Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports

The COVID-19 pandemic caused the biggest changes to sports around the world since World War II. Many sports events had to be cancelled or delayed because of the pandemic. One of the most famous events, the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, had to be moved to 2021 instead. Only a few places, like Hong Kong, Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Nicaragua, kept having sports matches as usual during this time.

International multi-sport events

Summer Olympics

The 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics were planned to happen in Tokyo from July to August. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, many qualifying events were canceled or delayed. On March 24, 2020, it was decided that the Olympics would be rescheduled to 2021. This was the first time the modern Olympics were postponed.

The Olympics started on July 23, 2021, but with many changes. No fans from outside Japan were allowed to attend, and most events happened without any spectators at all. Safety plans were made, like suggesting that athletes get vaccinated, though it wasn’t required.

Winter Olympics

The 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, China, happened as planned in February 2022. However, some qualifying events for sports like curling changed because of the pandemic. The games also took place without fans from other countries, though some local people were allowed to watch.

World Games

The World Games planned for July 2021 in Birmingham, Alabama were moved to July 2022 because of the delay of the 2020 Summer Olympics.

Arctic Winter Games

The 2020 Arctic Winter Games were canceled. The games scheduled for 2022 were also moved to 2023.

SEA Games/ASEAN Para Games

The 2020 ASEAN Para Games in the Philippines were canceled. The 2021 SEA Games in Hanoi were delayed, as were the 2021 ASEAN Para Games, which were moved to Surakarta in 2022.

Summer World University Games

The 2021 Summer World University Games in Chengdu, China were delayed until 2023.

Winter University

The 2021 Winter Universiade in Lucerne, Switzerland, was first moved from January to December but was later canceled completely.

World Masters Games

The 2021 World Masters Games in Japan, originally set for May 2021, were delayed many times and finally moved to 2026.

X Games

The X Games in Chongli in 2020 were delayed, and the X Games in Minneapolis that same year were canceled.

National multi-sport governing-body competitions

Canada

In Canada, the university sports organization called U Sports stopped several championship events in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Later, they canceled all fall and winter championships for the 2020–21 school year. Other university groups in Canada also paused their sports programs until the spring of 2021.

Ireland

In Ireland, the pandemic affected sports greatly. All major Gaelic games—like football, hurling, camogie, and ladies' football—paused from March 2020. Leagues such as the National Hurling League and National Football League were also stopped and didn’t resume until late March at the earliest.

Philippines

In the Philippines, two big school sports events, NCAA Season 95 and UAAP Season 82, were stopped. NCAA Season 95 ended in March 2020, and UAAP Season 82 was canceled in April 2020. The Cebu Schools Athletic Foundation also canceled its 2020 season in May.

United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, the group that organizes university sports, called British Universities and Colleges Sport, said that many events from mid-March to early April would not happen. Some events were completely canceled, while others were delayed without a clear date to start again.

United States

In the United States, the first college basketball game without any fans happened on March 6, 2020, when a player tested positive for COVID-19. Soon after, the main college sports group, the NCAA, said that big tournaments like the "March Madness" basketball event would happen without most fans. But just days later, they canceled all remaining tournaments for that school year, which was a big surprise.

Many other college sports groups also canceled their seasons. Some schools had to move games to different places because of rules about contact sports. The pandemic also caused some schools to stop certain sports teams, though a few of these decisions were later changed after people raised money to keep the teams active. Unfortunately, a few small colleges had to close completely because of money problems from the pandemic, ending all their sports programs.

Alpine skiing

The 2019–20 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup finished two weeks earlier because races in Sweden, Slovenia, and Italy that were set for March were canceled. One race in February was also moved from China to Austria.

The 2020–21 FIS Alpine Ski World Cup had several races in January moved from Wengen to Kitzbühel and Flachau.

Archery

The first three stages of the 2020 Archery World Cup were postponed, along with other events like the Pan American Archery Championships in Monterrey, Mexico, and the European Para-Archery Championships in Olbia, Italy. Later, on 15 July, it was decided that the 2020 Archery World Cup would be cancelled.

Association football

Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on association football

The COVID-19 pandemic caused big changes in the world of soccer. Many matches and tournaments were delayed or canceled. The big games in Tokyo, called the Summer Olympics, were moved to the next year. Only a few places, like Hong Kong, Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Nicaragua, kept playing their soccer matches as normal.

