SPORT WEDNESDAY 18 MARCH 2020 Euro 2020 Championship postponed REUTERS – NYON The Euro 2020 soccer Championship, Copa America trumpeted as a continent-wide feast of football from Dublin to Baku to joins list of mark UEFA’s 60th anniversary, was postponed for a year yesterday as the coronavirus pandemic claimed its affected events biggest sporting casualty yet. The fate of the 24-nation, month- REUTERS – LUQUE, PARAGUAY long showpiece due to start in June had hung in the balance ever since This year’s Copa America has been postponed Europe’s domestic leagues began until 2021 due to fears over the spread of the shutting down in the wake of the coronavirus, the South American Football sweeping health crisis, which has Confederation (CONMEBOL) said yesterday. killed around 7,000 people The 12-team tournament, which had orig- worldwide. inally been scheduled to take place from June UEFA eventually relayed the news A model of the UEFA European football 12 to July 12 in Colombia and Argentina, after an emergency video conference championship trophy surrounded with the follows the Euro 2020 championship in being with all 55 of its affiliated national fed- names of host cities is on display during pushed back by a year with global sport being erations and representatives from an event to launch the Budapest’s logo for brought to a virtual standstill by the corona- clubs and leagues. the 2020 UEFA European Championship virus outbreak. “We are at the helm of a sport that tournament in this file photo. “This is an extraordinary measure for an vast numbers of people live and unexpected situation and responds to the fun- breathe that has been laid low by this damental need to avoid the exponential evo- invisible and fast-moving opponent,” decide the full line-up of nations for The fate of the 24-nation, The women’s European Cham- lution of the virus,” said CONMEBOL Pres- UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin the tournament. They will now be month-long showpiece pionship is due to be held in ident Alejandro Dominguez. said in a statement confirming what played in the international window England in the summer, and FIFA’s Dominguez said the rescheduled tour- the Norwegian and Swedish FAs had at the start of June, subject to a review due to start in June had revamped Club World Cup in China, nament would be played between June 11 and already leaked earlier in the day. of the situation. hung in the balance ever featuring eight European club sides, July 11, 2021. “It is at times like these, that the The new coronavirus has infected since Europe’s domestic is pencilled in from June 17-July 4. “It wasn’t easy to take this decision but we football community needs to show almost 180,000 people worldwide leagues began shutting The European Championship must safeguard at all times the health of our responsibility, unity, solidarity and since emerging in China, and most of down in the wake of the was first held in 1960 with four players and all those who form part of the big altruism.” Even as the video con- Europe now finds itself in virtual sweeping health crisis. nations reaching the finals in South American football family. Have no ference was ongoing, Norway’s FA lockdown as governments desperately France and the former Soviet Union doubts that the oldest international tour- broke ranks to confirm via Twitter try to stop the spread of the disease. beating then Yugoslavia 2-1 to the nament in the world will be back stronger than that the tournament had been post- The sporting calendar has been Europe’s flagship trophy. ever in 2021.” The Copa America is one of the poned for the first time in its history. shredded, with a host of blue-riband tournament, staged every It evolved into an eight-nation biggest draws on the football calendar, with Swedish FA Chairman Karl-Erik events cancelled and competitions four years and second tournament in 1980 and in 1996, players such as Lionel Messi, Neymar, Sergio Nilsson also sent a message to Reuters suspended, and the fate of the Tokyo only to FIFA’s World Cup when it was held in England, it grew Aguero, Luis Suarez, and James Rodriguez all during the video conference. “Post- Olympics this year now hangs in the in terms of prestige in to 16 teams. expected to take part. poned until 11/6- 11/7 2021,” he said. balance. soccer, will now be staged The most recent edition in 2016, The Euro 2020 finals, which was due to It was a widely expected move, All five of Europe’s top domestic again in France, included 24 nations take place over the same dates across 12 coun- with pressure ramping up from soccer leagues -- England, Spain, Italy, from June 11 to July 12, for the first time. The final, in which tries in Europe, was also postponed for