LIST: Events around the world affected by novel coronavirus outbreak

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – The past few months saw the cancellation or postponement of several events around the world due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

The 2019 novel coronavirus, which originated from Wuhan, China, has killed over 2,800 people and sickened over 82,000 people worldwide as of Thursday, February 27. Outside China, other virus hotspots include Iran, South Korea, and Italy.

The World Health Organization said the daily number of infections worldwide is higher than in China.

Here are some events around the world affected by the current outbreak, from sporting events, concerts, to governments’ parliament sessions.

Parliament sessions

China decided on February 24 to postpone its annual parliament session for the first time since the Cultural Revolution. 

South Korea’s parliament canceled sessions on February 25 as it closed for cleaning after confirmation a person with the coronavirus had attended a meeting a week earlier.

Meanwhile, the US and South Korea’s militaries on February 27 postponed forthcoming joint exercises due to the outbreak.

Concerts

A high-profile concert featuring BTS and other artists initially scheduled for March 8 in South Korea’s Daegu has been postponed due to the novel coronavirus outbreak in the city. 

BTS also canceled 4 concerts at Seoul’s Olympic Stadium, originally scheduled from April 11 to 19.

Some top Japanese musicians – including all-male group Exile and female trio Perfume – canceled their February 26 concerts.

American rock band Green Day has postponed their Asia tour, which included a March 14 concert in the Philippines.

Meanwhile, Insane Clown Posse announced on April 22 that the 2020 2020 Gathering of the Juggalos, meant for August 5 to 8, was “postponed until next year.”

Sports events

Sports across the globe have suffered major disruption because of the virus with the NBA, the PGA Tour golf season, the men’s tennis tour, Major League Baseball, England’s Premier League, Europe’s Champions League,  and a host of top-flight events interrupted.

On March 24, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics became the highest-profile event affected by the virus pandemic.

Host Japan and the International Olympic Committee agreed to postpone the Games to no later than the summer of 2021.

The Games were scheduled for July 24-August 9, but after telephone discussions between IOC president Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a historic joint decision was taken for the first postponement of an Olympics in peacetime.

Sports calendars were shredded worldwide, Formula One motor racing was in turmoil with the first 3 Grands Prix of the season – Australia, Bahrain and Vietnam – scrapped while the Masters, the first major golf tournament of the year at Augusta National, was postponed.

Football’s Premier League, with a worldwide audience of billions, was suspended after Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi were confirmed to have the disease.

UEFA announced that it has postponed the Champions League, Europa League and women’s Champions League finals, originally scheduled for May, with no new date given.

The NBA also suspended its season indefinitely after Utah Jazz star Rudy Gobert tested positive for coronavirus. Since then, a total of 14 NBA players and personnel have contracted the virus, including league star Kevin Durant.

The NCAA on March 12 said March Madness was canceled. The NCAA also shuttered its winter and spring tournaments. 

England’s cricket tour of Sri Lanka also fell victim to the virus while suspension of the Premier League until April 4 came shortly after the French Football League announced that all Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 games would be on hold until further notice.

The German Bundesliga then followed suit, announcing that the league would be halted for the first time since World War II.

European football took a major hit when officials suspended next week’s program of Champions League and Europa League ties.

And cycling’s first Grand Tour of the season, the Giro d’Italia, scheduled for May 9-31, was also put on hold as officials feared the impact of COVID-19.

Rugby union was also affected with the last Six Nations match between Wales and Scotland in Cardiff scrapped one day ahead of Saturday’s scheduled kick-off.

On April 15, the Tour de France was rescheduled and slated to begin on August 29 instead of its original June 27 date.

The US Open, originally slated for June 18, will now be happening September 17–20. Meanwhiel, the British Open was canceled on April 1, and is looking to reschedule the June championship to September.

The Wimbledon Grand Slam tennis tournament, which was scheduled for June 29 to July 12 was canceled on April 1, but is currently slated to make a comeback next year, June 28 to July 11, 2021.

The WWE modified WrestleMania 36 on April 5 lacking a live audience during its presentation. Additional events surrounding WrestleMania were canceled.

Other events

Organizers of the Mobile World Congress announced on February 13 the cancelation of the World Mobile Congress which was supposed to run in Spain from February 24 to 27.

SXSW, slated for March 13 to 22, was also canceled. 

In San Francisco, the 2020 iteration of the Game Developers Conference – scheduled for March 16 – was “postponed” to a later date, with face-to-face interactions said to be replaced with online presentations instead.

Facebook announced it would be canceling its F8 developer conference which had been scheduled for early May. The gathering in the Silicon Valley city of San Jose typically draws thousands of software makers from around the world who collaborate with the tech giant on its platform.

Google I/O, meant to happen in May, was also canceled. Both Google and Facebook have since announced extended work-from-home plans.

E3, normally slated for June 9 to 11 this year, was canceled.

Microsoft Build was supposed to be held May 19 to 21 but has since been canceled and made an online-only event. Microsoft Ignite, slated for September 21-25, also shared the same fate.

The 11th Annual VidCon was canceled on March 23, with information on a possible fall event set to be announced by June 15. 

San Diego Comic Con, set to take place from July 23 to 25, was also canceled.

The Cannes Film Festival has been postponed twice. It was originally postponed on March 19 and reset for end of June or the start of July, but French President Emmanuel Macron opted to hold all festivals from happening until mid-July.

Burning Man, originally set for an August 30 to September 7 run in Nevada, was canceled for 2020, and will have a digital form instead this year.

The annual Eurovision song contest which occurs in May and was slated to happen in Rotterdam, was canceled this year.

The Billboard Music Awards, meant to air from Las Vegas on April 29, was also postponed this year though no new date has been announced yet.

The famed Venice Carnival was also cut short, and some Milan Fashion Week runway shows were canceled. (READ: Scramble to contain coronavirus as infections spread in Europe)

This year’s Tony Awards were canceled in light of the coronavirus. It was originally scheduled to happen on June 7.

Cirque du Soleil shuttered its shows and laid off nearly 4,700 employees due to the coronavirus.

The Milan Furniture Fair, which was scheduled for the end of April, has now been pushed back to June. – with reports from Agence France-Presse/Rappler.com