Athletics

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many big running events to be delayed or canceled. For example, the 2020 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, were moved from March 2020 to March 2021. The World Athletics Half Marathon Championships in Gdynia, Poland, were also moved to later in 2020.

Many famous marathons, like the Boston Marathon and the New York City Marathon, were canceled. Some races, such as the London Marathon, were held only for top athletes. Other marathons, like the Tokyo Marathon, were changed so only elite runners could compete. These changes happened because of safety concerns during the pandemic.

Australian rules football

The COVID-19 pandemic caused big changes to Australian rules football. The 2020 season was stopped after the first round and later resumed with fewer fans in the stands. Games were shorter and sometimes moved to different places because of health rules. The usual awards and events were held on television instead of in person.

Many lower-level leagues stopped their seasons completely. Some players did not get paid for a while. The big final game of the season was held a month later than usual and in a different city. The following year also saw changes because of more virus cases. By 2022, most games went ahead as normal because many people were vaccinated.

Badminton

All badminton tournaments were stopped because of the coronavirus. Tournaments like the Swiss Open, India Open, Orléans Masters, Malaysia Open, and Singapore Open were among those paused. The 2020 Thomas & Uber Cup was also moved from August 2020 to October 2021.

Because of the pauses, world rankings for badminton did not change from March 2020 until February 2021.

Baseball

Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on baseball

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many changes in baseball. Games were delayed or canceled, and teams had to adjust their schedules. Some places kept playing, but most stopped for a while to keep everyone safe.

Basketball

Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on basketball

The COVID-19 pandemic caused big changes in basketball around the world. Many games and tournaments were delayed or cancelled. Players had to follow new rules to stay safe, like wearing masks and practicing social distancing. Some places kept playing games as normal, but most had to pause for a while.

Biathlon

The 2019–20 Biathlon World Cup finished a little earlier than planned. The final race in Norway and the last day of the race in Finland were cancelled.

Before the races in Finland and Norway, the races in Nové Město, Czech Republic, happened without any spectators. The 2020–21 Biathlon World Cup changed some places to make travel easier. The 2020–21 IBU Junior Cup and some events of the 2020–21 IBU Cup were also cancelled.

Bodybuilding

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many bodybuilding events to be delayed or canceled to keep people safe. For example, the governor of Ohio decided to reduce the size of the 2020 Arnold Sports Festival in Columbus, Ohio before any health issues were reported in the state. The event continued with some competitions, but no fans were allowed except for parents and guardians of young participants. Similar events in Africa, Australia, and South America were also delayed.

Later in March 2020, leaders of major bodybuilding groups in the United States announced that many competitions planned for the spring would be postponed or canceled until later in the year or even until the next season.

Bowls

The 2020 World Outdoor Bowls Championship, planned to take place on the Gold Coast from May to June 2020, was first moved to 2021. However, it was eventually cancelled in March 2021.

Castells

When activities for children were stopped in Catalonia because of health concerns, the group that oversees castells (a special kind of human tower) said to stop all practices and shows. Soon after, when Spain had rules to stay at home, all castells stopped in Catalonia. A big test for castells that was supposed to happen in Tarragona in October 2020 was moved to 2022 and told everyone on 15 July 2020.

Another big celebration for castells that happens once every ten years and was set for January to February 2021 was also moved. If it happens in 2022 as planned, it will be the first time since 1791 that it does not happen in a year ending in 1.

Chess

The 44th Chess Olympiad, which was set to happen in Moscow, Russia, from 5–17 August 2020, had to be moved to the summer of 2021.

The FIDE Candidates Tournament 2020 in Yekaterinburg, Russia, stopped halfway through on 26 March. This happened because Russia said it would stop air travel with other countries starting on 27 March.

Combat sports

Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on combat sports

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world of combat sports a lot. Many fights and events were delayed or cancelled because of safety concerns. This meant that athletes had to wait longer to compete and fans missed out on seeing their favorite matches. Some places kept their events going, but most had to pause until it was safer.

Cricket

Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on cricket

The COVID-19 pandemic caused big changes in cricket, just like in many other sports around the world. Many matches were delayed or cancelled because of the need to keep people safe and stop the spread of the virus. Some places, like Hong Kong, Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Nicaragua, kept playing cricket as usual, but most of the world had to pause their games.

