Sports
2020.03.08 03:32 GMT+8

UK Sport continues but handshake ban proves hard to resist

Updated 2020.03.08 03:32 GMT+8
Andrew Wilson in London

Sport in Britain is so far resisting the European trend now for cancelling or postponing large-scale spectator events. In the Six Nations Rugby tournament both England Wales at Twickenham and Scotland France at Murrayfield went ahead.

The women's match in Scotland however was cancelled at the last minute after a player tested positive for Coronavirus.

The government's position is still that big crowds in the open air are less of a contamination threat than thousands of tight groups gathering in pubs to watch matches on TV.

Across Europe the story is very different.

Following a series of postponements all sport in Italy will now be played behind closed doors until 3rd April; and that date is more of a best guess for the authorities.

Football matches in France and Spain have also been affected with big matches played behind closed doors or postponed.

At the moment the English clubs have acknowledged that the same measures may spread to the UK, but for now have settled for banning pre-match handshakes in the English Premier League, with clubs like Newcastle United, Brighton and Wolves all announcing health and safety measures.

The Premier League have banned pre-match handshakes until further notice /AFP

Six Nations Rugby will not be travelling to Italy this year until the authorities decide the matches are safe to play.

Interestingly England prop Mako Vunipola was withdrawn from the Twickenham game on Saturday, because he travelled through Hong Kong last week, but he will be joining his club side Saracens on the pitch as he is symptom free.

European city marathons have been impacted. Rome has moved from March to 2021; Paris rescheduled from April to October. The half marathon championship in Poland are now moved from March to October.

The wider European calendar is now well and truly in disarray; gymnastics, cycling, athletics, E-prix racing, cycling, golf, skiing, gymnastics and other events are all reporting event cancellations or rescheduling.

And the same may yet happen in Britain. On Monday the government will meet with sports bodies and broadcasters no doubt to road test a few of the scenarios already playing out on the continent and beyond.

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