Coronavirus Update: Wimbledon Cancelled, UEFA Events Postponed Indefinitely, WTA and ATP Off Until July By SVG Staff Wednesday, April 1, 2020 - 2:00 pm
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In light of the coronavirus pandemic, pro sports leagues continue to postpone or cancel seasons and events. SVG is posting a regularly updated list of announcements from pro leagues regarding postponed, canceled, or altered events. Below are further announcements this week. Click Here for previous coronavirus update installments and stay tuned to sportsvideo.org for more information on how the spread of the coronavirus is impacting the sports-production industry.
AELTC Cancels Wimbledon
The All England Club (AELTC) announced Wednesday will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus pandemic. This marks the first time that Wimbledon, was scheduled to be played on the outskirts of London from June 29 to July 12, since World War II. The 134th Championships will instead be staged June 28 to July 11, 2021.
Ian Hewitt, AELTC Chairman, commented: This is a decision that we have not taken lightly, and we have done so with the highest regard for public health and the wellbeing of all those who come together to make Wimbledon happen. It has weighed heavily on our minds that the staging of The Championships has only been interrupted previously by World Wars but, following thorough and extensive consideration of all scenarios, we believe that it is a measure of this global crisis that it is ultimately the right decision to cancel this year's Championships, and instead concentrate on how we can use the breadth of Wimbledon's resources to help those in our local communities and beyond. Our thoughts are with all those who have been and continue to be affected by these unprecedented times.
The announcement said that since the UK Government's measures will likely continue for many months, the people, supplies, and services legally required to stage The Championships would not be available at any point this summer, thus ruling out postponement to a later date in the summer of 2020.. The AELTC Committee of Management's opted to cancel the event now in order to provide certainty, rather than in several weeks.
Members of the public who paid for tickets in the Wimbledon Public Ballot for this year's Championships will have their tickets refunded and will be offered the chance to purchase tickets for the same day and court for The Championships 2021. AELTC will be communicating directly with all ticket-holders.
In addition, the AELTC is developing plans to support staff, players, and the tennis community impacted by the cancellation, working in partnership with the LTA and the other leadership bodies in global tennis. The Wimbledon Foundation, is offering funding support to our local communities through our partnership with the London Community Foundation, and more broadly for the London and UK population through its partnership with the British Red Cross, the Foundation's emergency response charity.
Richard Lewis CBE, AELTC Chief Executive, commented: While in some ways this has been a challenging decision, we strongly believe it is not only in the best interests of society at this time, but also provides certainty to our colleagues in international tennis given the impact on the grass court events in the UK and in Europe and the broader tennis calendar. We have appreciated the support of the LTA, and the ATP, WTA and ITF in coming to this decision, and our friends and partners who stage these grass court events that are so important in the build up to Wimbledon. I would like to thank the UK Government and public health authorities for their guidance and support, and we will do whatever we can to assist their efforts in tackling the crisis.
Following today's video conference meeting with the general secretaries of all 55 UEFA member associations and recommendations made by the working groups created on 17 March, the UEFA Executive Committee took a series of decisions.
UEFA Suspends Champions League, Europa League, and Euro 2020 Qualifying
UEFA indefinitely postponed the Champions League, Europa League and Euro 2020 qualifying playoffs on Wednesday. After a meeting two weeks ago, UEFA and its 55 member associations had still hoped to complete all games by June 30, when player contracts expire.
All national team matches for men and women due to be played in June 2020 are postponed until further notice. This includes the play-off matches for UEFA EURO 2020 and qualifying matches for UEFA Women's EURO 2021. All other UEFA competition matches, including the centralised international friendly matches, remain postponed until further notice.
The UEFA Futsal Champions League finals scheduled for April 2020 are also postponed until further notice. The deadlines related to all 2020/21 UEFA club competitions are postponed until further notice, in particular as regards the admission process and the registration of players. UEFA will set new deadlines in due course.
In term Youth national team competitions: the UEFA European Under-17 Championship final tournament scheduled for May 2020 is cancelled; the UEFA European Women's Under-19 Championship final tournament scheduled for July 2020 is cancelled; the UEFA European Women's Under-17 Championship final tournament scheduled for May 2020 is postponed until further notice (as it is a qualifying competition for the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup); and the UEFA European Under-19 Championship final tournament scheduled for July 2020 is postponed until further notice (as it is a qualifying competition for the FIFA U-20 World Cup).
WTA, ATP Suspend Tours Until Mid-July
In conjunction with the cancellation of The Championships, Wimbledon, the ATP and WTA have jointly announced the continued suspe
