PRESS RELEASE
Due to the heightened concerns surrounding the ongoing COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak and in the interests of the health and safety of all participants and their families, the 2020 Tropical 7s has been cancelled.
The health of the athletes, volunteers, referees, spectators and all participants is of the highest importance and priority for us as organizers. Since our last update on the 6th March, we have been following the guidelines and recommendations of the WHO, the CDC, and local health authorities in order provide a safe environment during the tournament. Given the increasing acceleration of the outbreak and the large number of people planning to attend, hosting the event is no longer in the interest of the health and safety of participants attending the event, their families or the local community. In addition, travel restrictions imposed by national governments and local authorities, alongside policies and recommendations of sporting bodies, have severely limited the ability for teams to travel to the tournament and make a viable competition. “Our primary responsibility has to be the health and safety of all participants – players, volunteers, suppliers, employees and everyone involved with the event,” said Tropical 7s Director John Siner. “We are very disappointed that the tournament will not go ahead but hosting the tournament would pose a significant public health risk to attendees and their families both here in Orlando and potentially the extended community.”
“The NAHS7s takes the health and welfare of our players very seriously, particularly in light of the fact our organizations and teams come from all over the US and Canada” states Michael Cressler, NAHS7s circuit director. “We support John Siner and the Tropical 7s in the difficult decision to cancel the stop taking into considerations the health and welfare of all.”
NAHS7s will not push or postpone the stop but will evaluate all possibilities as we deal with the current outbreak and its effects on player welfare, travel and direction from federal, state and provincial health organizations.More will be released as information becomes available and encourages its member organizations to follow local guidelines on player welfare and travel.