Some Sports Are More Equal Than Others

[Cloverjo]

Lots of football, rugby and other matches are having to be cancelled, postponed or played behind closed doors with no fans present because of the virus.

The Cheltenham festival is going ahead with people coming from all over. What’s the sense in that? Keep all the wealthy horse owners and bookies happy? Or does the government need the gambling taxes to water the magic money tree that’s just sprung up?

[ichkeria]

The government hasn’t cancelled any sporting events yet.

[fbg40]

Excellent point Clover - thought provoking.
FBG40

[Ken4155]

Where are all these postponed/empty stadium football matches you're on about?

[fiction-factory]

>Lots of football, rugby and other matches are having to be cancelled, postponed or played behind closed doors with no fans present because of the virus.

Not in the UK though (okay, one tonight) but it's not lots.

I don't think at this stage the government decides which events can go ahead

[Cloverjo]

Just what I’ve read in the sports pages of newspapers.

[fiction-factory]

It's an issue in Italy and some events such as the Grand Prix (Bahrein or somewhere similar). May affect us events here soon though so we'll see

[ichkeria]

There was no real reason to cancel the Cheltenham festival. It’s assessed that the chances at this stage of a virus being passed on are minimal. No greater than at smaller events. Anything which has been cancelled has been done because there are known contacts involved, and it isn’t the government that’s done it

[Ken4155]

Tonight's Man City v Arsenal game is off because some of the Arsenal players have been in the company of the Nottingham Forest owner who has been tested positive for the virus. And that, as at the time of typing, is the only match to have been postponed on these shores. I know of no rugby games that have been called off due to the virus. Had football, rugby and other sports been cancelled due to the virus, you would have had a point. As it is, you do not.

[ChillDoubt]

I’m yet to fathom why anyone would want to attend a large-gathering event in the current climate, where portaloos etc abound but each to their own.

[ichkeria]

Some footballers in NI have it and that’s caused the cancellation of several games including one Premiership game so far.

[ichkeria]

I wouldn’t want to be there if portaloos didn’t abound :-)

[bednobs]

i think the gvt want to stay out of this sort of thing at the moment, as there will probably come a time when they do have to intervene, and they dont want people to get fatigued by restrictions yet

[Maydup]

The risk of infection at an outdoor event is probably no more likely than going to work, riding on a bus or standing in a queue in the bank.

[retrocop]

All this may change very soon. The WHO have now decreed this virus has become categorised as a Pandemic. I would imagine HMG will be taking more stringent precautions.

[CrapAtCryptics]

I`m a bit surprised the Melbourne Grand Prix is going ahead. 3 team members from Haas and Mclaren have tested positive and self isolated.

[emmie]

some of the Rugby Six Nations have been postponed
the ones involving Italy especially...