SPORT CHAOS

SYDNEY: The new coronavirus outbreak caused more disruption to the international sporting calendar yesterday with the women’s LPGA golf tour cancelling an event in China and Olympic soccer qualifying matches in Australia being shuffled.

More than 210 people in China have died from the flulike virus with almost 10,000 affected after it emerged late last year in Wuhan in the central Hubei province.

The World Health Organisation on Thursday declared the outbreak a public health emergency.

The fourteam women’s soccer tournament involving China, Australia, Taiwan and Thailand was moved from Wuhan — the centre of the outbreak — and hastily rearranged in Australia by the Asian Football Confederation.

Organisers were forced to change their match schedule after China’s team, which arrived in Australia on January 29, was placed in quarantine in Brisbane until after February 5.

None of the players tested positive for the virus, the Chinese Football Association said.

They had originally been scheduled to play their first game against Thailand on February 3 but organisers yesterday said they would now play their first game on February 6.

An additional match day of February 12, when China plays Australia, had now been scheduled, Football Federation Australia (FFA) said yesterday in a statement.

‘‘As always, the health of everyone involved, from players and officials to the fans and contractors, remains the number one priority,’’ FFA Chief Executive James Johnson said.

‘‘This new format allows us to stage these matches with that priority in mind and we now look forward to welcoming all teams and hosting a successful tournament.’’

The LPGA said its Blue Bay tournament due to be held on Hainan island from March 58 had been cancelled.

‘‘Given the current health concerns and significant travel restrictions put in place due to the coronavirus in China, the LPGA along with our partners in China have made the decision to cancel the 2020 Blue Bay LPGA,’’ the Tour said.

Several other international sports events have been affected by the outbreak.

The world indoor athletics championships, which were due to be held in Nanjing from March 1315, have been postponed until next year.

Tokyo Olympic qualifying boxing and basketball tournaments were moved from China. Other events were cancelled or postponed. — Reuters