Skiing finals, Italian cycling races canceled

MILAN » The alpine skiing World Cup Finals and major Italian cycling races were among the latest sporting events to be canceled on Friday because of the escalating virus outbreak.

Also, an unnamed Scotland Women’s rugby player tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday and the Women’s Six Nations match between Scotland and France on Saturday in Glasgow was postponed. The player was admitted to a health care facility and was otherwise well, the Scottish Rugby Union said in a statement.

The skiing finals in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, scheduled from March 18-22, were called off after an emergency International Ski Federation board meeting.

“It’s with great disappointment that I accept this decision,” Italian Winter Sports Federation president Flavio Roda said. “Every member of the board made their decision based on limitations that their respective governments have imposed in relation to the virus.”

RCS Sport, which organizes cycling events in Italy, canceled the Tirreno-Adriatico and Milan-San Remo races as well as the Giro di Sicilia, all scheduled within the next four weeks.

On Thursday, the Strade Bianche men’s and women’s cycling races were canceled.

“RCS Sport will request the UCI, via the Italian Cycling Federation, to allocate new dates on the international cycling calendar for the three races, as has already been requested for Strade Bianche and Strade Bianche Women Elite,” RCS said in a statement.

The Italian government issued a decree on Wednesday that all sporting events in the country must take place without spectators until April 3. That includes Serie A soccer.

Italy Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora wrote to the country’s soccer federation requesting all games this weekend be broadcast on free TV “considering the serious inconvenience affecting the population in this difficult time.”

The Scotland Women’s rugby team returned from northern Italy on Feb. 23 after its match against Italy Women was postponed. The Scottish Rugby Union said aside from the player who was being treated at a clinic, seven other players and management staff were self-isolating on medical advice.

Late Friday, the French soccer league announced the postponement of Saturday’s home game between Strasbourg and league leader Paris Saint-Germain following a decree from the Alsace city’s prefecture.

The Tirreno-Adriatico stage race has been held every year since 1966, while the Milan-San Remo one-day classic, which dates to 1907, had been stopped previously only in wartime. The Giro di Sicilia was due to take place from April 1-4.

The Asian weightlifting championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, scheduled for April 16-25, were also called off.

Ball kids to wear gloves, at Indian Wells

Tennis players at the BNP Paribas Open that starts next week will have to manage their own towels on court and ball kids will wear gloves while working matches at the combined men’s and women’s tournament in the Southern California desert.

The measures were announced Friday by tournament organizers, who are offering fans uneasy about the coronavirus a refund for this year’s event or a credit for next year. The event runs March 11-22.

A chair will be placed at the back of the court for players to place their towels for use during matches. Ball kids won’t be allowed to touch or move player towels. Organized player and fan interaction will also be limited at the tournament.