The Diamond League track meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, won’t happen as scheduled on Aug. 20.
Organizers of the Athletissima say they are now looking at “alternative options and formats that could still be considered in order to offer athletes the possibility to compete.”
Switzerland’s government has prohibited gatherings of more than 1,000 people until the end of August.
Athletissima organizers say “it is currently impossible to allow a high number of people to gather in a confined area.”
The first eight track meets on the Diamond League circuit have been postponed. Lausanne was the fifth in order of the seven left on the calendar.
———
The Italian sports minister says the government will create an economic safety net if it orders the Serie A soccer season to be shut down.
Vincenzo Spadafora says if the season isn’t allowed to resume “we will assume responsibility so that soccer … has the least damage possible. Because it’s worth remembering that soccer is a big industry in our country.”
But Spadafora is still leaving open the possibility that teams can resume training if sports and government officials agree on a proper health protocol. He says resuming training “will have a positive effect on the possible resumption of the season.”
Spadafora adds that if the protocol can’t be agreed on “the government will declare the end of the season.”
———
The French soccer league has launched a lottery to help raise funds for hospitals and medical staff dealing with the coronavirus pandemic.
Fans have a chance to win a signed jersey in exchange for an online donation of 5 euros ($5.40) to the “Tous Unis contre le Virus” (All United against the Virus) campaign.
French champion Paris Saint-Germain’s jersey is co-signed by Kylian Mbappé and Edinson Cavani.
Dimitri Payet was one of France’s best players when the team reached the 2016 European Championship final and he has signed the Marseille jersey. Houssem Aouar signed Lyon’s jersey.
The French league says 2 million euros ($2.2 million) has already been raised through previous fundraising in French soccer.