Cross-country skiing

2019–20 FIS Cross-Country World Cup

The 2020 Holmenkollen Ski Festival in Oslo, Norway, part of the 2019–20 FIS Cross-Country World Cup, happened on 7–8 March without any spectators in the stadium area of the Holmenkollen National Arena.

The last two events of the World Cup season, the 2020 Sprint Tour (14–17 March, in Quebec City, Canada and Minneapolis, United States) and the 2020 World Cup Finals (20–21 March, in Canmore, Canada), were cancelled on 12 and 13 March.

2020–21 FIS Cross-Country World Cup

The Swedish Ski Association decided not to send a full team of skiers and staff for the first round of the 2020–21 FIS Cross-Country World Cup in Rukatunturi, Finland, from 27 to 29 November.

The second round of the World Cup, planned for Lillehammer, Norway, from 4 to 6 December, was postponed on 12 November because of COVID-19 prevention rules, with a new date to be announced later.

On 1 December, the Norwegian Ski Federation (NSF) said they would not send any skiers to the World Cup events in Davos, Switzerland, and Dresden, Germany, in December, and maybe not to the Tour de Ski, which was set to start on 1 January 2021. Espen Bjervig, manager of the NSF's cross-country section, explained that the decision was made because of the risks of travel and the difficulty of keeping distance during the events.

On 2 December, the Swedish Ski Association and the Finnish Ski Association also decided not to send skiers to the events in Davos and Dresden. International Ski Federation (FIS) marketing director Jürg Capol said it was important for all countries to support each other, but understood that each nation had to make its own choices.

On 4 December, the FIS cancelled the World Cup races in Beijing, China, because of travel restrictions during the coronavirus pandemic, including a required 14-day quarantine for visitors to China. The races were meant to be held from 19 to 21 March and would have been a practice for the upcoming 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. The FIS said they would look for a new place to host the races.

On 9 December, the NSF said they would not send any skiers to the 2021 Tour de Ski.

2021 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships

The 2021 FIS Nordic World Ski Championships, scheduled from 22 February to 7 March in Oberstdorf, Germany, were planned to go ahead as scheduled. The organizers set a limit of two thousand spectators around the cross-country trails.

Curling

The curling season usually ends in May, but because of the pandemic, it ended early in March. Many big curling events were cancelled, including the 2020 World Women’s, Men’s, and Mixed Doubles Curling Championships. For the next season, several more events were postponed or cancelled due to travel rules and safety concerns.

Some events were moved to a special location in Calgary to keep everyone safe. Even with these plans, a few games had to be delayed because of health checks. Other countries also had to change their plans for their curling events during this time.

Cycling

Road cycling

2020

The 2020 UAE Tour was stopped early after two support staff members got sick. Of the nineteen big races planned up to May, only two happened on time, and many others were delayed or cancelled, including the 2020 Giro d'Italia and some of the most important races.

In March, the UCI asked all races to stop until April, and this was extended several times. The famous Tour de France, planned for June, was moved to August and September because of the health rules. A virtual race was held where cyclists raced from home.

The first real race after the stop was on July 15, and the first big race was Strade Bianche in August.

2021

For the 2021 racing season, several races in Australia and other places were cancelled because of travel rules. Some races in Canada and China were also cancelled or moved to later dates.

2022

In 2022, races in Australia were cancelled again because of local health rules. A smaller event replaced the big Australian race.

2023

After a stage in the Giro d'Italia, a rider named Remco Evenepoel got sick and had to leave the race.

2024

Rider Sepp Kuss could not join the Tour de France because he felt sick, and some other riders also left because they were unwell. The race added extra health rules for safety.

BMX

Some race days in the 2020 UCI BMX Racing World Cup were cancelled, and the 2020 UCI BMX World Championships in Houston, United States, were postponed.

Other

The big Cape Epic endurance race in March was cancelled.

Darts

The Professional Darts Corporation had to change many of its events because of rules about big groups of people getting together. Some tournaments, like the 2020 European Darts Grand Prix, 2020 European Darts Open, and 2020 German Darts Grand Prix, were first delayed and then cancelled. The 2020 Premier League Darts also had to move many of its games to different dates and places.

Some events, like the 2020 World Matchplay, were held in new locations without any fans. Other tournaments, such as the 2020 Champions League of Darts, were cancelled completely. Even the 2021 PDC World Darts Championship started with a few fans, but later had to close doors because of new rules.

