (Swimming Australia).<\/p><\/div>\n

It prompted Swimming Australia to send a heartfelt and certainly a highly commendable message to its international colleagues and peers on behalf of the Australian Dolphins Swim Team and it\u2019s High Performance staff, led by Head Coaches\u00a0Jacco Verhaeren<\/strong> and Brendan Burkett<\/strong> (Para).<\/p>\n

A message of support and solidarity, particularly those in highly affected areas, where training and competing is impossible at the moment due to lockdowns and restrictions at training facilities and pools.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>The Swimming Australia statement read in part: \u201cWe know athlete preparation is being severely compromised<\/em> (around the world) and with friendship and solidarity important Olympic and Paralympic values, we stand with you in this time of uncertainty.<\/em>\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe all share the dream in sport, and that is, to strive for excellence and to compete with each other. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAt this current time in Australia, and as long as the situation allows us to, we are still preparing for the Olympics and Paralympics to the best of our ability. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cBut we absolutely understand that for a lot of our peers and colleagues this isn\u2019t the reality anymore, as it may not be for us soon. <\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\u201cAs much as we hope to see you all in Tokyo – in a world that is in a much better position than it is now – we do recognise the challenges that everyone is facing at the moment.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe hope the IOC and IPC are considering everything they can to ensure that there is a level playing field, with athletes being able to perform in healthy conditions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Verhaeren, who led the Dutch in their golden era from 2000 to 2008 and took over the reins of the Australian team for Rio and Tokyo, feels for his international counterparts and Australia\u2019s elite swimmers feel exactly the same.<\/p>\n

\"Jacco

DUTCH DAYS: Coach Jacco Verhaeren with his Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband. Photo Courtesy: ABC-TV.<\/p><\/div>\n

The astute coach of Olympic champion Pieter van den Hoogenband, knows the Australians would not feel comfortable swimming at an Olympic Games with so many major nations under prepared \u2013 believing it certainly wouldn\u2019t be a level playing field \u2013 and that\u2019s not what the Olympics is about.<\/p>\n

Verhaeren gave an insight into an unprecedented situation, facing world sport and the circumstances in which European athletes are living, let alone training.<\/p>\n

Our message is …<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cTo give a message like this at this point in time and to talk about fair play and healthy conditions is probably coming from us at a time that we\u2019re\u00a0not in that position ourselves yet,\u201d said Verhaeren, who has been based on the Gold Coast with his young family since his appointment post London in 2012.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIn Europe they live in circumstances where some\u2026. countries are in lockdown, meaning you can\u2019t go out anymore at all, not even for a casual walk on the street and that\u2019s getting stricter by the hour there.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cA specific situation, and of course I’m close to the Netherlands and getting a lot of information from there, is that they (have) actually shut down all their high-performance centres as is the case in France, as is the case in Germany and many other countries, and of course Italy.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe situation is severe and although we can’t look into the future here and won\u2019t but we need to be ready also in Australia for what’s coming.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOur message is to\u2026.make sure we show empathy with our peers, colleagues but also all the people in the world, businesses that are hurt, people losing their jobs and all kinds of things happening that a few months ago we couldn\u2019t even imagine.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cI think we all know what an Olympics stands for. The Olympics is so special, particularly for sports where it is their biggest platform or only real platform.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen you look around, there are quite a lot of our athletes walking around with the five rings on their chest or their arms. I\u2019ve never seen a FINA logo or a UCI logo or an IAAF logo.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"whooshkaa-podcast-image\"

SPEAKING OUT: Swimming Australia CEO Leigh Russell \u201cdealing with something that transcends sport.\u201d Photo Courtesy: AAP.<\/p><\/div>\n

\u201cThat shows how big it is and it is so big because everyone in these sports knows that everyone is prepared for the maximum, to the optimum.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOf course you come across challenges, setbacks, injuries, illness. But this far exceeds this. There is obviously a massive disadvantage for athletes around the world now for athletes that are not in a position and whole countries that are not in a position to prepare themselves for anything, really.\u201d<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Swimming Australia CEO Leigh Russell<\/strong> said that everyone involved in Australia\u2019s premier Olympic sport absolutely wanted the Games to go ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are preparing for that but we\u2019re also acknowledging that we want a level playing field for everyone and right now around the world we are holding concerns that people can\u2019t achieve that at this time,\u201d said Russell.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe are genuinely concerned and worried about people, as we all are at the moment and are hearing of high-performance centres obviously being shut, obviously countries in lockdown and worse than that, people being very worried about their families and their communities and dealing with something that I think transcends sport.\u201d<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Australia\u2019s head swimming coach Jacco Verhaeren knows first hand that this year\u2019s Tokyo Olympics will not be swum \u201con a level playing field\u201d and has sent an impassioned and unprecedented<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7938,"featured_media":423350,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"dois","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[3,122075,10],"tags":[51040,55212,70713,34522,34913,66807,35726,27550,16505,34442,66968,25316,11189,45316,122140,27891],"class_list":["post-423348","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-featured","category-oceania","category-world","tag-adam-kable","tag-alex-graham","tag-brendan-burkett","tag-brianna-throssell","tag-craig-jackson","tag-dean-boxall","tag-elijah-winnington","tag-emily-seebohm","tag-jacco-verhaeren","tag-kyle-chalmers","tag-leigh-russell","tag-mack-horton","tag-matt-wilson","tag-michael-bohl","tag-mick-palfrey","tag-peter-bishop"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\r\n"Olympics At The Moment...Would Not Be Fair," Declares Dolphins Coach Jacco Verhaeren - 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Australia Olympic and Swimming correspondent through the 1970s and 80s, who became the first Swimming Australia Media Manager in 1991 and spent the next three decades working with coaches Don Talbot, Leigh Nugent, Alan Thompson and Jacco Verhaeren on the Australian Dolphins Swim Teams. Has attended every Olympic Games since his debut in LA in 1984 and Tokyo 2020 will be Ian's 10th Olympics. Awarded an OAM in 2019 for his services to Australian sport and the media. 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Australia Olympic and Swimming correspondent through the 1970s and 80s, who became the first Swimming Australia Media Manager in 1991 and spent the next three decades working with coaches Don Talbot, Leigh Nugent, Alan Thompson and Jacco Verhaeren on the Australian Dolphins Swim Teams. Has attended every Olympic Games since his debut in LA in 1984 and Tokyo 2020 will be Ian's 10th Olympics. Awarded an OAM in 2019 for his services to Australian sport and the media. Father of 2004 Olympic swimming gold and silver medallist Brooke Hanson.","url":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/author\/ianhanson\/"}]}},"cc_featured_image_caption":{"caption_text":"FRONT AND CENTRE: Australian Dolphins Head Coach Jacco Verhaeren speaks up for \"unfair\" Olympics. Pictured here with Matthew Wilson and Bronte Campbell. 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