21 Sep 2017

Quake topples Mexico City paralympic events

7:45 am on 21 September 2017

The world para swimming and powerlifting championships to be held in Mexico City later this month have been postponed following the devastating earthquake this week.

Rescuers pulling a woman alive from the rubble of a Mexico City building.

Photo: AFP

The magnitude 7.1 shock killed at least 226 people, nearly half of them in the capital and among them at least 22 school children.

The swimming and powerlifting events were due to start at the end of the month with 1,400 athletes, officials and staff involved and the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) said that this was the first time it had been forced to postpone a major championship.

"As a result of this tragedy, we are in full agreement that the immediate focus of the Mexican authorities should be on prioritising recovery and rebuilding for the Mexican people and not organising two major international sport events," IPC President Andrew Parsons said.

"I know the postponement of both championships will be disappointing news to all the athletes who were set to take part, however these are unique circumstances and quite simply this is the right thing to do at the moment."

Parsons said arrangements were being made for a safe departure of delegations that had already arrived in the capital.

-Reuters