Disc golf

Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on disc golf

The COVID-19 pandemic caused big changes in disc golf, just like in many other sports. Many tournaments were delayed or canceled, and players had to find new ways to stay active and safe. Some areas continued with games, but most needed to pause and reschedule events.

Esports

Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the video game industry § Esports

The COVID-19 pandemic changed how esports events worked. Many events that usually happen in person were cancelled or delayed. Some competitions were held without any people watching in the room, either in real life or online, using streaming to let fans watch from home.

Because regular sports events stopped, esports saw a chance to attract new fans who wanted something else to watch. Some experts thought games that are easy for new viewers to follow, like sports video games, might become very popular.

Professional athletes also got involved in esports during this time. Some esports groups invited famous athletes to play in special tournaments. For example, a group called FaZe Clan held a charity event for COVID-19 where famous players and athletes played together. Sports teams also used video games to stay connected with fans. The Phoenix Suns, a basketball team, held streams of NBA 2K20 games with players they would have faced that night. The NFL replaced its 2021 Pro Bowl with a virtual game using Madden NFL 21, where players and celebrities controlled the teams.

Broadcasters also used esports to fill airtime. They showed tournaments using sports video games and even aired professional esports events on TV. The IndyCar Series and NASCAR worked with a sim racing platform called iRacing to hold online races with real race car drivers. These events got big TV audiences, showing that many people were watching esports during the pandemic.

Fencing

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, the Fédération Internationale d'Escrime (FIE) gave important health guidelines for fencing competitions. They asked everyone taking part to fill out a health questionnaire. Many big fencing events, like World Cup and Grand Prix competitions, were delayed because they were part of the qualifications for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Later, the Olympic Games were moved to 2021, and all international fencing competitions were stopped. Some younger fencing championships still happened in 2021, but the main senior world championship was skipped that year. The FIE also offered money to help with the costs during this difficult time. Different countries made their own rules, like Federazione Italiana Scherma, which stopped competitions until late summer.

Field hockey

Many field hockey leagues in Europe stopped or ended early, including in Spain, England, Germany, and the Netherlands.

The 2019–20 Euro Hockey League Final 8 and 2020 Euro Hockey League Women seasons were stopped on 12 March. The 2020 Men's EuroHockey Club Trophy I, 2020 Men's EuroHockey Club Trophy II, 2020 Boys' EuroHockey Youth Championships, and 2020 Girls' EuroHockey Youth Championships were cancelled.

In Asia, the 2020 Men's Hockey Junior Asia Cup, 2020 Women's Asian Champions Trophy, and 2020 Women's Hockey Junior Asia Cup were delayed. The 2020 Sultan Azlan Shah Cup was first delayed to 24 September. But on 2 May, the Sultan Azlan Shah Cup was officially cancelled.

Figure skating

The 2019–20 figure skating season saw many events cancelled or postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 World Junior Championships in Tallinn, Estonia, were the last big event before everything stopped. The 2020 World Championships in Montreal, Canada, were first delayed and then fully cancelled.

In the 2020–21 season, many events like the 2020–21 ISU Junior Grand Prix and 2020–21 ISU Challenger Series were cancelled or changed. The 2020–21 Grand Prix of Figure Skating had to be adjusted due to travel limits, and its final event was cancelled. The 2021 World Championships happened with special rules to keep everyone safe, but some people got sick during the event.

For the 2021–22 season, the 2021–22 ISU Junior Grand Prix mostly happened but with some changes. Some countries couldn’t attend because of travel rules. The 2021 Cup of China was cancelled because there weren’t enough flights to China, and the 2021–22 Grand Prix Final and Junior Grand Prix Final was also cancelled because of new pandemic rules in Japan. The 2022 Four Continents Championships had to move from China to Tallinn, Estonia, because of concerns about holding the 2022 Winter Olympics safely.

Futsal

On March 9, 2020, FIFA and AFC announced that the 2020 AFC Futsal Championship in Ashgabat was moved to August 5–16.

Gaelic football

Further information: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games

On 17 March, the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) announced that the first game of the 2020 All-Ireland Senior Football Championship—which was supposed to happen at Gaelic Park in The Bronx on 3 May—would not take place as planned. The game was delayed because of the pandemic.

Golf

Many big golf tournaments, both for professionals and amateurs, were delayed or canceled because of the pandemic, including the major championships. The Masters Tournament, usually held in April, was postponed. The 2020 PGA Championship was also moved to a later date. The 2020 Open Championship was canceled for the first time since World War II. The 2020 U.S. Open and other major events were rescheduled to different times.

