BERLIN – Sports authorities are continuing to react to the
outbreak of the coronavirus by calling off events or holding
competition without spectators.
The Indian Wells men's and women's tennis tournament in California -
one of the top tennis attractions outside of the Grand Slams - was
the latest major event to be cancelled due to concerns about the
virus.
However, Sunday's season-opening Australian Formula One Grand Prix is
set to go ahead as planned in Melbourne with fans in attendance, race
officials said.
Football was further hit, with a decision to play the Champions
League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund on
Wednesday behind closed doors.
It is the second Champions League last-16 second-leg match this week
to be played in an empty stadium after Valencia v Atalanta on
Tuesday.
Police in Paris said the decision was taken in line with government
decisions announced on Sunday night as the number of confirmed
coronavirus infections in France passed 1,100.
RB Leipzig's Champions League game at home to Tottenham Hotspur is
meanwhile going ahead with fans, it was decided Monday after a
meeting between club officials and local health authorities.
Germany's health minister, Jens Spahn, had Sunday recommended
cancelling events with more than 1,000 participants in an effort to
reduce the number of coronavirus infections.
The German Football League (DFL) said it was now preparing to hold
matches in the Bundesliga this weekend behind closed doors but the
final decision will be with the relevant authorities.
"We would prefer to have the next matchday with spectators but that
is unfortunately not realistic," DFL chief executive Christian
Seifert told a live talk organized by Bild daily.
Seifert ruled out matches being called off. "We have decided the
matchday takes places ... With how many spectators and if without any
is a decision the authorities will have to take," he said.
In a statement Sunday, Seifert had said there was "no question" that
the Bundesliga season would be played to its scheduled end in May.
The coronavirus has continued to disrupt the fixture programme in
Asia, with world governing body FIFA and the Asian Football
Confederation (AFC) postponing upcoming World Cup qualifiers in March
and June.
Some games may still go ahead provided the safety of all individuals
involved meets the required standards and with the mutual agreement
of the member associations, FIFA said.
Indian Wells organizers cited "concerns surrounding the coronavirus
and the safety of the participants and attendees at the event," for
the tournament cancellation.
The first round of the tournament, the first ATP Masters 1000 and WTA
Premier Mandatory event of the year, was set to begin on Wednesday.
Three-time Indian Wells winner Rafael Nadal said on Twitter: "You
probably all heard the news. Indian Wells cancelled. We are here and
still deciding what's next. So sad for all that is happening around
the world with this situation. Hopefully soon solutions from the
authorities. Stay all well and safe."
As teams and equipment began arriving this week for the Australian
Grand Prix in Melbourne, motorsport federation FIA said it was
"closely monitoring the evolving situation" with member clubs,
governments and the World Health Organization.
"The FIA will evaluate the calendar of its forthcoming races and, if
necessary, take any action required to help protect the global motor
sport community and the wider public," a statement said.
Spectators will not be allowed to attend the Bahrain Grand Prix a
week after the Australian race. The Chinese Grand Prix, which was
scheduled for April 19 in Shanghai, had already been postponed.
In rugby, the Six Nations match between France and Ireland on March
14 was the latest fixture in the competition to be postponed.
Italy's March 14 match at home to England, and Ireland v Italy, which
would have been played Saturday in Dublin, were already postponed.
Elsewhere, Japan's professional baseball league will delay the start
of the season. Both the Central and Pacific leagues were to open on
March 20, while pre-season games are being played in empty stadiums.
"I personally believe that we have no choice to postpone at this
point," Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) commissioner Atsushi Saito
told a news conference. "We are aiming to open the season in April."
It is the first time NPB's regular season has been delayed since
Japan's north-east was hit by an earthquake and tsunami in March
2011, which caused a triple meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear
Power Station.
Football's J-League has also decided to extend the suspension of all
games. The league had already postponed until mid-March. The league
is aiming to resume play on April 3.
On Sunday, the Spring Grand Sumo Tournament opened at an empty arena
in the western city of Osaka. The 15-day tournament is taking place
behind closed doors after the Japan Sumo Association made the
unprecedented move to keep out spectators due to the outbreak.