Special Olympics Illinois cancels basketball championships in Bloomington-Normal due to coronavirus

Posted on March 10, 2020
Special Olympics Illinois says there are currently no confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) with any athlete. (Facebook/Special Olympics Illinois)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – Special Olympics Illinois has cancelled its State Basketball Championships at Illinois State University and Illinois Wesleyan University this weekend due to fears of the coronavirus.

In addition, the Unified State Basketball Championships, in conjunction with the IHSA State Championships, in Peoria have been cancelled this weekend as well, according to a Facebook post Tuesday.

Special Olympics Illinois says its goal is to keep the athletes safe. With the large number of players and others at each of these competitions, the organization felt it necessary to make this difficult decision, according to the post.

Special Olympics Illinois says there are currently no confirmed cases of coronavirus (COVID-19) with any athlete.

The organization says its currently evaluating the status of scheduled events beyond this weekend.

Neil Doyle can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…