The 2020 Players Championship continued without fans for a short time before being canceled. Many tournaments in Europe and other places were also delayed or canceled. Later in the year, some tournaments started again without fans, and then slowly allowed small numbers of spectators back.

Special events like charity matches were held to support good causes during this time. Golf courses had to change rules to keep players safe, like not using ball washers or rakes, and using special holes that could be accessed without touching the ground.

Greyhound racing

The 2020 English Greyhound Derby was delayed until October 31 because of the pandemic. Races in the United Kingdom and Ireland were held without any fans in the stands for a time, but then stopped until June.

Gridiron football

Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gridiron football

The COVID-19 pandemic caused big changes in gridiron football. Many games were delayed or canceled. Players had to follow special rules to stay safe, like wearing masks and keeping distance from each other. Some teams played without fans in the stands to help stop the spread of the virus.

Gymnastics

Artistic

Many big gymnastics competitions around the world were stopped or pushed back because of the pandemic. Some events, like the Baku World Cup, stopped even after some parts had already happened. Other events, such as those in Stuttgart, Birmingham, and Tokyo, were moved to 2021.

Big European gymnastics events for women and men that were set to happen in Paris and Baku were canceled and then planned for later in the year in Mersin, Turkey. These were meant to be Olympic qualifying events, but because of the pandemic, they were changed so teams didn’t feel pressured to attend if they weren’t ready. The Pacific Rim Championships in New Zealand were also pushed back and later canceled.

Handball

The matches for the 2020 European Women's Handball Championship qualification in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, which were scheduled for March 25–29, were cancelled.

The 2021 World Men's Handball Championship went ahead as planned but without any fans in the stands. Some teams decided to leave the championship before it even started, and a few more left while it was happening.

Horse racing

Horse racing was less affected by the COVID-19 pandemic compared to most other sports. In many places, horse racing events continued with fewer people allowed to watch.

In the early days of the pandemic, many horse racing events in places like Hong Kong, France, Japan, and the United States still happened, but with restrictions on how many fans could attend. Some places, like Macau and South Korea, had to stop their races for a short time. In the United States, important races like the Kentucky Derby were moved to later dates, and some races were canceled altogether.

Some countries, such as Hong Kong, Japan, and parts of Australia and the United States, kept their races going without major changes. Others had to pause and then restart their racing seasons later in the year.

Hurling

Further information: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Gaelic games

The COVID-19 pandemic caused big changes in hurling, a type of sport in Ireland. Many games were stopped or moved to later dates to keep people safe. This was part of the larger effect the pandemic had on sports all around the world.

Ice hockey

Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ice hockey

The COVID-19 pandemic caused major changes to ice hockey schedules around the world. Many games and tournaments were delayed or canceled. Players and teams had to follow special rules to stay safe and healthy during this time.

Lacrosse

The National Lacrosse League stopped the 2020 season on 12 March and decided not to finish it, planning to start again in December 2021 for the 2022 NLL season.

The 2020 college lacrosse season ended because the NCAA cancelled all spring sports championships.

Major League Lacrosse delayed the start of its 2020 season until 30 May, then changed it to a shorter season from 16 to 26 July. Players and coaches stayed apart during this time. The Boston Cannons won the championship on 26 July.

The Premier Lacrosse League also delayed its 2020 season and created a special event called the PLL Championship Series from 25 July to 9 August in Utah at Zions Bank Stadium. There were no fans, and teams played a series of games to decide the champion. On 9 August, the Whipsnakes Lacrosse Club won the 2020 PLL season, beating the Chaos Lacrosse Club with a score of 12–6.

Motorsport

Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on motorsport

The COVID-19 pandemic caused big changes in motorsport around the world. Many races and events were delayed or cancelled. This disruption was one of the biggest since World War II, affecting teams and fans everywhere. Only a few places, like Hong Kong, Turkmenistan, Belarus, and Nicaragua, kept their races going as normal.

Netball

In the United Kingdom, the 2020 Netball Superleague season stopped in March after three rounds and did not continue in May 2020. The 2021 season happened but without any fans in the stands.

The 2020 Edition of the Constellation Cup played between Australia and New Zealand was cancelled because of rules about COVID-19 and to keep players safe.

