NORMAL – Not only has the coronavirus impacted schools, but it has also forced various professional sports organizations to take proper precautions.
Below is how COVID-19 changed the near future of professional sports:
MLB: Suspended Spring Training in addition to delaying Opening Day by 2 weeks.
NBA: Suspended the 2019-2020 season for at least 30 days. This comes after Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the coronavirus minutes before tip-off against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Earlier today, it was announced that Donovan Mitchell from the Jazz also tested positive for the coronavirus.
UPDATE: The Cleveland Cavaliers’ Kevin Love and Giannis Anteokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks have both donated $100,000 to their arena staff unable to work during the season suspension.
NCAA: Canceled the remaining winter and spring championships, including March Madness for Men’s and Women’s Basketball. NCAA considered a 16-team tournament in Atlanta before canceling the entire tournament. They have also suspended all forms of in-person recruiting until April 15th.
NFL: Canceled their annual owners meetings scheduled for later this month.
NHL: Suspended the last few weeks of their season until further notice.
Olympic Events: World Figure Skating Championships canceled, water sport qualification events postponed. The 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan are still scheduled to proceed as usual.
Soccer: All Champions League matches have been canceled, the MLS postponed matches for at least the next 30 days, and the U.S. Men’s and Women’s Soccer teams have also canceled their upcoming matches. La Liga also suspended play after players from Real Madrid were quarantined after a positive test of the coronavirus.
Tennis: The American Tennis Players (ATP) have suspended all events for the next 6 weeks.
XFL: Ended their 2020 season, expect to be back next season.
UPDATE:
London Marathon has been rescheduled for October 4th, originally scheduled for April 26th.
Boston Marathon is moved from April 2nd to September 14th.
The Masters is postponed.
Greek Olympic committee suspended Torch Relay after a crowd formed despite
All English football, including Champions League, is suspended until April 2nd.
USA Basketball postponed all events until further notice.
WZND will continue to provide updates as they arise.