'Everyone is safe': B.C. junior athletes stranded in South Africa due to COVID-19 variant
Young athletes that are representing Canada for the field hockey Junior World Cup in South Africa are stranded after the federal government suddenly stopped all travel to several southern African countries last week.
Team Canada's under-21 field hockey team was scheduled to face off against Uruguay, England and Belgium in the first two weeks of December at the Junior World Cup.
However, the tournament was cancelled after the appearance of a new COVID-19 variant of concern, called the Omicron variant, began circulating in countries around the world.
On Friday, Canada announced that it was banning foreign nationals from entering the country if they were travelling from several southern African countries, including South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini.
Direct flights from these countries to Canada were also stopped, the federal government announced Friday.
Now, members of the field hockey team are stuck in South Africa without a clear plan to get home.
"Everyone is safe and well – the team will remain in [sic] situ while the flight home is arranged," said Kevin Underhill, spokesperson for Field Hockey Canada, in a statement Monday.
Underhill says the federal government is working on bringing the athletes home.
"(Sports Canada and Global Affairs) understand this is a junior national team which is only in South Africa to represent Canada at the world level," said Underhill. "Field Hockey Canada feels fortunate to have the highest levels of government working on this on our behalf."
The field hockey team is made up of 20 athletes, including two reserve players. Fourteen of the players are from B.C., including five players from Vancouver Island.
Four of the island players are from Victoria – Stefani Sajko, Libby Hogg, Nora Struchtrup and Tayler Guy – and one player is from Duncan, Jenna Goodman.
With files from Hannah Jackson, CTV News
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
World's record-breaking hot temperature streak stretches through April
The world just experienced its hottest April on record, extending an 11-month streak in which every month set a temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said on Wednesday.
Most of Canada to receive emergency alert test today
The federal government will test its capacity to issue emergency alerts today, with the exception of Ontario, where the test will take place on May 15.