There will be no paying spectators at the Olympic Boxing Qualifier in London from Monday because of the growing threat of coronavirus.
The European qualifier, the third continental event giving boxers the chance to reach Tokyo 2020, began on Saturday and is due run until March 24.
But with fears for the pandemic growing, the Boxing Task Force, which is running boxing at this year’s Olympics after the IOC banned AIBA, have decided to press on with the tournament at the Copper Box behind closed doors.
A statement issues on Sunday night said it was done because of “concerns for public, athlete and volunteer welfare”.
More than 300 boxers from 43 nations are competing in the tournament. The vast majority were in London for more than a week before it started, with public health advice now changing on virtually a daily basis.
The boxers have been staying in the same hotels and training in the same gym. For their medical, boxers are also understood to be having their temperature checked as an additional check to see if any have symptoms.
But the Boxing Task Force remains hopeful of completing the tournament or at least getting to the stage were qualifications for Tokyo have been decided.
Organisers are loading up the sessions in an attempt to get through as many bouts as possible in case Government advice changes. There were 50 bouts scheduled on Sunday and 53 on Monday, with two rings running simultaneously with two sessions per day.
One of the problems organisers face is ensuring there are enough doctors and officials to run the event. Doctors, referees and judges have come from all over the world and President Trump’s decision to stop flights from the UK to the United States means some will have to leave early or risk not getting home.
The first qualifiers for Tokyo will be decided on Monday evening in the men’s flyweight and featherweight divisions, where boxers only have to reach the quarter-finals to be assured of a place.
Galal Yafai - the younger brother of former WBA super-flyweight champion, Kal – and Peter McGrail could secure their places for Great Britain, as could the Ireland pair Brendan Irvine and Kurt Walker.
All bouts will be exclusively live on olympicchannel.com, with sessions starting at noon and 6pm.