By Jeremy Gonzalez, Co-sports Editor
The current outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019) has affected many countries worldwide, halting the flow of daily lives in some areas that are greatly affected such as Italy.
The Italian government implemented nationwide travel restrictions to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus. As a result, all sporting events in the country are being suspended until at least April 3.
Italy is the European country that has been the worst affected by the coronavirus outbreak, with over 460 deaths and over 9,000 confirmed cases. The Serie A, Italy’s first division soccer league, announced they will suspend play until further notice.
Although there have been many outbreaks in the past such as Ebola or the swine flu, none have had a drastic effect on sports like the coronavirus.
Seattle has been one of the major cities affected here in the United States and sports teams in Seattle have been told to play without fans until further notice as well. The XFL’s Seattle Dragons will be playing their game against the Los Angeles Wildcats with no fans in attendance. MLS team Seattle Sounders announced on Wednesday, March 11 their upcoming game against FC Dallas has been postponed.
Well-respected NBA insider and sports columnist Adrian Wojnarowski made a huge announcement on Wednesday evening regarding the NBA.
“The NBA has suspended the season,” Woj said on Twitter.
The announcement comes as a result of Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert testing positive for COVID-19. The Jazz and Oklahoma City Thunder were expected to play Wednesday night but the game was suspended right before tip-off.
College athletics are being affected as well. The big NCAA men and women’s basketball tournaments, better known as March Madness, will follow the NBA and suspend play until further notice.
Many leagues around the globe and here in the United States have followed the NBA, including Major League Soccer, National Hockey League, Major League Baseball, La Liga (Spain’s first division soccer league), UEFA Champions League and more. Almost all sports across the globe have come to a complete halt in order to prevent spread of the virus.
The virus has even affected local sports, as CSUDH athletics are also impacted. It was originally reported that sporting events would be played behind closed doors with no spectators at the games, but the California Collegiate Athletics Association recently updated that policy with an official statement that was made on Thursday afternoon.
“In consultation with the California Collegiate Athletics Association Presidents/Chancellor Board, effective immediately, the CCAA suspends, until further notice, all intercollegiate athletic activities, including in-person campus recruiting (on and off campus).”
The sudden suspension of athletics affects the spring sports here at CSUDH, which include track and field, softball, baseball and golf. With the season canceled, there is much speculation around how everything could have played out for the teams.
There is the scary possibility that some seniors could have suited up and played their final game for their respective team without actually knowing it would be their final game.
With most of the sports world coming to a complete stop, it is clear that sports are now secondary and the physical well-being of everyone is now the priority for teams.
