Los Angeles (AFP)
California Governor Gavin Newsom announced Monday that closed door professional sports competitions may resume in his state beginning in June if the spread of the currently contained coronavirus is confirmed.
"Professional sports, closed-door sporting events, without modifications or prescriptive conditions, may start to restart around the first week of June," Gavin Newsom said in his daily press briefing.
This announcement, which gives heart to the 18 California professional franchises of NBA (basketball), NFL (American football), MLB (baseball), NHL (ice hockey), MLS (football), results from encouraging figures for this State , in its efforts to limit the spread of Covid-19, for more than two months since containment was imposed.
The governor has thus conditioned this resumption of activity in about three weeks, to the capacity of his State, populated by some 40 million inhabitants, to "maintain these trend lines".
A month ago, he said he was much more skeptical about the issue, citing a possible resumption of competition behind closed doors before the fall. An activity that appeared in phase 3 of his plan, while a hypothetical holding of events with spectators was in phase 4, namely early 2021.
In recent days, another trend has nonetheless emerged with the reopening of beaches for sporting activities (swimming, surfing, jogging ...). And, since Friday, the Lakers and Clippers have received authorization to reopen their training center for their players for individual sessions on a voluntary basis.
In the wake of Gavin Newsom, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he wants the sport, without spectators, to return to his state.
"I have encouraged franchises to plan to reopen in camera," he said on Monday. "The games could be televised. New York State will help them with that. Hockey, basketball, baseball, football ... anyone who can reopen, we will be a ready, willing and able partner."
Same story in Texas, where Governor Gregg Abbott gave him the go-ahead for basketball, baseball, auto racing, football, golf, softball and tennis, to resume starting May 31, in camera closed.
For the moment, no instance, even if each one is actively working on it, has announced a date for resumption.
© 2020 AFP