Singapore World Cup event faces threat of cancellation due to poor air quality

The Singapore World Cup has been threatened by poor air quality ©Getty Images

The International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Cup in Singapore faces the threat of cancellation should the air quality worsen ahead of the start of tomorrow’s event.

Due to take place at the OCBC Aquatic Centre, an outdoor venue, the fifth competition of the eight event World Cup season has been put into doubt by smog in the area, with the Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) recording a reading of over 100 in recent weeks, which determines the air quality as being “unhealthy”.

A three hour long PSI reading is set to be undertaken prior to the meeting and should it exceed 200, a mark deemed very unhealthy, then the meet would be cancelled.

Singapore’s National Environment Agency's health advisory recommend that prolonged or strenuous outdoor physical exertions should be avoided when the air quality is above 200, while if it is between 100 and 200 then physical activity should be reduced.

FINA have already decided to cancel the longer distance events, the women’s 800 metres and men’s 1,500m freestyle races, as they attempt to protect the health of the athletes who are set to compete in the Southeast Asian nation.

A decision over whether competition will take place is due to be made by 9am local time tomorrow for the heats and 5pm for finals.

Additionally the air quality will continue to be assessed throughout the duration of the two-day event, with competitors and their teams set to be advised on an hourly basis on whether competition might need to be postponed, cancelled or resumed, depending on the conditions.

FINA executive director Cornel Marculescu told Reuters: "We are deeply disappointed with the haze threat.

"However, the health and safety of our athletes, guests, officials, volunteers, spectators and staff are our top priority."

South Africa's Cameron Van Der Burgh will hope to continue his excellent form should the event go ahead — South Africa's Cameron van der Burgh will hope to continue his excellent form should the event go ahead ©Getty Images

After the opening four events South Africa’s Cameron van der Burgh has built a commanding led in the men’s World Cup standings, while Hungary’s Katinka Hosszu has proved the dominant woman and is more than 100 points clear of her nearest rival Emily Seebohm of Australia.

At the close of the Singapore event, prize money with be awarded to the top swimmers in the second cluster of the World Cup, which included a meeting in Beijing.

Both Van der Burgh and Hosszu will be hoping to maintain their lead in the overall standings until the end of the season when the top three swimmers in both the men’s and women’s standings will receive a percentage of the $180,000 (£119,000/€161,000) prize money on offer.