In pictures: How coronavirus has affected sports

CORONAVIRUS & SPORTS

The Novel coronavirus has affected the sporting world in many ways than one, with some events postponed and others cancelled.

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Sunday's match between Cruz Azul and America in the Mexican Clausura tournament  was played behind closed doors as a preventive measure in the face of the global pandemic.

 

The same day, paddock stalls remained empty prior to races at Laurel Park in Laurel, Maryland. Nearly all of professional sports have been canceled or postposed because of the coronavirus pandemic, except for horse racing. However, on Sunday, Maryland Governor Larry Hogan issued an emergency order to close all Maryland casinos, racetracks, and simulcast betting facilities to the general public due to COVID-19.

 

This sign stating the facility is closed to the public was seen at the main entrance as live on-track racing occurs without spectators at Laurel Park in Maryland.

 

Also on Sunday, players of Gremio entered the field wearing protective face masks to prevent the spread of the new Coronavirus, before the match against Sao Luiz, at the closed-doors Arena do Gremio stadium, in Porto Alegre, Brazil.

 
 
On Saturday, sparse crowds watched the Super Rugby match between Japan's Sunwolves and New Zealand's Crusaders at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

 

The day before, locks were seen in front of the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales. The weekend's Six Nations international between Wales and Scotland in Cardiff was postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak just hours after the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) gave it the go ahead.

 

On Saturday, this lone official stood at the stands during the men's 12.5 km Pursuit competition at the IBU Biathlon World Cup in Kontiolahti, Finland.

 

The same day, football goals were locked together on a playing field in Altrincham, north west England, as many local amateur leagues cancelled games in line with guidelines from the national associations due to the outbreak of the novel coronavirus COVID-19.

 

Closed signs and MLB news releases were displayed on box office windows outside of Peoria Stadium, home of the San Diego Padres and Seattle Mariners on March 13, 2020 in Peoria, Arizona. Major League Baseball cancelled spring training games and delayed opening day by at least two weeks due to COVID-19.

 

Eight days ago, the Inter Milan v Juventus game took place in an empty Juventus stadium in Turin.

 

A general view of the 17th green is seen after the cancellation of the The PLAYERS Championship and consecutive PGA Tour events through April 5 due to the COVID-19 pandemic as seen at the TPC Stadium course in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida.

 

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