#CancelEverything? NBA and NHL seasons halted along with many major events
Here's a list of some of the big cancellations
The NBA announced on Wednesday night that it's suspending the rest of the season becuase of the coronavirus — and it's not the only one.
The NHL and MLB (Major League Baseball) followed suit on Thursday, postposing their own seasons.
They’re part of a growing list of big-name events being called off because of — you guessed it — COVID-19.
Why are so many events being cancelled?
Health professionals say we're all safer if we don't mingle or travel unnecessarily to reduce the risk of spreading the disease.
Kids who get COVID-19 aren't getting very sick and the illness has caused no deaths to kids under 18 anywhere in the world.
But kids can transfer the illness to others, whose immune systems might not be as strong.
The idea of reducing spreading is why some experts — and countless Twitter users — are even suggesting we #CancelEverything.
Here’s a look at some of the most recent high-profile cancellations.
1. NBA
The game between the New Orleans Pelicans and the Sacramento Kings was called off Wednesday because of the coronavirus. (Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Although the NBA had previously been leaning towards playing games without fans in the arenas, that all changed after a Utah Jazz player tested positive on Wednesday for COVID-19.
Rudy Gobert, a Utah Jazz centre, confirmed on Instagram Thursday that he tested positive.
“I want to thank everyone for the outpouring of concern and support over the last 24 hours,” Gobert wrote.
“I have gone through so many emotions since learning of my diagnosis,” he said, “mostly fear, anxiety, and embarrassment.”
Rudy Gobert confirmed on Instagram Thursday that he tested positive for the illness. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
NBA reporter Adrian Wojnarowski reported that one of Gobert’s teammates has also tested positive.
The NBA announced on Wednesday night that it’s suspending its season “until further notice.”
There will be no games at all — at least for the time being.
“That's what it's all about, is safety,” Vince Carter, a high-profile Atlanta Hawks player, said in an interview on Wednesday.
He plans to retire at the end of the season and may not get to play his last few games.
“I think even worrying about, ‘Oh man, I didn't get to play my last 15 games’ — that's selfish because I think safety and everybody's health is more important to me.”
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) also announced Thursday that it's cancelling March Madness.
That means the Division I men’s and women’s 2020 basketball tournaments, as well as all remaining winter and spring NCAA championships, are called off.
2. NHL
The NHL is pausing all games, but said it hopes to resume them as soon as possible and finish the season. (John E. Sokolowski/USA TODAY Sports)
Meanwhile, news that an NBA player may have the coronavirus prompted the NHL to announce on Thursday that it’s pausing the 2019-20 season starting immediately.
“It is no longer appropriate to try to continue to play games at this time,” Gary Bettman, the NHL’s commissioner, said in a statement on Thursday.
“Our leagues share so many facilities and locker-rooms and it now seems likely that some member of the NHL community would test positive at some point.”
Bettman said the league is encouraging players to take precautions — including self-isolation — when they feel it’s necessary.
The season isn’t completely cancelled, though.
Bettman added that the league’s goal is to resume games as soon as possible in order to complete the seasons and award the Stanley Cup.
3. Junos
Alessia Cara was set to host the Juno Awards in Saskatoon on Sunday. (The Canadian Press/Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Although it looked like the Juno Awards might still happen, the award show was called off on Thursday.
Organizers said they were devastated, but felt it was the best thing to do.
Alessia Cara, who was supposed to host the award show on Sunday, took to Twitter to express her disappointment.
Junos-related events were supposed to kick off in Saskatoon later today, then gear up for Sunday's televised gala at the SaskTel Centre.
The Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences (CARAS) said it will continue to explore other ways to honour this year’s winners.
4. Riverdale
The stars of Riverdale pictured here. Riverdale is based on the Archie comic books and is airing its fourth season. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images).
Warner Brothers has called a halt to the production of Riverdale, a teen drama TV show that’s filmed in Vancouver.
The television company made the announcement on Wednesday after learning that someone on set came into contact with a coronavirus patient.
5. E3 gaming expo
Gamers play video games at E3, the annual video games expo. (Reuters/Mike Blake)
The Electronic Entertainment Expo, commonly referred to as E3, has also been cancelled.
The highly anticipated event, which takes place in Los Angeles, allows gamers to test out the newest video games from companies like PlayStation and Xbox.
The expo was set to take place from June 9 to 11.
6. Arctic Winter Games
Tom Vollmer, 10, said he’s been training all winter for the Arctic Winter Games, but understands why they’ve been called off. (Steve Silva/CBC)
The Arctic Winter Games were also cancelled on Saturday over coronavirus concerns.
The news left many young competitors disappointed.
“It would have been my first time doing an international race,” said Tom Vollmer, who was gearing up to compete in the alpine skiing event.
The 10-year-old is the youngest member of the team from Yukon and has been training all winter for the event.
The event, which brings together 2,000 athletes from northern countries, including Canada, Russia, Finland, Norway and Greenland, happens every two years.
But Tom said he understands that the coronavirus could be devastating, especially in remote communities.
“If somebody from a small town got it, and they don’t have a hospital, and the whole community could get affected, and that would be really bad,” he said.
Olympics still on
While the list of cancelled events is growing, the 2020 Olympics are still on.
The International Olympic Committee released a statement on Thursday saying it’s fully committed “to the success of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.”
With files from CBC Sports and CBC News
