Coronavirus outbreak: LPGA event cancelled, Olympic qualifiers moved

SYDNEY: The outbreak of the new coronavirus caused further disruption to the international sporting calendar on Friday with the elite women’s LPGA golf tour cancelling an event in China and Olympic soccer qualifying matches in Australia having to be shuffled.

More than 200 people in China have died from the flu-like virus with almost 6,000 affected after it emerged late last year in Wuhan in the central Hubei province.

The World Health Organization on Thursday declared the outbreak a public health emergency.

The four-team women’s soccer tournament involving China, Australia, Taiwan and Thailand was moved from Wuhan — the centre of the outbreak of the virus — and hastily rearranged to be held in Australia by the Asian Football Confederation.

Organisers were forced to change their match schedule after China’s team, who arrived in Australia on January 29, were placed in quarantine in Brisbane until after February 5. None of the players has tested positive for the virus, according to the Chinese Football Association.

They had originally been scheduled to play their first game against Thailand on February 3 but organisers said on Friday they would now play their first game on February 6.

An additional match day of February 12, when China play Australia, had now been scheduled, Football Federation Australia (FFA) said in a statement on Friday.

“As always, the health of everyone involved, from players and officials to the fans and contractors, remains the number one priority,” said FFA Chief Executive James Johnson. “This new format allows us to stage these matches with that priority in mind and we now look forward to welcoming all teams and hosting a successful tournament.”

The LPGA said its Blue Bay tournament due to be held on Hainan island from March 5-8 had been cancelled.