Poker

Most casinos and gaming places around the world closed indefinitely by March 18, 2026, and many live poker tournaments were postponed, canceled, or moved to an online platform. Even events like the 2020 Irish Poker Open were played online instead.

The 2020 World Series of Poker was also delayed until later. Because of these closures, many people turned to online poker. Both professional players and casual gamers found themselves playing more online because there were fewer live events and entertainment options available. Some online poker sites saw much more traffic than before.

Real Tennis

The 2020 Real Tennis World Championship was planned to take place at Prested Hall in Feering, Essex, United Kingdom. Because of rules against indoor gatherings and travel during the pandemic, it was moved to October 2020, then to May 2021, and finally to September 2022. Some other big tournaments, like the 2020 French Open and the Champions Trophy, were cancelled completely.

Rodeo

The 2020 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was canceled after a person attending the event tested positive for the virus. The same year, the Calgary Stampede was also canceled.

The Professional Bull Riders held some events without any spectators. They moved and changed plans several times before finally holding events in different places, including South Point Arena in Las Vegas and the Denny Sanford Premier Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Later, they canceled some big events and moved the World Finals to AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

After this, they created a new league and moved the World Finals to Dickies Arena in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.

Rowing

Four Olympic qualification regattas were cancelled, including the final event that was supposed to happen in Lucerne, Switzerland, in May. All three events of the 2020 World Rowing Cup were also cancelled.

The Boat Race 2020, which was planned for London on March 29, was cancelled. However, The Boat Race 2021 took place behind closed doors on April 4 in Ely, Cambridgeshire.

Rugby league

Main article: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on rugby league

The National Rugby League in Australia and New Zealand started with games having no fans in the stands, but then the whole season stopped on March 23, 2020. It started again in May with games played without any fans, and it became the most-watched regular game since 2014.

In the northern hemisphere, Super League and the Rugby Football League's Championship and League 1 also stopped their seasons until April. Later, Super League was set to restart in August, but the Championship and League 1 were cancelled. The 2020 Kangaroo tour of England, planned for October and November, was cancelled on June 1.

In June 2020, the NRL was allowed to let in small numbers of fans. The 2020 State of Origin series was moved to November and had more fans each game. The last game was at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium with almost all seats filled, making it one of the biggest sports events after the pandemic began.

The 2021 Rugby League World Cup was planned for England in October 2021, but it was moved to 2022 because Australia and New Zealand decided not to take part.

Rugby union

Europe

In February and March 2020, the 2020 Six Nations Championship had to pause some games because of health concerns. Matches against Italy were delayed, and games with the Scotland women's team were stopped when a player tested positive. By mid-March, the whole competition was paused until later in the year. The Pro14 European rugby competition also stopped until August.

North America

On March 12, Major League Rugby paused its season for 30 days. But by March 18, the league decided to end the season early.

Oceania

In the 2020 Super Rugby season, some games of the Japanese team Sunwolves were moved to Australia. Australia said that from March 12, all matches there would have no fans, but would keep playing. However, New Zealand said anyone coming from outside the Pacific Islands must stay home for 14 days. This caused the league to pause after the weekend's games.

New Zealand Rugby, Rugby Australia, and South African Rugby Union created new tournaments for their local teams: Super Rugby Aotearoa, Super Rugby AU, and Super Rugby Unlocked. The Sunwolves could not join Super Rugby AU because of rules, and the team stopped playing on June 1, 2020.

At first, Super Rugby Aotearoa had no rules about fans, since New Zealand had very few health cases. But when cases rose again in August, some games had no fans, and one game was called off and counted as a tie.

These changes led to more adjustments after the health crisis. Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby AU returned in 2021. After their seasons, Super Rugby Trans-Tasman was played between teams from Australia and New Zealand. South African Rugby Union left Super Rugby, and its teams joined the United Rugby Championship. In 2022, Super Rugby AU and Aotearoa were replaced by Super Rugby Pacific, which added the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifik teams.

Sailing

The COVID-19 pandemic caused changes to many sailing events. Two races in the 2019–20 America's Cup World Series, set for Sardinia, Italy, and Portsmouth, UK, were cancelled. The final race in Auckland, New Zealand, happened as planned.

The 2020 Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race was also cancelled because of a COVID outbreak in Sydney just before it was supposed to start. This was the first time the race had been cancelled since it began in 1945. The SailGP championship started in Sydney but was delayed and will take place over 2021–22.

