Busy time with Coronavirus
It's been a busy 2 months in the sports world with the Coronavirus pandemic affecting sporting events all over the world. It's now a developing story as various activities have been cancelled throughout Europe and even into America with the NBA suspending the league until further notice on the 11th March. Even Team McLaren pulled out of this weekends Australian Grand Prix because of 1 of its members being tested positive for the virus, which was then later postponed. Even Real Madrid are in quarantine at the time of this blog because of the disease affecting the basketball team, which affected the Real Madrid football team. Even the MLS in America has suspended the season.
The first events to be cancelled were back in January as the Olympic boxing qualifiers which were supposed to have taken place in Wuhan were cancelled. Even another Olympic qualifying event initially hosted in Wuhan was forced to move first to Nanjing then moved to Sydney, Australia. Throughout January and beginning of February, all of the cancellations came from China as it was the epicentre and focal point with the biggest headline coming on the 12th February as the organisers of the Chinese Grand Prix with the governing bodies looking for alternative dates.
Then over a week later came the first of the European sporting cancellations. On the 23rd February as Itay was getting its first cases of the disease the women's Six Nations game between Scotland and Italy was postponed, and several of the Serie A games in the northern regions of the country were cancelled. The following day Osprey's and Ulsters matches against Zebre and Benneton was called off. There were also concerns between Italy's Six Nations against Ireland and England games. Both of which was eventually postponed and then looking to be moved to a later date. Then on the 4th March Serie A confirmed that until the 4th April all of the matches would be played however behind closed doors.
Then when the concerns in England were becoming apparent, the Premier League and EFL decided to scrap the pre-match handshakes. Then Scotland's women's Rugby game against France was cancelled, and the team was quarantined as one of the Scotland team was tested positive for the virus. Even the broadcasters were brought to a government meeting to discuss how to handle staging events behind closed doors and a potential ban on mass gatherings. Formula 1 then had to announce that the Bahrain Grand Prix was being held behind closed doors as the organisers cancelled all of the tickets. There were even announcements of Europa League and Champions League matches being played behind closed doors.
Then over in America the ATP and WTA's most significant event, Indian Wells was cancelled two days before the tournament began. Then on Tuesday Nottingham Forest announced that their owner Evangelos Marinakis had contracted the virus, and Arsenal and Manchester City's Premier League match on Wednesday night was postponed as a precaution. Even some Arsenal players were self-isolating themselves. Over in the States, the Americans to this point had considered themselves lucky until last night when 2 games were postponed. The major headline was that a current 2-time defender of the year Rudy Gobert was tested positive for the coronavirus. Then out came footage of him messing around with journalists equipment after a game on Monday night which came out as shocking. After hearing the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver announced that they were suspending the season until further notice.
Will there be more cancellations or postponements of events coming around in the next few days. I hate to say it, but the answer is yes. How long will this go on for? That is a question I don't have an answer for. But I will keep updating you on the latest news as it is confirmed.
KRO Mark
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| This weekend's Australian Grand Prix was called off. |
The first events to be cancelled were back in January as the Olympic boxing qualifiers which were supposed to have taken place in Wuhan were cancelled. Even another Olympic qualifying event initially hosted in Wuhan was forced to move first to Nanjing then moved to Sydney, Australia. Throughout January and beginning of February, all of the cancellations came from China as it was the epicentre and focal point with the biggest headline coming on the 12th February as the organisers of the Chinese Grand Prix with the governing bodies looking for alternative dates.
Then over a week later came the first of the European sporting cancellations. On the 23rd February as Itay was getting its first cases of the disease the women's Six Nations game between Scotland and Italy was postponed, and several of the Serie A games in the northern regions of the country were cancelled. The following day Osprey's and Ulsters matches against Zebre and Benneton was called off. There were also concerns between Italy's Six Nations against Ireland and England games. Both of which was eventually postponed and then looking to be moved to a later date. Then on the 4th March Serie A confirmed that until the 4th April all of the matches would be played however behind closed doors.
Then when the concerns in England were becoming apparent, the Premier League and EFL decided to scrap the pre-match handshakes. Then Scotland's women's Rugby game against France was cancelled, and the team was quarantined as one of the Scotland team was tested positive for the virus. Even the broadcasters were brought to a government meeting to discuss how to handle staging events behind closed doors and a potential ban on mass gatherings. Formula 1 then had to announce that the Bahrain Grand Prix was being held behind closed doors as the organisers cancelled all of the tickets. There were even announcements of Europa League and Champions League matches being played behind closed doors.
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| Wednesday nights NBA game between Utah and Oklahoma cancelled |
Then over in America the ATP and WTA's most significant event, Indian Wells was cancelled two days before the tournament began. Then on Tuesday Nottingham Forest announced that their owner Evangelos Marinakis had contracted the virus, and Arsenal and Manchester City's Premier League match on Wednesday night was postponed as a precaution. Even some Arsenal players were self-isolating themselves. Over in the States, the Americans to this point had considered themselves lucky until last night when 2 games were postponed. The major headline was that a current 2-time defender of the year Rudy Gobert was tested positive for the coronavirus. Then out came footage of him messing around with journalists equipment after a game on Monday night which came out as shocking. After hearing the NBA commissioner, Adam Silver announced that they were suspending the season until further notice.
Will there be more cancellations or postponements of events coming around in the next few days. I hate to say it, but the answer is yes. How long will this go on for? That is a question I don't have an answer for. But I will keep updating you on the latest news as it is confirmed.
KRO Mark
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