China: impact of the coronavirus epidemic on the world of sport

"2020 season national football competitions at all levels" in China have been postponed in order to aid the "prevention and control of the pneumonia epidemic of the new coronavirus infection, and to protect the health of the majority of fans, media, players, coaches, game officials, clubs and district staff," said the Chinese Football Association on 30/01/2020. The 2020 season of the Chinese Super League (CSL) was scheduled to start on 22/02/2020.

The news comes after a coronavirus (a group of viruses that cause respiratory problems) that appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019, resulting in more than 6,000 cases of infection and 170 deaths in that country as of 30/01/2020. As a result, a whole series of sporting events have been postponed or cancelled (see below).

World Athletics has cancelled the World Athletics Indoor Championships scheduled to take place in Nanjing (CHN) from 13 to 15/03/2020 and postponed the event until March 2021, according to the international body on 29/01/2020.

Coronavirus in China: sports affected around the world

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