Decision to be made on nitro world games planned for stadium

IT was billed “the biggest sports event to come to the UK in 2020” and Cardiff’s Principality Stadium was the venue chosen.

More than 100 of the world’s best action sports athletes were due to converge on the capital on May 23-24 with a sell-out crowd in the offing at the home of Welsh rugby.

Yet despite the likes of Wimbledon, the Olympics and Euro 2020 biting the dust due to the cornonavirus pandemic, the Nitro World Games has yet to be called off – and fans who have forked out thousands to attend the event are not happy.

The Games were to feature the best athletes on the globe in FMX, BMX, Skate, and Scooter.

One disgruntled customer, Kirsty Smallman, has spent close on £500 on her four tickets for the Saturday plus a two night stay in Cardiff.

The PR Agency owner from Telford, Shropshire, knows of other fans who have splashed out thousands for the bespoke VIP experience.

Yet organisers have yet to formally postpone the event despite plans for the Principality Stadium being turned into a hospital to treat Covid-19 patients.

Kirsty told the Echo: “Despite the fact there was a massive PR campaign about getting tickets, selling out the stadium, being the biggest sporting spectacular to come to Wales, they’ve not even acknowledged Covid-19 on their website, or that of the Principality Stadium, the Nitro World Games or any social media platform at all.

“That’s a disgrace in itself. The only way to contact them is on social media or through emails.

“At the time of the ticket sales there were lots of Facebook shows and direct appeals to these youngsters to buy tickets.

“People have got hotels booked throughout the city so it’s gone from the biggest sporting spectacular to one of having silence and ignorance – it’s so rude.

“For some who have booked the VIP double day experience it will run into thousands of pounds for one weekend in Cardiff.

“We are not talking about a £20 theatre ticket.

“In all, I would have probably spent about £300 for the tickets and a couple of hundred for two-night stay in the hotel.

“It’s not a priority in the world and I’m not saying the show should go on.

“I run a PR agency and we’ve been running events in August that have already been cancelled.

“Things take planning, and grown ups in business take these decisions.”

The Echo has contacted the public relations department of Live Nation.

A formal announcement is expected next week.