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Coronavirus and Sports

Impact Denied Use Of Training Facility Despite MLS Plan

The Montreal public health authority has rejected the Impact's "request to resume training" at its Centre Nutrilait training facility after MLS' decision to allow clubs back into their facilities, according to RDS. Montreal has postponed de-confinement throughout the city until May 25, and it was believed that allowing the Impact “to resume individual training could have been perceived by the public as an authorization to resume all sporting activities” (RDS.ca, 5/7). In Montreal, Dave Levesque reported the health authority in a letter “explained that professional sports are not one of its priorities at the moment.” Many Impact players and personnel were “surprised and disappointed over the refusal because all health measures were put in place following the MLS’ demands” (MONTREAL JOURNAL, 5/7).

PLAYING IT SLOW: Atlanta United President Darren Eales said that testing for COVID-19 "will be a part of whatever the next step is toward group training." Eales added that there is an MLS sub-committee "in discussions with other professional leagues in North America about testing." He "expressed confidence that testing likely will be available because of the efforts being made around the world." Eales also "expressed confidence that the league will work hard to play a full season." He did say that if the season "hasn't restarted by the end of July, it will be difficult to complete the remaining schedule." Teams had finished two of 34 rounds when the season was suspended. Eales: "We will be as agile as we can and innovative as we can to get that full season in" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 5/8). In L.A., Kevin Baxter notes the league is "hopeful its slow return to training will prepare the way for a resumption of games, most likely without fans, early this summer." Gate receipts and sponsorships are the "two largest sources of revenue for MLS" (L.A. TIMES, 5/8).

STARTING TO SEE PROGRESS: In St. Louis, Ben Frederickson notes the fact that five MLS clubs have begun workouts since Wednesday "marks a noteworthy milestone." This MLS experiment is "a lot more relevant to the return of American sports than how the Korea Baseball Organization found a way to start its season." This "small sign of progress" also is a "staggering reminder of all of the hurdles that will have to be cleared before games, even without fans in attendance, can begin." Frederickson: "Avoiding a virus-caused detour is the most important objective. One flare-up could stop everything all over again" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 5/8).

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