(ATR) SportAccord is searching for a new place to host the 2020 edition of its World Sport & Business Summit.
The event, scheduled for Beijing from April 19-24, is the latest to be cancelled or postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
"Considering the epidemic in China and around the world and taking into account the various factors of such force majeure situation and through consultation with the SportAccord 2020 Local Organizing Committee, we have reached a difficult decision that SportAccord 2020 will not take place in Beijing," Raffaele Chiulli, President SportAccord, said in a statement.
"We do believe that the Chinese Government and people in China have the capabilities to have the final win of the war against the virus," Chiulli added.
SportAccord says it still wants the summit to take place from April 19-24 and is "exploring contingency options" to make that happen.
SportAccord adds that those who had registered for the event in Beijing will be contacted shortly with updates and further information.
The decision by SportAccord comes one day after Formula 1 postponed the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai. The F1 race was to be held on April 19, the same day SportAccord 2020 was scheduled to begin in Beijing.
World Rugby Moves Sevens Tournaments
The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series events scheduled for Singapore and Hong Kong during the first two weekends of April have been postponed to October.
"The health and safety of our players, fans and everyone working on the event is always our highest priority," World Rugby said on Thursday, citing the coronavirus threat.
"This prudent decision has been taken in order to help protect the global rugby community and the wider public and was taken based on the World Health Organization and relevant public authority travel and health guidelines. The decision is fully supported by stakeholders, including unions and commercial partners."
The two events will now conclude the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2020 with Singapore on Oct. 10-11 and Hong Kong completing the series the next weekend.
Tickets already purchased via official channels will be honored for the rescheduled events and a full refund will be provided for those fans unable to attend in October.
The Hong Kong and Singapore tournaments will return to their usual April slots for 2021.
Tokyo 2020 and Coronavirus
Tokyo 2020 organizers remain adamant that the Summer Games will not be disrupted by the coronavirus threat.
The latest IOC project review for Tokyo 2020 began on Thursday, the same day the first death from the disease in Japan was reported.
According to the Associated Press, Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori told dozens of top IOC officials "I would like to make it clear again that we are not considering a cancellation or postponement of the games. Let me make that clear."
Mori’s comments follow closely those made by Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto a week ago.
But Muto’s stance was a reversal from his initial comments made on Feb. 5 during a project review with the International Paralympic Committee, where he was quoted by AP as saying he was "seriously worried" about the spread of the disease and what it could do to the momentum of the Games.
While the start of the Games is still more than five months away, the torch relay in Japan begins on March 26 in Fukushima. That’s less than six weeks away.
Written by Gerard Farek
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