When the first positive case of coronavirus infection was announced in late 2019 in Wuhan, China, no medical professional in the world predicted that this infectious disease would spread globally. Even in the world of sports, difficult decisions have been taken as the second wave of Covid-19 wreaked havoc in numerous nations including India. Due to the epidemic, a number of important athletic events have been canceled or postponed. Here are a few sporting events that got canceled or Postponed in the year 2020.
1. The Indian Premier League
IPL 2021 kicked off on April 9th with an empty gallery and no spectators. The choice to organize the competition drew criticism from some quarters because it came at a time when India was fighting the second wave of the Covid virus.
The ongoing season of the IPL, meanwhile, was delayed less than a month after its grand inauguration due to the coronavirus invading the bio-secure bubble. Two Kolkata Knight Riders players, two Chennai Super Kings coaches, and one player each from Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals tested positive for Covid-19 in the recent several days.
“The Indian Premier League Governing Council and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in an emergency meeting has unanimously decided to postpone the IPL 2021 season, with immediate effect. The BCCI does not want to compromise on the safety of the players, support staff, and the other participants involved in organizing the IPL. This decision was taken keeping the safety, health, and well-being of all the stakeholders in mind,” said the BCCI, after suspending the event.
2. Tokyo Olympics
The Summer Olympics and Paralympics of 2020 were set to commence on July 24, 2020, in Tokyo. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) was forced to postpone the event owing to the Covid-19 pandemic. When countries like Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom indicated that they would step back from the Olympics except it was postponed, the choice to delay the games for a year was made.
3. UEFA Euro 2020
The UEFA Euro 2020 championship was supposed to be held from June 12 to July 12, 2020. The pandemic, however, threw everything into disarray, and the event was postponed for a year later, from June 11 to July 11, 2021.
Because of Covid-19, the South American Football Federation’s well-laid preparations to host the Copa America 2020 from June 12 to July 12, 2020, were shattered, and the organizers were forced to postpone it to 2021.
4. Hero I-league 2020-21
When it comes to football in India, the Indian Super League (ISL) 2021 games were held in a stadium in Goa that was completely empty.
However, with 23 games remaining, organizers were forced to postpone the I-League. They had no choice but to proclaim Mohun Bagan the season’s champions because even if all 20 games were played, the second-placed team would not be able to catch up.
5. Wimbledon 2020
Wimbledon 2020, one of the tennis Grand Slams, has also been postponed due to the coronavirus scare. The championship, which is contested every year in England, was postponed for the first time since World War II. Due to the fact that the 2020 event did not go as planned, the organizers have opted to hold the tournament from June 28 to July 11, 2021.
