CAROLYN MULLARKEY
Staff Writer
[For updates on information regarding COVID-19 and the impact it has on SUNY Fredonia, follow @LeaderFredonia]
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a global pandemic yesterday.
Since then it seems like Americans have been notified every hour on how this is affecting sports both nationally and globally.
Here locally the Fredonia Athletics Department has officially announced that it has canceled ALL spring sports.
The Department has also canceled the baseball and softball team’s trip to Florida.
Nationally, this is where the sports world stands:
The NCAA banned fans from being able to attend the tournament’s games, only to end up canceling the games for both men and women Division I altogether.
Fans could not even process or mourn #MarchSadness before receiving worse news that just continued.
The Ivy League has canceled all spring sports practices and competitions.
[RELATED: How the Coronavirus is affecting campus]
The Big 12, Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Pac-12, Big East, Conference USA, Western Athletic Conference, MAC, Southland, Sun Belt, Big Sky, Atlantic-10 and American Athletic Conference tournaments have all been canceled.
Moving outside the NCAA, professional leagues have been affected just as much.
The NBA season has been suspended indefinitely.
Utah Jazz players Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, have also tested posted for COVID.
In addition to the NBA, the NSL, NLL, MLB and NHL have also suspended their seasons for differing periods of time.
Minor league teams of all sports have been following suit left and right.
MLB has canceled the rest of Spring Training and delayed opening day by “at least” 2 weeks.
Commissioner of the NHL, Gary Bettman said the NHL will try to continue games “as soon as it is appropriate and prudent.” Fans hope means there is still a chance at a Stanley Cup.
The XFL has announced that they will suspend the rest of their regular season games.
It is yet to be seen if a startup league like this could survive this situation.
As of right now in the NFL, only the Redskins have made an announcement halting all travel of the organization.
Spanish coach, Mikel Arteta, of the Premier League has also tested positive for the coronavirus.
Despite the positive test result, the Premier League is still scheduled to continue and announced an emergency meeting for tomorrow to decide what the next step is.
Other sports have also been following suit with barring fans from attendance and canceling or suspending all together.
World Figure Skating Championships are canceled.
NASCAR has announced that the next races will be limited to just competitors and “necessary personnel” meaning, once again, fans won’t be in attendance.
The status of the Olympics is that the games are still set to begin July 24th, but the torch lighting ceremony to happen later this week will be done without the presence of fans.
Golf seems to be the only sport unaffected at this point in time.
More information is expected to unfold in the next couple of weeks.