The Most recent on the consequences of the coronavirus outbreak on sporting activities all around the globe:

___

Ontario’s minister of sport suggests it would be “irresponsible” to give the Ok for the Ontario Hockey League to start out its season appropriate now.

Sports activities Minister Lisa MacLeod explained Thursday the province was times away from approving the OHL’s plan to return to enjoy in late March when the 3rd wave of the COVID-19 pandemic began in earnest in the province. She stated that while she had been hopeful there would be an OHL time, there was no way to justify the league returning supplied how immediately variants of the virus can spread.

The OHL is the only key junior league less than the Canadian Hockey League umbrella that hasn’t begun its time. The Western Hockey League and Quebec Significant Junior Hockey League have played modified schedules this yr.

The CHL canceled the Memorial Cup, Canada’s significant junior championship, on Tuesday. It experienced been scheduled to be held in Ontario, which documented a record-superior 4,736 new conditions of COVID-19 on Thursday and 29 much more deaths connected to the virus.

MacLeod claimed any resumption of play would have to be permitted by Ontario’s main health-related officer of health.

___

South Carolina is expanding the allowed attendance for the team’s spring soccer recreation later this month from 9,000 to 15,000.

The school’s athletic department mentioned that the rollout of vaccinations within just the state experienced absent perfectly and Prisma Health and fitness officials agreed that an maximize in attendance at Williams-Brice Stadium for the video game April 24 would not effect a vaccination clinic becoming staged at Gamecock Park instantly across from the area.

The athletic department suggests encounter coverings should be worn to arrive inside of and will be expected while seeing, besides if a admirer is having or ingesting.

___

The Nashville Predators will be in a position to host up to 5,700 lovers with local wellness officers increasing COVID protocols.

The Predators will be ready to host up to 33% of capability at Bridgestone Arena beginning Monday with a home sport versus the Chicago Blackhawks. That’s an enhance of additional than 1,500 supporters.

The adjustments imply far more admirers will be allowed in the decrease bowl and suite locations. Lovers nevertheless are required to wear masks inside of the arena other than when consuming and consuming.

The updates from the Nashville Metro Community Overall health Division also allow for for 40% capacity at out of doors stadiums. Nashville SC in MLS will be able to choose benefit of that for the club’s opener Saturday evening against Cincinnati.

___

Rice is out of the NCAA women’s volleyball event in Omaha, Nebraska, due to the fact of COVID-19 protocols, and its opening match against North Carolina A&T on Wednesday night was declared a no contest.

The Owls (16-5) ended up established to make their 3rd straight look in the match, and sixth total, immediately after winning the Meeting United states of america West Division title.

Coach Genny Volpe states the staff is devastated.

“It unquestionably is distressing to see how a lot the staff wished to contend and to have to crack the information to them that they couldn’t perform,” Volpe said. “To contend in this match intended so significantly to all of us.”

___

Extra AP athletics: https://apnews.com/hub/apf-sporting activities and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports