GLOBAL SPORTS RESPONSE
Sports leagues and federations across the world are addressing the spread of the coronavirus. While most North American sports leagues, including Major League Baseball, the NBA, the NFL and the NHL are monitoring the situation, leagues in other parts of the world are taking action by canceling events and playing in empty stadiums. Los Angeles County officials have discussed the possibility of banning spectators from attending sporting events in Southern California in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Here is a sport-by-sport look at what leagues and federations are doing to address the COVID-19 outbreak:
United States
NBA: In a memo sent to teams Sunday, the league and the NBA Players’ Assn. stated they are “closely monitoring the coronavirus situation” and are in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The memo also recommended that players avoid giving high-fives while interacting with fans and avoid borrowing pens and markers from fans requesting autographs.
MLB: The league has established a task force to deal with issues related to coronavirus in the coming months, according to a memo sent to high-ranking baseball officials Tuesday obtained by ESPN. Baseball has no plans to cancel or ban fans from attending games. The memo advises players not to shake hands with fans and not use pens and markers from fans to sign autographs.
NFL: NFL Media reported Tuesday that the league is “closely monitoring developments” related to coronavirus and that it is still planning to hold the NFL draft in Las Vegas on April 23-25. In addition, individual pro days for draft-eligible players will begin as scheduled on Thursday.
NHL: Commissioner Gary Bettman said Wednesday that the league is monitoring the coronavirus outbreak but declined to say whether games could be altered, canceled or rescheduled. All NHL employees have been barred from traveling outside North America for business purposes. Scouts based in Europe have to stay in Europe or be quarantined upon arriving in North America, Bettman said.
NCAA: The college athletics sanctioning body says it is monitoring the outbreak but that it has no plans to make changes for the upcoming men’s and women’s basketball tournaments. Missouri-Kansas City and Chicago State announced they are canceling trips to Seattle for scheduled Western Athletic Conference men’s basketball games this week. USC announced all athletic events are being played as scheduled.
MLS: The league has created a task force to monitor the coronavirus outbreak. Sports teams in Los Angeles County, including the Galaxy and LAFC, have been warned they might be asked to cancel games or play them in empty stadiums after the county declared a health emergency Wednesday to deal with the coronavirus.
Auto racing: NASCAR and IndyCar said their schedules will go on as planned while also monitoring the situation.
PGA: The PGA Tour announced Wednesday that it has no plans to alter its schedule beyond changes that have already been made with the PGA TourSeries China (delayed start to season).
LPGA: The league has canceled three events in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Events scheduled in Thailand and Singapore were canceled last month, and the Blue Bay LPGA on Hainan Island in China, which was originally scheduled to be played ThursdaySunday, is also off the LPGA calendar. Their next event, the Founders Cup, is set to be played as scheduled at Wildfire Golf Club in Phoenix from March 19-22.
Santa Anita (horse racing): The Arcadia-based horse racing track said in a statement Wednesday that it is monitoring the situation and is “taking procedures necessary for the health and safety and wellbeing of our fans, staff and horsemen, including adding numerous hand-sanitizing stations throughout the facility.”
L.A. Marathon: The Los Angeles Marathon will run as scheduled Sunday, race officials announced. Organizers of the marathon are offering a deferral option to runners traveling from affected countries allowing them to delay their participation until next year.
International
International Olympic Committee (Tokyo 2020
Olympics): No plans have been made to reschedule or cancel the Olympics, scheduled for July 24 to Aug. 9. “We remain very confident with regard to the success of these Olympic Games,” IOC President Thomas Bach said Tuesday. The IOC has formed a task force that includes representatives from the World Health Organization, the Tokyo 2020 organizing committee and the Japanese government to monitor the situation.
Premier League: The English league has informed its clubs of a contingency plan should large gatherings be banned because of the coronavirus spread. In the meantime, the league has advised teams to pay increased attention to hygiene at stadiums and training grounds, reduce the number of nonessential visitors to team facilities and minimize any face-toface meetings.
Ligue 1: The French league is altering its pregame routines because of the coronavirus. Handshakes among players, coaches and officials are prohibited until further notice. Players will continue to be escorted to the field by youth players but will hold the youngsters by the shoulder, rather than by hand as is customary.
Serie A: Italy has closed all sporting events to the public amid a coronavirus outbreak. More than 100 people have died in Italy, and more than 3,000 have been infected with COVID-19.
WTA: The Kunming Open, which was scheduled for April 27 to May 3 in Anning, China, has been canceled. The BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells is still scheduled to begin Wednesday. “We are closely watching the developments with the coronavirus. We remain very positive about this year’s BNP Paribas Open and look forward to welcoming everyone to Indian Wells very soon,” tournament officials said in a statement.
Times staff writers Chuck Schilken, Kevin Baxter, Soumya Karlamangla, Jeff Miller, Helene Elliott and Bill Shaikin contributed to this report.