Ebola virus: Ivory Coast suspends international sports competitions on its territory

"Alain Lobignon, the Ivory Coast Minister of Youth, Sports and Leisure, informed the sports federations of the suspension, until further notice, of the organisation in the Ivory Coast of all international competitions", indicated a statement broadcast on the Ivory Coast public channel RTI (Radiodiffusion Télévision ivoirienne, the Ivory Coast TV and radio network) on 20/08/2014.

This decision is consistent with the "preventive measures taken by the government against the Ebola virus", added the Sports Minister. Whilst no Ebola cases were recorded in the Ivory Coast, 772 people died from Ebola in Liberia and Guinea, neighbouring countries of the Ivory Coast, indicated the WHO (World Health Organisation), on 11/08/2014.

"We are a little taken aback but not surprised compared to the magnitude of the outbreak and the threat it represents", said the FIF (the Ivory Coast football federation) to RFI (Radio France Internationale, the French international radio) on 20/08/2014. The group stage fixture for the qualifying round of the CAN 2015 (Africa Cup of Nations) Ivory Coast - Sierra Leone…