OSAA announces state championship events to be held without fans in wake of coronavirus

UPDATE (12:32pm): The OSAA has officially canceled its state championship events.

OSAA CANCELS REMAINING WINTER STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS

March 12, 2020 – (Wilsonville, OR)

The Oregon School Activities Association (OSAA) has cancelled all remaining Winter State Championships.  This includes the remaining Basketball (effective immediately) and Dance/Drill State Championships.

“As this unprecedented public health emergency continues to evolve, we believe that the responsibility to our member schools and communities regarding the health and safety of participants remains our highest priority,” said Peter Weber, OSAA Executive Director.

This news comes after the Pac-12, along with other major collegiate conferences and the California Interscholastic Federation (CIF), canceled their men’s basketball tournament and all other sporting events until further notice due to COVID-19.

The OSAA will continue to collaborate with Oregon’s public health authorities, including guidance from the Governor, OHA, and ODE in order to help slow the transmission of the coronavirus.

We are working with our ticketing partners to ensure those who purchased tickets for future sessions are reimbursed.

The OSAA will have updates soon about Spring activities and contests that are scheduled to begin next week.

The Oregon Schools Activities Association announced late Wednesday night that beginning Thursday, March 12th, all of its state championship athletic events will be held without fans in attendance.

The OSAA said in a media release: “With today’s rapidly changing situation, and in consultation with these groups, the OSAA has made the difficult decision to change its spectator policies for state championship events. Beginning Thursday morning, March 12, per guidance from the OHA and the Governor, only participating students and coaches, essential event staff personnel and media with OSAA-issued credentials will be allowed to attend OSAA State Championship events.”

OSAA executive director Peter Weber said: “This difficult decision has not been made lightly.  Going into this week we knew the situation was rapidly evolving and as the circumstances and guidance have changed throughout today, our focus is on trying to honor the commitment students have made throughout the season by continuing the contests, albeit without spectators.”

Late Wednesday night, Oregon governor Kate Brown issued a statewide ban on any gatherings of 250 or more people for the next four weeks.  The NBA suspended all of its games indefinitely as well after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert tested positive for COVID-19, and the Pac-12 Men’s Tournament in Las Vegas is continuing to be played in an empty T-Mobile Arena.

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