Coronavirus news: Wimbledon canceled for first time since World War II

Wimbledon has been canceled for the first time since World War II. The event was supposed to begin on June 29, but the coronavirus pandemic forced a change.

As part of an official statement that was sent out on Wednesday morning, the Main Board of the All England Club (AELTC) and the Committee of Management of The Championships announced that Wimbledon 2020 is canceled due to ongoing concerns surrounding the coronavirus pandemic. Wimbledon was supposed to begin on June 29.

This is the first time the event has been canceled since World War II. According to their report, The 134th Championships will instead be staged from June 28 through July 11, 2021.

Via Wimbledon.com:

It is with great regret that the Main Board of the All England Club (AELTC) and the Committee of Management of The Championships have today decided that The Championships 2020 will be cancelled due to public health concerns linked to the coronavirus epidemic. The 134th Championships will instead be staged from 28 June to 11 July 2021.

AELTC chairman Ian Hewitt sent out a statement with regards to the cancellation:

“This is a decision that we have not taken lightly, and we have done so with the highest regard for public health and the well-being of all those who come together to make Wimbledon happen,” Hewitt said, via CNBC. “It has weighed heavily on our minds that the staging of The Championships has only been interrupted previously by World Wars but, following thorough and extensive consideration of all scenarios, we believe that it is a measure of this global crisis that it is ultimately the right decision to cancel this year’s Championships, and instead concentrate on how we can use the breadth of Wimbledon’s resources to help those in our local communities and beyond.”

Patrons who purchased tickets in the Wimbledon Public Ballot will be refunded. They’ll also have a chance to buy tickets for The Championships in 2021, according to CNBC.

Wimbledon isn't the only sporting event that has been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, the NBA announced the suspension of the 2019-20 regular season until further notice. Soon after, leagues round the globe followed suit, postponing or outright canceling games.

The French Open, which is normally the second Grand Slam of the season, was originally scheduled to begin on May 24. However, the event was postponed until Sept. 20.