a year. Europe’s big domestic soccer leagues. France and Germany -- are sus- 2021. Portugal beat the hosts, was This year’s Copa was due to be held in two Earlier, Reuters learned that UEFA pended, along with the Champions watched by a television audience countries for the first time in its 104-year had cancelled its hotel bookings in League, Europa League and World of 284 million. history, with a northern group set for Colombia Copenhagen, one of the 12 host cities Cup qualifiers. Leagues had urged UEFA to give The 2020 edition was supposed and a southern group due to be played in staging the tournament. This year’s 12-nation Copa priority to completing domestic com- to be the first staged across the con- Argentina. The CPH Hotel said UEFA had America was also postponed until petitions, as clubs throughout Europe tinent, rather than by a single or In addition to the 10 South American booked 80 of its 102 rooms but can- 2021 yesterday, the South American feared they would lose significant joint host nations. The new format nations, Australia and Qatar were also invited. celled them a little over a week ago. Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) ticket and associated match-day was the brainchild of former UEFA The northern group comprised Colombia, Europe’s flagship tournament, said. revenue by not completing the season president Michel Platini. Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru and Qatar. staged every four years and second With the Euros and Copa now while still having to pay player The host cities were Glasgow, The southern group featured Argentina, only to FIFA’s World Cup in terms of postponed for a year, it could provide salaries. Dublin, Bilbao, Amsterdam, Copen- Bolivia, Uruguay, Paraguay, Chile and prestige in soccer, will now be staged some flexibility for domestic compe- \While the domestic leagues will hagen, Munich, Rome, St Australia. from June 11 to July 12, 2021. titions, all left in various states of welcome the news, next year’s inter- Petersburg, Bucharest, Budapest The tournament was scheduled to kick off Sixteen play-off matches were due limbo by the stoppage, to be con- national soccer calendar already looks and Baku, with the climax set for in Buenos Aires on June 12, with the final in to be held on March 26 and 31 to cluded once the pandemic eases. crammed. London’s Wembley Stadium. Barranquilla, Colombia on July 12. Athletes run next to trophies during Horse racing: ‘No need for any the Zurich Diamond League event in this August 29, 2019 file photo. Kentucky drastic decisions’ Derby moved on Tokyo 2020: IOC to September 5 AFP – LAUSANNE summer’s Euro 2020 and REUTERS - CHURCHILL DOWNS Copa America were to be The International postponed by one year to The Kentucky Derby, the first Olympic Committee said 2021. jewel in North American horse yesterday it was not the “The situation around racing's Triple Crown, has been time for “drastic deci- the COVID-19 virus is also postponed to September 5 from sions” over the staging of impacting the prepara- May due to the coronavirus the Tokyo Olympics, tions for the Olympic outbreak, Churchill Downs said which has not yet been Games Tokyo 2020, and on yesterday. postponed because of the is changing day by day.” It marks only the second time deadly coronavirus The IOC encouraged all Coronavirus hits Diamond League in the race's 146-year history that pandemic. athletes to continue to the 'Run for the Roses' has been “The IOC remains prepare for the Tokyo postponed and not contested on its REUTERS – LONDON First three athletics fully committed to the Games “as best they can”. the Shanghai event on August traditional first Saturday in May Olympic Games Tokyo “The IOC has confi- meetings of the 2020 13. New dates for Doha and the slot at Churchill Downs. 2020, and with more than dence that the many The Diamond League has post- season due to be held in second meeting in China remain The race was delayed a four months to go before measures being taken by poned its first three athletics April and May in Qatar to be announced,” the Diamond month in 1945 because of World the Games there is no many authorities around meetings of the 2020 season and China postponed League said. War II. need for any drastic deci- the world will help due to be held in April and May due to the coronavirus It said although the number "Throughout the rapid devel- sions at this stage; and contain the situation of in Qatar and China because of outbreak. of new infections was opment of the COVID-19 pandemic, any speculation at this the COVID-19 virus.” One the coronavirus outbreak, it said decreasing in China, prepara- our first priority has been how to moment would be of the results of the virus yesterday.