China cancels all international sports events for the year
FILE — Ashleigh Barty of Australia reacts after winning against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in their women’s singles in the WTA Finals tennis tournament in Shenzhen on November 3, 2019. (Photo by NOEL CELIS / AFP)
BEIJING— China says it will not stage any international sports for the rest of the year, apart from trials for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games in Beijing and the neighboring city of Zhangjiakou.
The order from the General Administration of Sports affects at least six WTA tennis events, including the WTA Finals in Shenzhen in November. China also has four ATP tournaments lined up.
Shanghai was also due to host two big golf events, the men’s HSBC Champions, a World Golf Championship event two weeks after the LPGA Shanghai.
Xiamen was to host the Asian sport climbing championships in October, and Guangzhou the badminton World Tour Finals in December.
The decision puts paid to any chance of reviving Formula One’s Shanghai Grand Prix postponed in April, and affects two cycling stage races in October, the men’s Tour of Guangxi, and the women’s Tour of Chongming Island.
China has largely contained local transmission of the coronavirus but remains on guard for imported cases.
The General Administration of Sports cited “science and order” in issuing its plan to proceed on Thursday.
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