Concerns about the coronavirus have resulted in the cancellation of another big sporting event in Prince George.
The Western Canadian Ringette Championships, set for March 25-28, will not happen.
Jen Erickson, chair of the host committee for the 25-team event, said she knew the Western championships were likely in jeopardy soon after B.C. Public Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry announced on Wednesday a restriction to limit the size of public gatherings to 250 people to help minimize the risk of community transmission of COVID-19.
"There's a lot of heartbreak out there right now but we have to be safe," said Erickson. "We have to follow suit with protecting our athletes and coaching staff and are following the public health officer, which was the final nail in the coffin.
"We are hoping to see if we can host later in the year, we just don't know. It would have to be a decision made up of the governance committee, which is made up the four provincial sports organizations. Maybe we'll end up hosting next year, although it's Manitoba's turn, there's just so much uncertainty."
As of now, the committee has sunk about $30,000 into the four-division (14-and-under, 16U, 19U 18-and over open) event, including the cost of flying 22 referees to Prince George. That money would have been recouped from sales of team photos, clothing sales and closing ceremony tickets. Erickson doesn't know if team fees and event grants will have to be refunded.
Two Prince George teams, the Under-19 Prince George Power and the 18-plus A-division Prince George Rush, would have been the host teams involved.
More than 100 volunteers had been lined up work during the tournament, which was to begin with opening ceremonies and skills contests on Wednesday, March 25. The committee was also responsible for organizing the closing ceremonies, banquet and all-star team selections.
"It takes a lot of volunteer power and that's why they spread it to all the other provinces," said Prince George Ringette Association president Hugo McLeod. "All those things had to be done by a volunteer base that doesn't necessarily have those high-end skills and so there's a lot of learning that needs to go on. It's a high-level competition and everything is that much faster."
The tournament was to be a qualifier for the national championships in Ottawa, April 5-11. No decision has yet been made on the status of the national finals.
The Western Governance Committee made the call to cancel on Friday, a day after three Prince George teams (under-14 and under-16 house league and open A division) learned they will not be playing in the provincial championship in Salmon Arm. The teams were already there when that decision was made Thursday afternoon.
"They were trying to make it go," said McLeod. "There are less than 250 (at any one time in the arena) but I believe there were 450 athletes and members and that eclipsed the threshold and they decided to shut it down, which I believe is right decision in the end."
Erickson said city staff members Susie Jones and Paulette Wilson, as well as Colin Carson of Tourism Prince George and Jim Fitzpatrick of Northern Health, have gone the extra mile with their efforts to work closely with the host committee and keep them informed about what is a fluid situation as the world struggles to contain the virus.
The Prince George sporting and tourism has already been dealt a major blow after the World Curling Federation decided to cancel the nine-day, 13-team World Women's Championship, which was supposed to begin today at CN Centre.
It's also uncertain if the Canadian Masters Badminton Championships, April 27-May 2, will be held at the Northern Sport Centre.