Shinty

On May 11, the Camanachd Association agreed with the Gaelic Athletic Association to cancel the 2020 Shinty-Hurling International Series between Ireland and Scotland. This event, which was set for October, did not happen because of the pandemic.

Shooting

The 2020 ISSF World Cup, planned to start on March 15 in New Delhi, had to be postponed. The Olympic Test Event in Tokyo, which was set for April 2020, was also canceled. Additionally, the 2020 European Shotgun Championships was canceled as well.

Short track speed skating

The 2020 World Short Track Speed Skating Championships in Seoul, South Korea, planned for March 13–15, were canceled. The International Skating Union tried to reschedule it for the start of the 2020–21 season but couldn’t find a date that worked.

The whole world cup for the 2020–21 season, which was supposed to happen in November and December in Canada, South Korea, and China, and in February in Germany, was also canceled.

Snooker

The 2020 Gibraltar Open and its qualifying rounds happened from 11 to 15 March. At first, only 100 people were allowed to watch each session, but later there were no spectators at all. Many players decided not to play, and there weren’t enough referees, so some early matches had no referees.

Several other big snooker events were moved to later dates or cancelled. The 2020 Tour Championship, which was supposed to be from 17 to 22 March, was moved to 20 to 26 June. The 2020 China Open, planned for 30 March to 5 April, was postponed without a new date. The 2020 World Snooker Championship, set for 18 April to 4 May, was moved to 31 July. The 2020 World Women's Snooker Championship, scheduled for 22 to 27 June, was first postponed and then cancelled completely.

Speed skating

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the first four world cup races for the 2020–21 season, set to happen in Poland, Norway, the United States and Canada, were cancelled. The schedule was shortened to just two races, and all events, including the European Championships and the World Championships, took place at one rink in the Netherlands. The World Championships were originally meant to be a test event for the Olympics in Beijing.

Squash

The 2020 European Squash Individual Championships, planned to happen in Eindhoven, the Netherlands, from 29 April to 2 May, were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Surfing

The 2020 World Surf League started later than planned. The first event, the Corona Open Gold Coast, was canceled, and two other events, the Rip Curl Pro Bells Beach and Margaret River Pro, were delayed. By July 17, most of the 2020 events in Hawaii became special non-championship events called the WSL Countdown, beginning with a competition in Lemoore, California. The December 2020 events in Hawaii, the Maui Pro and Pipe Masters, started a new season for 2020–21.

The 2020 ISA World Surfing Games, planned for May 9 to 17 in El Salvador, were moved to May 8 to 16, 2021.

Swimming

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many swimming events to be canceled or changed. In North America, the National Collegiate Athletic Association canceled all remaining winter and spring championships, including important swimming and diving competitions that were set to happen in March 2020.

Internationally, the 2020 International Swimming League was held without any spectators in Budapest, Hungary. Athletes and staff stayed in a hotel nearby. The Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which included swimming events, were moved from 2020 to 2021.

Table tennis

The 2020 World Team Table Tennis Championships, planned for March in Busan, South Korea, was moved to late September to early October. The 2020 ITTF-ATTU Asian Cup, set for February in Hainan, China, was also delayed to a later date.

Several events on the 2020 ITTF World Tour, such as the China Open and the Japan Open, were either cancelled or postponed. Additionally, four Olympic qualifying events planned for April were postponed as well.

Ten-pin bowling

When the pandemic started, the PBA World Series of Bowling was about to happen at the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Enterprise, Nevada. The Professional Bowlers Association moved the WSOB World Championship earlier to 15 March 2020 and did not allow spectators. The Animal Pattern Championships were moved to Centreville, Virginia in October, and the USA vs. The World match was canceled. The USBC Masters and the PBA-PWBA Mixed Doubles competition were also canceled.

The PBA League event was moved from Portland, Maine to Centreville and rescheduled. The PBA Playoffs were also moved to October, with broadcasts later in the year. Three exhibition events were added: PBA Strike Derby, PBA Summer Clash, and King of the Lanes, all held in Jupiter, Florida. Fans were allowed at these events, making them the first with spectators since March 2020.

Tennis

The COVID-19 pandemic caused big changes in tennis. In March 2020, the 2020 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California was postponed and later cancelled. The Miami Open was also cancelled. Tennis organizations like the ATP and WTA stopped events for several months.

