In Asia and Europe, the sports calendar is more and more turned upside down. In China, the country most affected by coronavirus, all sports competitions are postponed or canceled. The football championship, which was scheduled to start on February 22, has been adjourned. The indoor athletics worlds, scheduled for Nanjing from March 13 to 15, have been postponed to 2021. The Xian tennis tournament has been canceled.

In Japan, the Japanese Football Federation has announced the postponement of all scheduled competitions until March 15. It could continue if the health situation continues to deteriorate.

In South Korea, the Table Tennis Team Worlds, scheduled to take place from March 22 to 29 in the city of Busan, have also been postponed. The competition was rescheduled from June 21 to 28, according to a still tentative schedule.

The South Korean football championship has also been postponed. The volleyball, basketball and handball federations have taken similar measures. Two matches of the Asian Champions League scheduled for early March will take place behind closed doors.

These drastic measures come five months before the Tokyo Olympics, which must begin on July 24. At a press conference, the Japanese Minister of Health remained very elusive on the question of the consequences of the coronavirus on the Tokyo Olympics.

In Europe too, the progression of the coronavirus has consequences for sporting events, especially in Italy. The country, which has many patients, had to postpone several matches of its football championship. Some matches will be held behind closed doors, notably in the Europa League. Two Euroleague women's basketball matches which were to be played in Veneto have been postponed and relocated to Slovenia.

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