The CrossFit Games return to Madison, Wisconsin, at the end of July for a full, in person competition however, the question remained as to whether international athletes would be able to participate given the current covid-19 related travel restrictions into the US.
CrossFit emailed athletes on Wednesday announcing the United States Department of Homeland Security has authorized a National Interest Exception (NIE) travel waiver for international qualified CrossFit Games athletes travelling to the US from restricted areas.
Currently, people physically present in the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Brazil or South Africa 14 days prior from arriving in the US are not admitted into the country.
The NIE travel waiver means athletes – and an additional support member – will be able to travel to the US directly without having to consider less-than-ideal alternatives.
European CrossFit Games qualifier and Semifinal winner Emma McQuaid took to Instagram to announce her relief: “Finally we can smile again and enjoy Games training, this last 2 weeks have been so stressful trying to find a way into USA to compete but thankfully @crossfitgames have helped get us entry 🙏🙌,” she wrote.
Fellow Games qualifier Jacqueline Dahlstrøm echoed her relief: “Today @crossfitgames finally confirmed that the DOHS has granted European athletes an exception to travel into the US, meaning we can finally put a concrete travel plan together😍
“We were literally only a few clicks away from booking flights to Aruba and stay there for 2 weeks to be able to enter the US. A 2 week training camp @musclesandlungs 🦩 in the Caribbean would’ve been pretty cool as well, but very happy we don’t have to do all that extra traveling so close to game day.
“Now, let’s get ready for Madison 😈👊🏻”
The 2021 CrossFit Games will take place in Madison, Wisconsin between July 27 and August 1.
Individual and team athletes qualified through the brand new Semifinals, while Age Group Athletes were established during the Age Group Online Qualifier.
Overall, 40 men, 40 women and 40 teams from all around the world will compete for the chance to be titled “Fittest on Earth.” There will also be 20 athletes in each Age Division and Adaptive Athletes will compete at the Games for the first time.
There’s a prize purse of US $2.5 million on the line for top performers.
The final round of Semifinals is now over. The last four Individual athletes to qualify for the CrossFit Games will be established in the Last Chance Qualifier this weekend.
Image Sources
- are-you-strong-enough: Courtesy of CrossFit Inc