Many big tournaments were moved or cancelled. The 2020 French Open was pushed to later in the year, and Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II. The 2020 US Open was allowed to happen but without any fans watching.

New, smaller tournaments were created to keep players active, like the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in Nice, France. Some events had to stop quickly when players got sick.

In 2021, tournaments continued with new rules. The Australian Open had fewer fans and players had to stay in their homes for two weeks before playing. Some tournaments in Asia were cancelled again because of travel rules.

Triathlon

The World Triathlon Executive Board decided to pause all activities until June 30. This included many important races such as WTS Yokohama, several events in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Oceania, and Europe, as well as the Yokohama Paratriathlon Series and Paratriathlon World Cup. These decisions were made through a meeting over the phone.

Ultimate

On March 24, the World Flying Disc Federation decided to cancel or delay all world championships for the next six months because of the fast spread of the coronavirus. This included big events like the World Ultimate and Guts Championships, the World Junior Ultimate Championships, and the World Masters Ultimate Championships. In North America, the group in charge of ultimate, USA Ultimate, also stopped all club and college tournaments. They also paused the start of the 2020 season for the semi-professional league called the AUDL.

Underwater Hockey

The 2020 Underwater Hockey World Championships, planned for Gold Coast, Australia, was cancelled after being delayed to 2021. The 2022 World Championships in Ankara, Turkey, became a special tournament for teams who could travel, but the winners were not called world champions.

In the UK, the national championship was cancelled in 2020 and 2021. The last tournament before the pandemic was the 2020 ladies championship in February. In August 2021, a restart tournament was held, marking the first official event after the pandemic. Regular competitions started again in Autumn 2021 with Nautilus. During this time, 41 clubs closed.

Volleyball

The coronavirus caused big changes in volleyball. On March 12, the National Collegiate Athletic Association cancelled the Spring 2020 men's volleyball championships. Then, on March 13, the International Volleyball Federation decided to postpone the Nations League for both men and women until after the 2020 Summer Olympics. Later, on May 8, they announced that the Nations League competitions were cancelled.

Water polo

The COVID-19 pandemic caused many water polo events to be delayed or canceled. The 2020 Women's Water Polo Olympic Qualification Tournament in Trieste, Italy, was first moved to May 2020 and then to January 2021 because of the outbreak. Several other international water polo tournaments were also postponed, including the 2020 Men's Water Polo Olympic Qualification Tournament in Rotterdam, Netherlands.

In Asia, the 2020 Asian Water Polo Championship in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, was canceled because of travel restrictions related to the outbreak in China. Rankings from the 2018 Asian Games were used instead to decide who would qualify for the Olympics.

In Europe, matches in the 2019–20 LEN Champions League and other tournaments were postponed due to the pandemic. In North America, the USA Water Polo organization delayed or canceled several events, including the ODP Girls National Water Polo Championship and exhibition matches between the United States and Spain.

In Oceania, Water Polo Australia ended the 2020 Australian National Water Polo League early, canceled the WPA National Championships in Adelaide, and postponed other events.

Impact on administration of sports events

When the COVID-19 pandemic began, most sports events stopped for about two months starting in mid-March 2020. Only a few events, like some football leagues, horse racing, table tennis in Russia, and cornhole in the U.S., continued. The 2020 NFL draft and 2020 WNBA draft also took place.

When sports started again, fans were usually not allowed to watch games live. Some races let people who lived near the track watch from their homes. Players had to follow strict health rules, like frequent testing, and could only enter certain parts of the stadium. Reporters watched games from places set up for keeping distance, using tools like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.

Later, as more people got vaccinated, some rules changed. For example, NASCAR team members no longer had to wear masks in many cases. Teams from Canada sometimes travelled differently to avoid extra testing when playing in the United States.

Some sports changed their rules too. The NBA added a play-in tournament to decide the last teams in the playoffs. Baseball changed several rules for a while, like using seven-inning games instead of nine for doubleheaders and starting extra innings with a runner on second base. FIFA also allowed teams to use five substitutes instead of three in soccer games.

Impact on sports venue workers

The COVID-19 pandemic caused big problems for workers at sports venues because these places were closed. Teams really wanted to start playing games again, but they needed to help the workers first. It took time to figure out how to support these workers.

The Miami Heat basketball team decided to help their stadium workers by paying them right away. This was important because waiting for money would have made it very hard for the workers. The team's owner, Micky Arison, also promised to donate $1 million to help the people in the Miami community.