China: 29-year-old Italian athlete dies after orienteering at World Games
The 29-year-old athlete lost his life in circumstances that are still unclear during an orienteering race at the World Games in Chengdu, China.
By Le Parisien with AFPItalian athlete Mattia Debertolis died Tuesday after competing in an orienteering race at the World Games in the Chinese city of Chengdu, organizers announced.
Debertolis, 29, was found unconscious during an event on Friday. He was hospitalized and died on Tuesday, World Games organizers and the International Orienteering Federation (IOF) said in a joint statement.
"Despite immediate expert medical care at one of China's best medical facilities, he died," the statement said, without specifying the cause of death.
The event, held some 50 km from the center of Chengdu, was held in temperatures exceeding 30°C. Debertolis was competing in the men's middle-distance final. The winner, Swiss Riccardo Rancan, finished the race in 45 minutes 22 seconds. Mattia Debertolis was ranked 137th in the men's world orienteering rankings compiled by the federation. He had competed in several world championships.
The 12th edition of the World Games, a sporting event held every four years featuring disciplines not included in the Olympic Games, opened last Thursday and is scheduled to end on Sunday.
Le Parisien
