By. W. MUSAVIR
SRINAGAR: Fear over the spread of coronavirus has already disrupted schools, offices, world level summits and religious congregations. Now, it’s coming for our social as well as professional calendars, too.
As Covid-19—disease that originated in Wuhan, China, and has now infected more than 884,075 people and killed about 45,000 people globally—continues to spread around the world, fears are rising that the disease will disrupt the opening of the Tokyo Olympic Games in July (Figures when the story was filed). Organizers had previously confirmed the 2020 Games would go ahead as planned, but a member of the International Olympic Committee recently suggested the games could be canceled if the disease is not contained by the end of May.
On 31st March Even the Saudi Arabia has also pointed out for the Annual pilgrimage Haj 2020 cancellation. Saudi Arabia’s decision to suspend entry for Umrah pilgrimage amid coronavirus fears has stoked Muslims’ fears that the ban on the ritual will be in place longer than initially thought and may impact the annual Hajj pilgrimage this year, which usually brings about three million people to Makkah. This year the Hajj is expected to take place from July 28 to August 2.
In the last week of February, Saudi Arabia halted Umrah trips to the holy cities of Makkah and Madina due to the coronavirus scare. Despite the fact that Kingdom took a series of stringent precautionary measures to keep the COVID-19 at bay, Saudi Arabia’s Health Ministry on Wednesday reported 67 new cases of coronavirus taking the total number of infections in the Kingdom up to 238. The viral ailment has claimed hundreds of lives among thousands of infections around the world since December when it broke out in China, where the virus originated.
Organisers of Expo 2020 Dubai have backed a proposal to postpone the event for one year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The announcement came on Monday after a meeting between officials from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and foreign countries participating in the nearly six-month-long event that was due to begin in October.
“Many countries have been significantly impacted by COVID-19 and they have therefore expressed a need to postpone the opening of Expo 2020 Dubai by one year, to enable them to overcome this challenge,” Director General for Expo 2020 Dubai Reem al-Hashimy said in a statement.
“The UAE and Expo 2020 Dubai have listened. And in the spirit of solidarity and unity, we supported the proposal to explore a one-year postponement at today’s Steering Committee meeting.”
While World Health Organization officials insist that Covid-19 is not yet a pandemic, concerns that it may turn into one have led organizers to cancel major global events across every industry, from fashion to technology, design, and hospitality. That’s not just an expensive and logistical nightmare—it’s also a major loss for the industries they represent, the organizers, and the participants and it could add to the burden coronavirus has already placed on the world economy.
while submitting the write up to Street Times i would also like to to put little focus to some of the important events that was scheduled for stands cancelled. Below is a list of some of the biggest events canceled or postponed due to covid 2019.
Events either cancelled or postponed:
London Book Fair
A large gathering of professionals from the book publishing industry was set to take place between March 10 and 12 stands canceled.
Google events
The tech company canceled the in-person component of its Google I/O developers conference and Cloud Next conference. Google said Cloud Next would be held online between April 6 and 8.
World Bank and IMF spring meetings
The annual convening of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, DC, will be held virtually instead of in person.
Six Nations Rugby match
Philip Browne, chief executive of the Irish Rugby Football Union, postponed two Six Nations rugby matches between Ireland and Italy were set to take place in Dublin between March 6 and 8.
CERAWeek energy conference
One of the largest gatherings of energy industry professionals, to take place in Houston from March 9 to 13, has been canceled.
Facebook’s Global Marketing Summit
Facebook canceled its global marketing summit, scheduled to begin March 9 in San Francisco. The company said the decision was made in “an abundance of caution.”
ASEAN meeting
Reuters reports that US president Donald Trump postponed a meeting with leaders of the 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian nations planned for March 14 in Las Vegas.
Game Developers Conference
The largest annual gathering of game industry professionals, set to take place in San Francisco between March 16 and 20, was postponed. Many top gaming companies, including Amazon, Microsoft, Facebook’s Oculus, and Sony Interactive Entertainment, had already pulled out.
China’s National People’s Congress
China announced it would postpone its key annual gathering of lawmakers, scheduled to take place in March. It is the first time in decades that the country has been forced to delay the meeting.
Japan’s Azalea Festival
The annual azalea festival of the village of Higashi, which usually takes place in March, was canceled.
Geneva motor show and Basel world
Two upcoming trade shows were postponed or canceled following the Swiss government’s decision to temporarily ban all large events due to coronavirus.
Global fashion weeks
Fashion weeks in Beijing, Shanghai, and Tokyo, set to take place mid- to late-March, were postponed due to coronavirus. Meanwhile, numerous Chinese fashion brands have pulled out of fashion weeks in Paris and Milan. The French luxury group LVMH canceled a cocktail reception and award ceremony set to take place during Paris Fashion Week.
Religious pilgrimages in Saudi Arabia
The Saudi government announced it is temporarily banning foreign pilgrims from entering the country, which is home to the Muslim holy cities of Mecca and Medina.
Stormzy and Green Day’s Asia tours
British rapper Stormzy postponed concerts in Japan, China, and South Korea as part of his world tour. Green Day postponed concerts in Thailand, the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan.
BTS concerts in South Korea
The Korean boy band canceled four concerts set to take place in Seoul between April 11 and 19 as part of a worldwide tour.
Chinese Grand Prix
The Chinese Grand Prix, set to take place from April 17 to 19, has been postponed because of coronavirus. Three other races in the Formula One season—in Australia, Bahrain, and Vietnam—could also be postponed.
Milan Furniture Fair
Milan’s Salone del Mobile, the largest furniture fair in the world, was slated to take place between April 21 and 26. Organizers announced it’s been postponed until June due to fears about a coronavirus outbreak in Italy.
Facebook’s developers conference
The tech giant canceled its annual F8 developers conference, which was scheduled to take place on May 5 and 6 in California. It said it would retain some online elements of the conference and host local events instead.
Past events
Convening of the American Physical Society
One of the largest physics conferences in the world was canceled one day before it was set to take place in Colorado from March 2 to 6.
Series A matches
Six soccer matches set to take place in Italy were postponed after the country restricted outdoor sporting events in the northern regions of Lombardy, Veneto, and Emilia-Romagna.
European carnivals
The mayor of Nice, a city in southern France, canceled the last day of carnival because of coronavirus. Venice, Italy, too, canceled its carnival, one of the most popular in the world. Authorities said there were three confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Venice.
Mobile World Congress
Mobile World Congress (MWC), the world’s biggest mobile phone trade show, was set to take place in Barcelona between Feb. 24 and 27. The high-profile annual event attracts some of the world’s most prominent tech and telecommunications companies. Earlier this month, organizers announced it would be canceled because of Covid-19.