Since the discovery of the Covid-19 in China, the world of sport has been widely impacted with numerous events postponed, canceled, outsourced or even disputed behind closed doors. After Asia, France, which saw the coronavirus enter its territory on January 25, also sees its sports calendar disrupted.
France increasingly affected
France is not the European country most disturbed by the epidemic, leaving this unenviable place to Italy. To date, seven major events have been deprogrammed in France. First, the Paris marathon, scheduled for April 5, postponed from this Wednesday to October 18, which followed closely its little brother, the half-marathon, postponed this Sunday.
In football, only the Ligue 2 match between Chambly and Le Mans will be played Friday in Beauvais behind closed doors. In basketball, a Jeep Elite match (Asvel-Monaco) was postponed while the Eurocoupe Monaco-Kazan match was played without a spectator. If the French Championships by judo teams, planned this weekend in Brest, are postponed to the fall, those of cross at Montauban were outright canceled.
Italy expands in camera
The European country most affected by coronavirus, therefore, Italy had to review its copy in its sports programming. Almost all team sports see their calendar very largely turned upside down. In a country where it is a true religion, football sees its stadiums empty in Series A until April 3 but also during international matches including a likely Juventus - Lyon in the Champions League on March 17. It is also in these hushed conditions that the final of the Alpine Skiing World Cup should take place in Cortina d'Ampezzo from March 16 to 22.
On the other hand, for the other competitions, Italy preferred the outright postponement. As for the rugby match between Italy and England of the Six Nations Tournament on March 14. Basketball or volleyball European Cup matches, including a Modena - Ajaccio, have been postponed. Finally, in cycling, the Strade Bianche are canceled.
Europe is not spared
The list of postponed matches was inaugurated by Ireland - Italy as part of the Six Nations Rugby Tournament. The meeting should be played in the fall. From Germany to Spain via Switzerland in particular, Europe as a whole is also seriously affected.
With our Swiss neighbors, as soon as the first case appeared, the authorities canceled the competitions until March 23. In the Czech Republic, in biathlon, the Nove Mesto World Cup stage, from this Thursday until March 8, takes place without an audience. Last month, Austria and Serbia quickly replaced Chinese cities that could no longer host either a World Cup Alpine Skiing stage or an Olympic Qualification Tournament (TQO) in women's basketball.
In Asia, China most affected
Finally, in the rest of the world, it is mainly in Asia and obviously in China that breakage is most glaring. Chinese organizers no longer count postponements of flagship events. From the Formula 1 Grand Prix of China (April 19), to the various Olympic qualification tournaments in boxing, football, wrestling, just like the IAAF World Indoor Championships could not take place.
In the rest of the Asian continent, the MotoGP World Championship was cut by two Grand Prix, those of Qatar (canceled) and Thailand (postponed). In India and Taiwan, the 3X3 TQOs in basketball and baseball will be played later. Finally, South Korea has already postponed the World Table Tennis Championships from the end of March to the end of June.