The Novel Coronavirus now also known as COVID 19 is wreaking havoc not only with everyone’s physical health, but it’s bringing us down mentally because of the self-isolation, financially because of all the economical loses countries will face because of lockdowns and quarantines, and now morally since all of our favorite events are being canceled to avoid crowds and subsequent spreading of the virus. Let’s talk about the events that got canceled because of the coronavirus.
Film Festivals
First of all – South by Southwest, the annual media festival in Austin, Texas, that has events happening all over the city got canceled because of the outbreak. This happened after big sponsors like Facebook, Apple, Google and others pulled out due to the COVID 19 outbreak.
There are rumors of the Cannes film festival being canceled too, even though the organizers still hope to hold the event in May if the virus situation improves.
Music Festivals
Coachella has exactly been canceled but the date of the festival got moved from April to October. So while those who have tickets still get to go, if they were planning to travel they’re going to have to change their bookings and flights for October now.
Glastonbury’s 50th-anniversary festival got canceled altogether because even if the situation improves by summer the organizers are unable to build the site right now. It takes 3 months and thousands of people to make a field into a festival location with all the facilities needed. So there’s just no way they can make it happen.
Eurovision which was set to happen between May 14th and May 16 in Rotterdam also got canceled. They’ve issued a statement saying: “Over the past few weeks, we have explored many alternative options to allow the Eurovision Song Contest to go ahead.
However, the uncertainty created by the spread of COVID-19 throughout Europe – and the restrictions put in place by the governments of the participating broadcasters and the Dutch authorities – means the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has taken the difficult decision to not continue with the live event as planned. The health of artists, staff, fans and visitors, as well as the situation in the Netherlands, Europe and the world, is at the heart of this decision.
We are very proud that the Eurovision Song Contest has united audiences every year, without interruption, for the past 64 years and we, like the millions of you around the world, are extremely saddened that it can not take place in May.”
Cultural Events
Met Gala got postponed indefinitely. Anna Wintour issued a statement this week saying “One day that will not arrive on schedule will be the opening of the Costume Institute’s exhibition, About Time. Due to the unavoidable and responsible decision by the Metropolitan Museum to close its doors, About Time, and the opening night gala, will not take place on the date scheduled. In the meantime, we will give you a preview of this extraordinary exhibition in our forthcoming May issue.”
Sporting Events
Euro 2020 was postponed for a year and will happen in 2021. So much planning usually goes into this event and seeing it getting canceled is heartbreaking to football fans but what can you do. They’ve already had football matches without spectators and yet the footballers are getting infected with COVID19. This has been called the biggest crisis that football faced in its history.
The NBA
season has been suspended because of a player getting sick moments before the
game. He tested positive for COVID 19 and this means that he and everyone he’s
been in contact with has to be isolated in order to avoid spreading the virus.
And seeing how this pandemic is taking over the world it only makes sense to
suspend the season.
Tokyo Olympics have not been canceled yet and the organizers are set to go on with the event, but everyone else is pretty sure it’s irresponsible and dangerous and that the even scheduled for July-August 2020 will, in fact, be canceled soon.
