B.C. Lions quarterback Jonathon Jennings looks of a receiver during first half CFL western semifinal football action against the Calgary Stampeders in Calgary, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015.
Image Credit: THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
May 06, 2020 - 5:21 PM
Live-audience professional sports are among the long list of events that won’t resume until a COVID-19 vaccine is found, but that’s not to say that B.C.’s sporting landscape will be barren.
Premier John Horgan spoke to B.C.’s Restart Plan today, May 6, saying that there are four phases of restrictions being lifted and sports are one of the areas where he’s put some focus.
“We have a season ahead of us for baseball and other summer activities, we're going to be focusing on that first and foremost,” Horgan said today, May 6, when asked about what sports would look like in the months ahead.
When it comes to professional teams getting back to work within the province, Horgan said he’s been in contact with the NHL to offer B.C. as a place to potentially restart the league “assuming that the games will be played without audiences but instead will be played for television.”
Horgan didn’t offer any insight into whether he’d had a response or when exactly that decision would be made.
He said he’s also looking into what could happen with the Canadian Football League.
“Unfortunately the B.C. Lions need to have bums in seats, and I don't see that happening, but we'll be working with the CFL as well,” he said, adding that the CFL also “creates economic activity within our community.”
Sports across Canada and the globe have been severely curtailed by COVID-19, with everything from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics being postponed until 2021 to the suspension of the NHL 2019-20 season.
Gatherings that are larger than 50 people aren't expected to be sanctioned until a vaccine is in place.
To contact a reporter for this story, email Kathy Michaels or call 250-718-0428 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.
We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.
News from © iNFOnews, 2020