Organizers Of Top U.K. Events Hopeful Of Capacity Crowds In '21

Organizers of Wimbledon, the Open, Royal Ascot and the British F1 Grand Prix "have begun stepping up plans to host capacity crowds next summer" after the first coronavirus vaccine was approved for use. The announcement that the U.K. had become the first country to deem the Pfizer vaccine "safe to be rolled out" was also hailed as a "major boost for the staging of the postponed Olympics and European Championship in front of spectators." U.K. Health Secretary Matt Hancock proclaimed the vaccine "would bring about the end" of the coronavirus crisis "by the spring."

Sources said that would be "too late for the likes of the Six Nations and Cheltenham Festival to take place without social distancing still being in force," while the Grand National may also have to operate with a reduced capacity. But Britain’s "traditional sporting summer -- which was decimated by Covid-19 this year" -- is "very much on course to return" (London TELEGRAPH, 12/2).