COVID -19, commonly known as coronavirus has hugely impacted on various sporting activities since its emergence in the Wuhan region of China late last year. The sports calendar has been greatly affected either through abandonment or postponement of games.
Big sports events in 2020 have been affected as actions have had to be taken to prevent the spread of the virus.
- Football
The South American (CONMEBOL) World Cup qualifiers slated for March 23-31 have been postponed to a later date.
CONMEBOL also announced last week that The 2020 CONMEBOL Copa America has been postponed to June 2021 so that the South American players based in Europe have the time to finish their league campaigns. The new dates for the Copa America 2021 are June 11th to July 11th 2021.
UEFA announced on Tuesday that Euro 2020 will not kick off in June as planned earlier. It has been postponed to June 2021. The new dates are June 11th to July 11th 2021.
UEFA also confirmed that the Euro 2020 play-offs that were to be played later this month have now been scheduled for next year.
Under-21 Championships, Women’s Euro 2021 and the 2021 Nations League finals have also been delayed.
UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League fixtures scheduled for the week commencing March 16 were postponed as well as the quarter-final draws for both competitions. The dates for the finals have also been delayed. The new dates for the finals are as follows:
UEFA Europa League Finals- June 24th 2020
UEFA Champions League Finals- June 27th 2020
For more information, Read here
On March 23rd, UEFA officially postponed the Champions League final with no rescheduled date. The Europa League and the Women’s Champions League finals have also been suspended.
On April 1st, UEFA confirmed that all international games scheduled for June had been postponed, including playoff matches for Euro 2020, which had initially been postponed to 2021.
The European’s soccer governing body also confirmed that the Champions League final, the Europa League final were suspended until further notice.
The English Premier League was earlier suspended until 4th April 2020 and the EFL Cup until at least April 3rd. However, FA confirmed on Wednesday last week that English football has been suspended until at least April 30th due to the ongoing spread of coronavirus.
The FA also confirmed the postponement of the Women’s Super League and The FA Women’s Championship.
England’s International friendlies against Italy and Denmark that were scheduled later this month were called off. Wales International matches against United States and Austria were also postponed.
Other major European Leagues like the Spanish Laliga, The German Bundesliga, The French Ligue 1 and The Italian Serie A have also been put on hold until at least April.
On March 23rd, Laliga and RFEF agreed to postpone the 2019/2020 Laliga season indefinitely.
French Ligue 1 president Bernard Caiazzo recently stated that Ligue one will not resume before June 15th.
On March 24th, the DFL announced that the Bundesliga suspension had been extended to April 30th.
The Football Association of Ireland also announced that all football activities under its jurisdiction remain suspended March 29th.
The Major League Soccer (MLS) postponed all games for a month.
FIFA, the football’s governing body endorsed that all international matches initially slated for March and April be delayed until such a time when it’s safe and secure.
The Scottish professional Football League called off all games pending directives from the Scottish FA.
The Turkish Super League was suspended – the last European League to do so.
Read more information here.
- Athletics
The 40th edition of The London Marathon that was initially slated scheduled for April 26th has been postponed to 4th October 2020. The British Athletics will stage Olympics trial in April at a closed location.
For more information on the London Marathon read here.
The Manchester Marathon that was scheduled to take place on April 5th has been postponed to a new date that will be set in due course.
For more information on the Manchester Marathon click here
The Paris Marathon, which was scheduled for April 5th was postponed to October 18th 2020.
The Rome Marathon, Scheduled for March 29th and Boston Marathon that was to take place on April 20th have been cancelled.
The World indoor Championships that were scheduled for April 17th have been rescheduled for March 2021.
In cooperation with UK Athletics, Home Country Athletics announced on March 17th that all athletics activities within UK have been suspended.
- Rugby
South Africa Rugby has suspended all Rugby competitive games up to 25th April and cancelled all National Team training camps.
Celtic Rugby have suspended the Guinness PRO14 season indefinitely due to fear of spread of coronavirus.
Rugby in Northern Ireland is over for the 2019/2020 campaign as the IRFU concluded the current campaign.
All Rugby games from the Betfred Super League were suspended until at least 3rd April.
Challenge cup Quarter Finals and the Heinken Champions Cup have been postponed.
Melrose Sevens Tournament, which was scheduled to take place between 9th and 12th April in Melrose, Scotland has been postponed.
For more information on Rugby, click here
- Olympics and Paralympics
Japan Prime minister Shinzo Abe earlier said that the Tokyo Olympic Games will go ahead as planned in July despite the ongoing coronavirus concerns resulting in the postponement of sporting activities.
The International Committee on Olympics remains committed to stage the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games as scheduled. However, Japan Olympic minister Seiko Hashimoto suggested that the Olympics could be postponed to late 2020. Canada has already said that it will not send their Olympic and Paralympic athletes if the games will be held this summer.
On 24th March 2020, The International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo Organizing Committee announced that the games would be delayed until 2021, and held no later than the summer of 2021.
- Basketball
Uttah Jazz player Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID -19 and this led to the NBA campaign being suspended.
Brooklyn Nets placed their players and staff under isolation after four players were diagnosed with Coronavirus.
Basketball campaign 2019-2020 in England was cancelled by Basketball England on March 17th.
- Racing
Racing in Ireland is not open to the public until at least March 29th.
Racing in France is postponed until April 15th.
The British Horseracing Authority has confirmed that all racing activities in Britain remains suspended until April 30th.
The Grand National, which was scheduled to take place on April 4th In Liverpool has been cancelled.
- Tennis
Association of Tennis professionals (ATP) and Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) have confirmed that all tennis professional tournaments have been suspended until June 7th. Read More information here
- Cycling
Union Cycliste Internationale, the body governing Sports Cycling announced suspension of its calendar until April 3rd.
The Tour De Romandie that was scheduled to take place between April 28th and May 3rd in Switzerland has been cancelled.
Read More information here
The Giro d’Italia that was scheduled for May in Budapest, Hungary was postponed.
Cycling races in Italy have also been postponed. They include: Milan-San Remo, The Strade Bianchi, Tirreno-Adriatico and the Giro di Sicilia.
Cycling events – the Fleche Wallonne, the Paris Roubaix and Liege-Bastogne-Liege have also been postponed.
Tour de yokshire that was scheduled for April 30th April to May 3rd was postponed until further notice.
Read More information here
- Motorcycling
The Opening 4 races of the MotoGP campaign in Thailand, US and Argentina were called off and have been moved to a later date. The race in Qatar was cancelled.
- Boxing
The British Boxing Board of Control announced on Tuesday that all tournaments under its power are cancelled, and the position will be reviewed in April.
- Cricket
The Indian Premier League which was to start on March 29th will start on April 15. The start has been delayed as a precautionary measure.
England’s Test series against Sri Lanka was called off and the players returned home.
- Hockey
FIH Pro League games in Britain that were scheduled for May 2-3 and May 16-17 have been postponed.
Get more information here.
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