Organizers of the 2020 Yonex Canadian masters badminton championships are still planning on bringing the event to Prince George this spring but there's a distinct possibility it will be join the growing list of sporting events to be postponed or canceled as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tournament committee co-chair Lisa Davison said the future of the championships, April 27-May 2 at the Charles Jago Northern Sport Centre could be decided at a meeting in Vancouver she will attend Monday or Tuesday with Badminton Canada executive director Joe Morissette.
"We're taking the weekend to come up with any contingency plan at look at our options, kind of just reviewing everything," said Davison. "It really spiked on Thursday morning (when the NHL joined the NBA in suspending its league schedule). Joe is trying to facilitate a conference call with Jim Fitzpatrick (Northern Health's emergency management north director)."
Davison said they will discuss the possibility of postponing the tournament to a later date.
"That direction might be made by public health," she said. "There may not be that choice. Whatever decision is made we will stick with it, we won't change it. I really don't have much control over it."
Davison made reference to the World Curling Federation reversing its decision to go ahead with the World Women's Championship in Prince George on Thursday, after stating earlier in the week the CN Centre event would go ahead as scheduled. The last-minute decision added to the disappointment for local organizers and volunteers who had hoped to see the tournament unfold.
Health authorities around the world are struggling to contain the virus and limit the number of new cases being transmitted in local communities to slow the rate of infection and keep health care facilities from being overwhelmed. Seniors and people with preexisting health concerns are especially vulnerable to the virus.
"I'm looking at the timeline and it's at the end of April, beginning of May - is there enough time for that flattening of the curve to happen?" said Davison.
The event is open to players aged 30 or older and at least one of players coming to Prince George, a woman from the United States, is in her 80s. As of Saturday, 142 players from four countries had registered to compete in the tournament and a field of 250 athletes is expected.
On Wednesday, the province imposed a limit on all public gatherings to not exceed 250 participants. "It is right on that threshold," said Davison.
If it they have to close the event to spectators to meet the provincial restriction on crowd sizes, Davison said that won't be a significant factor, from an economic standpoint.
"Ticket sales are kind of an added bonus for us and that part isn't going to hurt us," she said.
The committee is still recruiting volunteers as well as seeking sponsors to take advantage of advertising opportunities. For more information go to badmintonbc.com.
