Executive director says WIAA ‘will do everything possible’ to hold spring state championships
In a video posted Tuesday night, executive director Mick Hoffman said that Washington Interscholastic Activities Association “will do everything possible” to see that spring high school state championships are held this year “without jeopardizing health and safety.”
The school year, along with athletics and activities, were put on hold as Gov. Jay Inslee ordered a statewide closure of schools through April 24 in reaction to the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak.
“If we are able to return to school after April 24, we will host our state championships as scheduled,” Hoffman said in a video posted on the WIAA website. “If that gets pushed longer, we will provide updates depending on what we are hearing at that time.”
The dates for the spring sports state championships are:
• May 27-28 for golf
• May 28-30 for track and field
• May 29-30 for baseball, softball, boys soccer and tennis.
In the interim, Hoffman asked coaches, athletic directors and administrators to not encourage or ignore athletes’ efforts to circumvent statewide recommendations by organizing games and team practices.
“We understand they want to be together,” Hoffman said. “We understand they want to be ready if given the opportunity. But again, not at the (risk of) jeopardizing people’s health and safety.”
Hoffman said that much is still being learned about this virus and how it can be spread.
“So for the benefit of everybody, and to speed up the recovery process for the entire state, please follow the directives and show leadership that directs your students not to get together,” Hoffman said. “Let them do their thing on their own time that is in compliance with Gov. Inslee’s request.”
Hoffman said the WIAA will continue to provide updates on how the spring season might look like, assuming schools can resume on April 27, “as we vet those out.”
— The Columbian
Russell Wilson, Ciara to donate 1 million meals
In a one-minute video posted to Twitter on Tuesday night, Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson announced that he and his wife, entertainer Ciara, will donate 1 million meals to Food Lifeline through the Feeding America nationwide network to help those suffering due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.
In a tone fittingly more somber than his usual enthusiasm, Wilson noted that the outbreak is “changing the world second by second, minute by minute.” He noted all the friends the couple knows who are losing jobs or encountering other issues at places they have deep associations with, such as Alaska Airlines, the Sounders and Seattle Children’s hospital.
After pledging to donate 1 million meals, Wilson and Ciara then encouraged those watching to also help by making donations of their own.
“Together we will conquer this tough time we are going through,” Ciara said, to which Wilson added, “We will.”
On its website, Feeding America states that it “secures and distributes 4.3 billion meals each year through food pantries and meal programs throughout the United States and leads the nation to engage in the fight against hunger.”
— The Seattle Times
WTA and ATP tours cancel more tournaments amid pandemic
The professional tennis calendar lost more events on Wednesday when the men’s and women’s tours announced the cancellation of tournaments through June 7. That wiped out high-profile tournaments in Madrid and Rome, as well as women’s tournaments in Strasbourg, France, and Rabat, Morocco, and men’s events in Munich, Germany; Estoril, Portugal; Geneva; and Lyon, France.
The Women’s Tennis Association, which represents female players, and the Association of Tennis Professionals, which represents the men, issued identically worded statements to announce that the spring clay-court swing would be canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic. All events in the ATP Challenger Tour and the International Tennis Federation World Tennis Tour also were canceled.
The men’s and women’s rankings will be frozen during this period of inactivity and until further notice, the statement said.
“The challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic to professional tennis demand greater collaboration than ever from everyone in the tennis community in order for the sport to move forward collectively in the best interest of players, tournaments and fans,” the statement reads.
“We are assessing all options related to preserving and maximizing the tennis calendar based on various return dates for the Tours, which remains an unknown at this time. We are committed to working through these matters with our player and tournament members, and the other governing bodies, in the weeks and months ahead.
“Now is not a time to act unilaterally, but in unison. All decisions related to the impact of the coronavirus require appropriate consultation and review with the stakeholders in the game, a view that is shared by ATP, WTA, ITF, (All England Lawn Tennis Club), Tennis Australia, and USTA.”
The last paragraph alludes to the decision made by organizers of the French Open to postpone this year’s tournament from June until Sept. 20, a move made without consulting players or consulting officials from other Grand Slam events. The new dates of the French Open, Sept. 20 through Oct. 4, conflict with the Laver Cup event and would provide little rest for players who reach the late rounds of the U.S. Open, which is scheduled to be played from Aug. 24 through Sept. 13. Officials of the U.S. Tennis Association had said on Tuesday they were “assessing all of our options, including the possibility of moving the tournament to a later date.”
— Los Angeles Times
IOC responds to criticism a day after insisting 2020 Olympics plans proceed
An International Olympic Committee communique insisting that preparations for the 2020 Summer Games should proceed —and rejecting “any drastic decisions” in the face of the coronavirus outbreak —has sparked debate on the global sports scene.
Faced with criticism, the IOC walked its comments back slightly on Wednesday, issuing a follow-up statement.
“This is an exceptional situation which requires exceptional solutions,” a spokesman said. “The IOC is committed to finding a solution with the least-negative impact for the athletes, while protecting the integrity of the competition and the athletes’ health.”
Even before the communique was issued Tuesday, the head of France’s national Olympic committee said the Games should not be held until the outbreak begins to subside. A Spanish official called for postponement.
Hayley Wickenheiser, a six-time Olympian and member of the IOC’s athletes commission, was more pointed in her remarks.
“I think the IOC insisting this will move ahead, with such conviction, is insensitive and irresponsible given the state of humanity,” the Canadian hockey and softball player posted on social media. “We don’t know what’s happening in the next 24 hours, let alone in the next three months.”
Others expressed confusion as to how they should proceed in training for the possibility of competing in Tokyo this summer.
“The IOC advice ‘encourages athletes to continue to prepare for the Olympic Games as best they can’ with the Olympics only four months away,” Katarina Johnson-Thompson, a top heptathlete from Britain, noted on social media. “But the government legislation is enforcing isolation at home with tracks, gyms and public spaces closed.”
Even Japanese organizers have taken unusual precautions. On Wednesday, they sent a chartered aircraft to fetch the Olympic flame from Greece but did not include the traditional delegation.
Steve Kerr, coach of the Golden State Warriors and an assistant on the U.S. basketball staff, told reporters that without much concrete information to work with, he and his colleagues are proceeding on schedule.
“We’re all kind of sitting here wondering what’s going to happen, and so is the rest of the world,” Kerr said on a conference call, according to reports. “We’re just going to plan as if this is going to happen, and we’re going to try and put together a roster, and that’s all we can do.”
In addition to its follow-up statement, the IOC on Wednesday posted similar comments from athletes such as Stephen Curry, Italian cyclist Vincenzo Nibali and Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka.
“Sunny days are ahead of us,” baseball player Carlos Correa posted, adding: “We must work together to overcome these dark times.”
The 2020 Tokyo Games are scheduled to begin July 24 and run through early August.
Olympic leaders have spent this week in teleconferences with national Olympic committees and the international federations that govern each sport.
“No solution will be ideal in this situation,” the IOC stated, “and this is why we are counting on the responsibility and solidarity of the athletes.”
— Los Angeles Times
