by Alfonz JuckGlobal athletics and running events are being cancelled hourly. The coronavirus pandemic, based on fact, and sometimes fear, is the cause of this concern. Unfortunately, the coronavirus is still at a very early stage in the U.S. This is the update on event changes from EME News.
Coronavirus, photo by Journalist Resource
VIRUS IMPACT
BIRMINGHAM (GBR): British Athletics, which was due to hold its trial for the Olympics within the London Marathon, is planning to hold a closed replacement event around the same time. The federation says planning is in its early stages for an event on 25-27 April with limited numbers.
PARIS (FRA): The French Athletics Association has suspended competition at all levels and encouraged clubs to pause group training due to coronavirus. The announcement from FFA president André Giraud came as the French sports ministry recommended limiting supervised sports activities to 10 people.
MINSK (BLR): The World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships, planned for 2-3 May in Minsk are also postponed. The Belarus Government announced today that it was canceling all mass events until at least early April. New date will be considered.
MONACO (MON): Headquarters-based World Athletics staff will start working from home from next week. The world governing body also announced it was suspending all business travel.
CANBERRA (AUS): The Australian senior track and field championships have been postponed and junior championships cancelled. The date for the former has not yet been decided. The Australian government has issued guidelines that non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people should not go ahead.
WASHINGTON (USA): The Rock ‘n’ Roll Washington D.C. Marathon & Half-marathon, originally scheduled for March 28, have been postponed until autumn.
TORONTO (CAN): Athletics Canada has ordered all of its athletes training or competing abroad to return home in light of the coronavirus update. A statement on the federation’s website also banned any further travel away from the country by athletes and support staff until 12 April at the earliest, adding that any contravention of the guideline would lead to a withdrawal of funding. AC also cancelled the Canadian Indoor Championships (March 21-22) and two training camps.
WASHINGTON (USA): A petition for collegiate athletes to be allowed an extra year of eligibility following cancellation of the NCAA season had attracted more than 118,000 votes by midday (ET). Later it was reported that the NCAA will give all spring athletes another year of eligibility.
ATHENS (GRE): The Olympic Torch Relay in Greece has been suspended by the country’s Olympic Committee because of the coronavirus outbreak. It began in ancient Olympia yesterday. The handover to Tokyo 2020 organisers is still set to proceed on 19 March – without spectators.
BANSKA BYSTRICA (SVK): The 50 km walk Olympic winner Matej Toth will not be able to try for the Olympic standard at French Championships on March 22 and also at World Race Walking Team Championships in May in Minsk. He also said his priority is the health of his family and he does not want to travel in current circumstances. As he has not enough races for Ranking qualification and also no option to try for the standard as he was in 2019 injured he remains in limbo concerning his olympic participation.
JOENSUU (FIN): Organisers of the Joensuu Games World Athletics Continental Tour Bronze meet noted the meet planned for June 3 is not yet cancelled.
MADRID (ESP): Movistar Madrid Half Marathon has a new date, that is October 4. The initial one on March 29 will not be fulfilled in current situation.
NICOSIA (CYP): The Cyprus Athletics Federation announced today the postponement of the Winter Trophy Cup, scheduled for tomorrow in Nicosia. Also top Greek throwers were aiming to compete.
ZURICH (SUI): Swiss Government confirmed the ban for sporting events with more than 100 persons until April 30. That concerns also Zurich Marathon (incorporating Swiss Marathon Championships) on April 26.
ZAGREB (CRO): Balkan Championships in Half Marathon planned for March 31 in Zagreb was postponed for a later date.
KINGSTON (JAM): The 2020 Carifta Games has been Postponed. The event was scheduled for April 10-13 in Bermuda. In a release, North American, Central American and Caribbean Athletic Association (NACAC), “advised that following consultation with the Executive Board of NACAC and the leadership of the Bermuda National Athletics Association it has been mutually agreed to postpone the CARIFTA Games that were scheduled to take place in Hamilton, Bermuda April 10-13, 2020.” Informs Trackalerts.
EUGENE (USA): Prefontaine Classic Diamond League meet suspends ticket sales because of the coronavirus.
AUSTIN (USA): Also Texas Relays 2020 are cancelled.
WALNUT (USA): In the wake of the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) situation in the United States, the 2020 Mt. SAC Relays in its normal format, will be cancelled. The decision was made by the Mt. San Antonio College Board of Trustees, after much discussion and collaboration with public health authorities. A decision will be made shortly about the possibility of running an elite section of the Relays without spectators.
EUGENE (USA): TrackTown USA CEO Michael Reilly regarding the impact of novel coronavirus on preparations for hosting the 2020 U.S. Olympic Team Trials said: “We take the safety and security of those participating in and attending our events very seriously. The Public Safety Committee for our Local Organizing Committee is comprised of experts from relevant government agencies at the city, county, state, and federal levels. As part of their normal protocol, they are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19. Based on the information and policy guidance provided to us by these entities, as well as conversations with our partners at USA Track & Field and the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, the 2020 Olympic Trials is proceeding as planned. We will continue to monitor the situation with these organizations.”
