COVID-19 Coronavirus, photo courtesy of Journalist Resource
Well, all hell broke loose today. NCAA indoor champs cancelled as athletes warming up on track at Albuquerque convention center. Boston Globe noting the Boston marathon being postponed, yet, BAA has not noted a postponement. More news below…
VIRUS IMPACT
NAIROBI (KEN): Kenyan athletes have said the mass cancellation of road races through the world has been affected them from a financial standpoint, informs The Star Kenya. Lawrence Cherono said: “We have suffered as athletes because we have no other sources of income. Race organisers are cancelling races though in my case, they have not communicated. It is tough for me to train alone since majority of athletes have left our training camp.”
INDIANAPOLIS (USA): USATF has established a Working Group of medical, scientific, and industry experts to advise us on matters related to the coronavirus (COVID-19).
BOSTON (USA): Due to fears of the spread of the coronavirus, the Boston Marathon could be rescheduled for the autumn, informs the Boston Globe. “Local officials along the route of the Boston Marathon, including city leaders in Boston, are closing in on a plan to reschedule the world-famous race…the talks are targeting autumn in an attempt to salvage some of the economic benefits this year.”
ROTTERDAM (NED): The Rotterdam Marathon on 5 April is the latest high profile race to be postponed but the organisers are looking to reschedule later this year, informs NOS. “A huge setback for anyone looking forward to it, but the health and safety of runners, volunteers, spectators and other stakeholders is always paramount,” said the organisation. The Utrecht Marathon on 19 April has been cancelled.
MADRID (ESP): The Madrid Marathon which was scheduled to take place in April will now take place on 4 October, informs organisers.
NEW YORK (USA): The 2020 USATF National Indoor Youth Championships set to be held on Staten Island, New York from 20-22 March has been cancelled, informs organisers.
AMSTERDAM (NED): Dutch federation cancelled training camp of their top sprinters in Florida in April. That concerns also World champion Dafne Schippers among others. Also long distance runners were planning to go to Flagstaff, Arizona. It looks like national athletes will train in Papendal at the training center in Netherlands. Another Dutch star Sifan Hassan is currently at training camp in Ethiopia, it might be difficult for her to return to her current living place Portland in Oregon.
JOENSUU (FIN): The Finnish meet of Joensuu (WA Continental Tour Bronze) informed about the cancellation as Finland adopted a measure for events over 500 people until end of May as closed. Joensuu Games were planned to be held on June 3.
NEW YORK (USA): NCAA President Mark Emmert and the Board of Governors canceled winter and spring championships. That means also this weekends athletics NCAA Championships planned for Albuquerque. And it will affect also outdoor NCAA championships planned for June.
LAUSANNE (SUI): European Athletics will held its planned meetings via online platforms in the near future. For example also the Executive Board meeting planned for March 24-25.
NEW YORK (USA): Also New Balance Nationals Indoor has been officially called off.
DARMSTADT (GER): German federation stopped all training camps which did not start and were planned to be staged in foreign countries.
CAROLINA (PUR): Also cancelled is the 15th Spring Break Classic planned for Carolina in Puerto-Rico for this weekend.
DAKAR (SEN): Africa Cross Country championships postponed to March 2021. The Confederation of Africa Athletics (CAA) has cancelled the event which was already one time moved to April 5th in Lome, Togo.
BELGRADE (SRB): Belgrade Marathon planned for April 26 will be held in autumn. The 33rd edition of the race is now having a new date on 18th October 2020.
GOTEBORG (SWE): Goteborgsvarvet Half Maraton planned for May 16 will not be held and is postponed for a later date.
