Coronavirus stops most sporting events — but not this wrestling tournament in Texas
Coronavirus has put a stop to most sporting events, but a wrestling tournament still forged on.
Athletes from around the country competed March 12-14 in the National Collegiate Wrestling Association National Championships in Allen, Texas.
“We’re going to do everything in our power to create an environment that’s more than safe for our athletes,” executive director Jim Giunta told The Dallas Morning News on Friday. “But after we do everything we can do, we’re going to operate on faith rather than fear.”
Though about a dozen schools backed out, more than 600 college wrestlers participated in the tournament, the newspaper reported.
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, the wrestling association last week said it planned to disinfect equipment and screen athletes. Officials also relied on three health professionals to “address safety and hygiene.”
“No sport is better prepared, and has already been implementing for years, safe health procedures concerning communicable disease than wrestling,” the association wrote on its website last week.
The three-day competition was held at the Allen Event Center in Allen, a suburb roughly 25 miles northeast of Dallas.
A panoramic photo from the event shows spectators clustered together in the stands while others kept their distance.
“The fans are spread out but ready as well,” the National Collegiate Wrestling Association wrote on Facebook.
Coronavirus shakes up sports
The tournament was held after coronavirus prompted several sports organizations to suspend play.
Professional leagues — including the NBA, NHL, MLB and MLS — announced last week they would suspend competitions. So did the NCAA, which decided to cancel its March Madness basketball tournamentsas well as all of its spring sports.
The National Collegiate Wrestling Association is separate from the NCAA and operates under a club team model, according to USA Today Sports.
To protect against coronavirus, health officials have recommended avoiding close contact and large crowds. That’s because the disease can spread through droplets, including those released from the body when a person coughs or sneezes, according to the World Health Organization.
“If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease,” officials said.
The day after the wrestling tournament ended, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released more strict guidance, advising organizers to cancel events with 50 or more attendees. The recommendation applies to sports competitions and other gatherings held in the next eight weeks.
“Events of any size should only be continued if they can be carried out with adherence to guidelines for protecting vulnerable populations, hand hygiene, and social distancing” — staying about 6 feet from others, the CDC says.
