The coronavirus outbreak has decimated the sporting schedule and affected some of 2020’s biggest events.
A range of sports have had to take action to prevent the spread of the virus, with Euro 2020 put on hold for 12 months and domestic football in England and Scotland suspended until at least the end of April.
Formula One has seen the Monaco Grand Prix cancelled, golf has postponed two of its major championships and the Guinness Six Nations, London Marathon, Boat Race and World Snooker Championship have all been affected.
With the Olympics also on the horizon this summer, the PA news agency takes a sport-by-sport look at the impact of the coronavirus.
Football
– UEFA postponed Euro 2020 until the summer of 2021, with new dates of June 11 to July 11 next year proposed. The official announcement from European football’s governing body also confirmed that the Euro 2020 play-offs, due to be played later this month, will now take place in the June 2020 international break.
– The 2021 Nations League finals, UEFA Under-21 European Championship and the Women’s Euro 2021 were also postponed.
– The 2020 Copa America is to move to 2021 to give South American players based in Europe the opportunity to finish their league campaigns.
– The Premier League, EFL and Football Association announced that professional football in England would not resume until April 30 at the earliest, but the season would be extended indefinitely.
– All Scottish football was suspended with immediate effect, with the Scottish Football Association confirming it will not resume until April 30 at the earliest.
– The Football Association of Wales suspended all domestic football until April 30 and indefinitely extended the season for all national leagues, national cup competitions and the FAW Futsal League.
– The Irish Football Association suspended the current season in Northern Ireland until at least April 4. The Football Association of Ireland announced all football activity under its jurisdiction was suspended until March 29.
– England’s two friendlies later this month at Wembley against Italy and Denmark were cancelled, and were followed by the friendlies with Austria and Romania in June. Wales’ international matches with Austria and the United States at the end of March were also called off.
– The Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship were also postponed by the FA.
– Public events around the NFL Draft were cancelled, with the league saying it is working on a new format for the event which takes place in April.
Rowing
– The Boat Race, scheduled to take place on March 29, was cancelled.
– GB Rowing closed down the National Training Centre at Caversham and transitioned their athletes to home-based training programmes.
Baseball
– Major League Baseball announced the start of the 2020 season would be delayed for eight weeks.