The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
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One of the oldest annual tournaments in ice hockey, the Spengler Cup, has been canceled.
Organizers of the event held in Davos, Switzerland, during the December holidays cite the impact of the pandemic.
The invitational tournament was first played in 1923, and a six-team edition was won last year by Team Canada, comprising of mostly Europe-based players.
Travel to and from Switzerland “for the teams from Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic and Canada is currently only possible under strict adherence to the quarantine policies, if at all,” organizers say.
Though Swiss authorities are allowing more fans to attend hockey games from October, standing areas in stadiums cannot be used.
Spengler Cup organizers say games “in a half-empty stadium, and without standing room, has nothing in common with the hockey festival we have become accustomed to.”
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The Swedish government has decided to increase the number of spectators allowed to attend sporting events from 50 to 500 as of Oct. 15.
Swedish Sports Confederation chairman Bjorn Eriksson says the decision is “a step in the right direction.”
The exemption applies as long as there is no increased spread of infection in the country.
Sweden has opted for a much debated COVID-19 approach of keeping large parts of the society open. People in the Scandinavian country kept enjoying many freedoms while most of Europe locked down their populations early in the pandemic by closing schools, restaurants, fitness centers and even borders.
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