Coronavirus affects major local and international sports competitions
- 14 Mar 2020
Owing to the ongoing global health implications of the coronavirus and precautionary measures being implemented by the UAE government, the Dubai Racing Club (DRC) have announced that the 2020 running of the Dubai World Cup meeting will be held without general spectators and paid hospitality.
The Dubai World Cup, which is the richest night in horse racing highlighted by the $12 million main event, is the latest sports event in the country to be affected by the COVID-19 virus.
Meanwhile, the collapse of sports events worldwide gathered pace on Friday with England's Premier League, Europe's Champions League and the Augusta Masters golf major among competitions swept aside by the coronavirus pandemic.
As sports calendars were shredded worldwide, Formula One motor racing was in turmoil with the first three Grands Prix of the season — Australia, Bahrain and Vietnam — scrapped while the blue chip Masters, the first major golf tournament of the year, was postponed.
The Dubai Racing Club released a statement late on Thursday saying that this year's Dubai World Cup, will be closed to spectators, with only horse connections, racing officials, accredited media and sponsors permitted entry.
“All supporting Dubai World Cup events, including the Post Position Draw (Wednesday, March 25), Breakfast with the Stars (Thursday, March 26) and Welcome Reception (Thursday, March 26), have been cancelled.
“Race day events, including entertainment, have also been cancelled.
“Only horse connections, racing officials, accredited media and sponsors will be permitted entry,” the club said.
England's cricket tour of Sri Lanka also fell victim to the virus while suspension of the Premier League until April 4 came shortly after the French Football League announced that all Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 games would be on hold until further notice.
European football took a major hit when officials suspended next week's programme of Champions League and Europa League ties.
And cycling's first Grand Tour of the season, the Giro d'Italia, scheduled for May 9-31, was also put on hold as officials feared the impact of COVID-19.
Football's Premier League, with a worldwide audience of billions, was suspended after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi were confirmed to have the disease.
"Following a meeting of shareholders today, it was unanimously decided to suspend the Premier League with the intention of returning on 4 April, subject to medical advice and conditions at the time," the Premier League said in a statement.
The decision by authorities in England and France to suspended top-flight football means that all Europe's top leagues have ground to a halt apart from Germany where matches have been ordered to be played behind closed doors. Spain's La Liga and Italy's Serie A have already suspended matches.
European football's governing body UEFA took a similar step in announcing that all Champions League and Europa League matches scheduled to be played next week had been postponed.
The move comes after two of next week's four scheduled Champions League last 16, second legs -- between Manchester City and Real Madrid, and between Juventus and Lyon -- had already been called off.
"In the light of developments due to the spread of COVID-19 in Europe and related decisions made by different governments, all UEFA club competitions matches scheduled next week are postponed," UEFA said in a statement.
Sports across the globe have suffered major disruption because of the virus with the PGA Tour golf season, the men's tennis tour, NBA basketball, Major League Baseball and a host of top-flight events interrupted.
Agencies
