Just yesterday (HERE), I highlighted that six of the seven scheduled World Triathlon Series races in 2020 had been postponed / cancelled. That is now a full house, with confirmation just in that the ITU World Triathlon Grand Final Edmonton will also not take place, another event to be impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak.
Here is the official statement.
Edmonton Grand Final to not take place in 2020
With the health and safety of our athletes and community our top priority, and based on the directive from Alberta Canada’s chief medical officer of health, the organisers of the 2020 World Triathlon Grand Final Edmonton are announcing that the Grand Final that was scheduled for August 17-23, in Edmonton, Alberta will unfortunately not take place in 2020.
Alberta’s chief medical officer of health Dr. Deena Hinshaw clarified this Thursday, saying: “mass gathering restrictions currently in place also apply to all summer events or festivals in Alberta. Those restrictions prohibit gatherings of more than 15 people and require people gathered in groups of fewer than 15 to maintain a distance of two metres from one another”.
The Edmonton organisers, Triathlon Canada and World Triathlon want to share their deep disappointment that this event will not be able to take place as planned, despite all efforts from all the parties involved, but absolutely understand that the current global situation with the COVID-19 outbreak makes it impossible for the event to happen at this stage.
World Triathlon, along with the Edmonton Organising Committee, the City of Edmonton and all stakeholders and the community partners will continue to work closely together to find new options for the event to take place in the future, when it is safe to do so.
World Triathlon is working now with WTS and world cup organisers, Continental Confederations, as well as with National Federations and partners, to reschedule some events at the end of the current year, when is safe and fair to do so, with the aim of giving athletes from all around the world the opportunity to perform and compete as soon as possible.
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