The latest on the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
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United Soccer League’s Indy Eleven will be back in action next Saturday with limited fans at Lucas Oil Stadium.
League officials announced a schedule for 263 games over a 13-week period, leading to a 16-team playoff in October.
Indy also released a nearly 2,000 word document of changes being made to the stadium, home of the NFL’s Indianapolis Colts, to protect residents from COVID-19.
Changes include mandatory face covering in the stadium except when people are eating or drinking, restricting groups to four or fewer tickets, separating those groups with at least four free seats, and using at least every other row to maintain social distance.
Tailgating is not permitted. Fans will also enter and leave the stadium in staggered 15-minute shifts, with those closest to the exits going first.
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Each ticket holder will also be asked if they have had close contact with someone who has had a confirmed case of COVID-19 and if they are experiencing certain symptoms of the disease before they can undergo a temperature control. Anyone exceeding 100.4 degrees will not be admitted, although the fans may request a re-inspection after a cool down period.
Security checks are carried out with walk-in magnetometers and tickets are scanned without contact. Concession lines are marked with dots 6 feet apart, condiments are served in single serving packs, refills of food or drink are not permitted, and most items are served in sealed containers or wraps.
Players, referees and staff who do not compete on the field of play must also wear a face covering. Flag bearers, player escorts, and ball kids are not used, and players are discouraged from celebrating with hugs or high fives.
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Ten of Indy’s 15 remaining games will be played at Lucas Oil Stadium.
Indianapolis will also host the first NHRA drag racing events this coming Saturday with few fans in attendance.
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The Boston Red Sox are preparing to restart their spring training at Fenway Park.
On Thursday, the day before the team was due to hold their first training sessions, weights and training equipment were set up in the hall so that the players could train with more social distance than the usual cramped facilities would allow.
Masked ground crew members worked to get the field ready.
Baseball suspended spring training in March due to the coronavirus outbreak and delayed opening day. Players and owners agreed to try again last month, with teams going to practice on Friday and the first games of a 60-game schedule on July 23 or 24 in empty stadiums.
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker was in Fenway Thursday to sign an order allowing the Red Sox to open the ballpark without fans as the state kicks off Phase 3 of its reopening plan.
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Chili Davis, the New York Mets coach, will continue his work remotely when the team’s summer camp kicks off on Friday.
The New York Post was the first to report that Davis, 60, will be absent from Citi Field when training begins due to coronavirus concerns.
“The schedule for him is still uncertain,” said the new Mets manager Luis Rojas on Thursday in a video call.
Quoting anonymous sources in its report, the Post said Davis did not have the virus.
Rojas said all other coaches and players had reported for admission screening. Assistant hitting coach Tom Slater will replace Davis on-site, who lives in Arizona during the off-season.
“I think we’ll get the most out of Chili, whether he’s with us at the start of camp or working remotely. I mean, we are in constant communication. Chili and I talk practically every day and he communicates with the coaches, ”said Rojas. “So he’s going to help us. He is a great asset, he has great knowledge, great experience. He helps players hit and play. He also helps the coaches with his view of the game. So he will work remotely and we will feel his presence. “
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Boise State is cutting its baseball and swimming and diving programs for women due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program cuts, along with additional cuts to departments and program operations, will reduce the overall sports budget by nearly $ 3 million.
“This is one of the toughest decisions sports departments have to make, but it comes at a time when we are facing the greatest financial challenge we have ever seen,” Boise State director of sports Curt Apsey, said in a statement on Thursday.
The cut to baseball comes after the program recently resumed. The school announced in 2017 that baseball was added after it was discontinued after the 1980 season. The 2020 season marked the return of Boise State, but the Broncos only played 14 games before the season was canceled.
The school said all scholarships for athletes in the affected programs, including signings for 2020, will be honored.
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Boston Virtual Marathon finishers will receive their medals in an Amazon package instead of having a volunteer on Boylston Street wrap them around their necks.
Race organizers announced plans for the event on Thursday. Runners are required to complete the 42.2 mile distance from September 7th to 14th and provide evidence of this. There is no time limit, but it must be done in one continuous run.
The post-race package also includes a participation shirt, a program, a bottle opener and other unspecified celebratory items.
The virtual race is open to those who had already registered for the real race, which was scheduled for April 20th and then was postponed until September 14th before being canceled. The cost to register for the virtual race is $ 50.
The Boston Athletic Association says it is encouraging the 10,000 plus volunteers who signed up to give back to their communities in other ways. You can receive your volunteer jacket or donate it to a front line worker.
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The French Open will be held with fans when they start in September.
The French tennis association wrote on Twitter that ticket sales will go public on July 16. The FFT did not provide any further information on how many fans will be admitted to Roland Garros from September 27 through October. October 11 tournament.
The clay court tournament should start on May 24th. It was then postponed to September 20 because of the coronavirus pandemic and then postponed for another week.
The FFT has drawn up a health and safety protocol to ensure the safety of the fans.
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West Indies cricket coach Phil Simmons has re-mixed with his squad in Manchester after passing his latest test for coronavirus.
Simmons returned from his father-in-law’s funeral last week and had isolated himself in his Old Trafford hotel room.
He had watched the team’s intrasquad match from his balcony, but was allowed to interact with his players after passing the virus test for the third time in a row.
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The first test against England begins on Wednesday.
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The cancellation of the Wimbledon tennis tournament has resulted in a “berry” blessing for health workers in London.
The All England Club says it will donate 200 servings of strawberries every day to workers on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.
The club says more than 26,000 strawberries that would have been used for Wimbledon are being prepared for delivery by staff.
Wimbledon says it is “a small gesture of appreciation for the NHS ‘dedicated service during championship weeks”.
Wimbledon was canceled this year for the first time since World War II due to the pandemic. The tournament should start on Monday.
The connection between Wimbledon and strawberries is muddy, but the main theory has to do with timing. The strawberry season in Great Britain happens to coincide with the tennis tournament.
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Cream is optional.
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Novak Djokovic says he and his wife have now tested negative for the coronavirus.
The top ranked player tested positive for the virus after playing in a series of exhibitions he organized in Serbia and Croatia without social distancing amid the pandemic.
His media team says: “Novak Djokovic and his wife Jelena are negative for COVID-19. That was shown by the results of the PCR tests that both had in Belgrade. “
The statement said both had no symptoms and have been in self-isolation in the Serbian capital since testing positive 10 days ago.
Djokovic became the fourth player to contract the virus after playing games in Belgrade and Zadar, Croatia. The others were three-time Grand Slam semi-finalists Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki.
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According to the Swiss football club St. Gallen, a player tested positive for coronavirus after visiting family in Serbia.
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The Swiss league leaders said he allowed Boris Babić the two-week trip while recovering from a serious knee injury.
The 22-year-old forward tested positive on his return. The club says it has no symptoms and is in self-quarantine.
St. Gallen says Babić had no contact with his teammates.
The rising number of coronavirus cases in Serbia came to the fore after Novak Djokovic and three other tennis players tested positive at a tournament he organized in Serbia and Croatia last month.
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