The novel coronavirus pandemic has claimed the lives of more than 704,635 people ( as of 5 August 2020) worldwide and affected many entertainment awards as well as sporting events around the world.
Numerous concerts, festivals, films, TV shoots, and other events cancelled or rescheduled globally to tackle the spread of COVID. Notably, the Tokyo 2020 Olympics was to take place in Japan this summer.
From the 2020 Olympics to Broadway shows, the article below covers some of the major sporting and entertainment events cancelled by COVID worldwide.
Sporting Events Cancelled due to COVID
Olympics:
When countries started pulling out of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, postponement began to look more likely. Following that, Dick Pound, president of the International Olympic Committee, said the 2020 Tokyo Olympics would delay and start on 23 July 2021.
Basketball:
The other set back in the world of sports came for basketball- the suspension of the 2020 NBA season. NBA suddenly came to a halt after a player of Utah Jazz tested positive for the COVID following a game between the Utah Jazz and the Oklahoma City Thunder on 11 March.
Football:
The Euro 2020 tournament has postponed until 2021. European football’s governing body UEFA confirmed the news on 17 March. UEFA said this year’s 24-team competition would run from 11 June to 11 July next year. The tournament would have started from 12 June to 12 July this year.
Football tournaments such as English Premier League, La Liga, Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Major League Soccer, among others, are also going through the difficult situation in this pandemic.
Tennis:
Wimbledon, set to take place from 29 June until 12 July, could not be played in 2020. The tournament, the oldest Grand Slam tennis event, was previously only cancelled during World War I and World War II. Similarly, the French Open, scheduled for late May in 2020, also postponed until 20 September.
Death Knell to Sports events in 2020
Several other sporting events are being affected by the pandemic worldwide.
Likewise, sports events, including wrestling, MMA, Boxing, Golf, Cycling, etc. also face hurdles. However, with the situation getting better, the organisers are mulling over restarting the sports events with strict health safety precautions in place due to the pandemic.
Entertainment events too hit a snag in this pandemic
Award Ceremonies
21st British Soap Awards:
The British Soap Awards (BSAs) are an annual UK awards ceremony that recognises British soap operas’ best moments. Philip Schofield hosts the event in ITV broadcast. The trophies awarded are made of metal and glass.
Interestingly, the trophy has always been manufactured by British firm Creative Awards since its establishment. Furthermore, the ceremony honours artists into three categories, including Best Actor, Best Actress, and Best British Soap. Despite being one of the popular awards ceremonies, COVID had cancelled the 2020 award ceremony.
40th Golden Raspberry Awards:
The strange yet fascinating award ceremony, The 40th Golden Raspberry Awards, or Razzies, is the ceremony for honouring the worst movie. The gathering had to declare the worst film of 2019. Members of the Golden Raspberry Foundation decide the awards through their votes.
The nominees were revealed one day before 92nd Academy Awards on 8 February 2020. Although the ceremony was slated for 14 March 2020, it ultimately cancelled because of the COVID pandemic risk. Despite the cancellation, the winners were announced online on 16 March 2020.
The 74th Annual Tony Awards:
The 74th annual tony awards, which were supposed to be held on 7 June 2020, and televised by CBS postponed indefinitely. The awards were significant as it recognised achievements in Broadway productions during the 2019–20 season.
Source: Tony Awards
Moreover, awards like the 15th Canadian Folk Music Awards and 2020 Laurence Olivier Awards have also postponed.
Other Entertainment fests
Some of the other salient events cancelled or rescheduled are listed below:
- The Cannes International Film Festival postponed from its original dates (12-23 May). Organisers have rescheduled the festival for May of 2021.
- Despite the outbreak of the new virus, The Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival rescheduled to September 24-27. However, due to the increased risk, the organisers had to cancel the event.
- The iHeartRadio Music Awards, set to be held in Los Angeles on 29 March, postponed indefinitely, and ticket holders were refunded.
- Burning Man, an annual celebration of art and music held at a temporary village named Black Rock City in Nevada, has been postponed for 2020. The Burning Man fest initially scheduled from 30 August to 7 September.
- On 1 April, for the first time in over 70 years, Edinburgh’s Fringe Theater Festival, Jazz and Blues Festival, Book Festival, and Military Tattoo Festival were all cancelled.
- Dick Clark Productions and NBC called off the 2020 Billboard Music Awards about a month before the 29 April broadcast.
- The Edinburgh International Film Festival and Sydney Film Festival were all cancelled in March.
