Sport: NHL's COVID protocol-related absences for May 7, 2021

Here is what has happened over the last couple of weeks in the NBA:MAY 5Los Angeles Lakers guard Dennis Schroder surprised a lot of people this week when he accidentally revealed LeBron James’ COVID-19 vaccination status. According to Schroder, he and James are two Lakers who have opted not to get vaccinated. Read more here.Of the 492 NBA players tested for COVID-19 since April 28, four players registered new confirmed positive tests, the league and the players’ union announced in a press release. Read more here.MAY 4The Hornets may have to finish the regular season without Miles Bridges, who is expected to miss 10 to 14 days after entering the NBA’s health and safety protocols. The 10- to 14-day timeline is normally associated with a positive COVID-19 test, although that hasn’t been confirmed. Bridges is currently in quarantine, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Read more here.MAY 3Magic head coach Steve Clifford, who has been in the NBA’s health and safety protocols for over a week, has been cleared and is on track to coach the team on Wednesday vs. Boston, the team announced Monday. We heard back on April 24 that Clifford had registered a positive test for COVID-19. However, he had just received his second vaccination shot and reportedly didn’t experience any symptoms following his diagnosis. Despite not feeling ill, Clifford had to clear the league’s protocols before being given the go-ahead to be around the Magic again. Read more here.Lakers guard Dennis Schroder is expected to miss the next 10-14 days in the NBA's health and safety protocols. The 27-year-old could very likely miss the remainder of the regular season as the Lakers have just eight games remaining. L.A.'s final regular-season game is May 16 against the New Orleans Pelicans. There's a possibility he returns for the team's final two games of the season, but that's viewed as the best-case scenario. Read more here.MAY 2Lakers guard Dennis Schroder has entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols, according to Marc J. Spears of The Undefeated. It’s unclear how long he’ll be sidelined. Read more here.APRIL 29The NBA's Chicago Bulls and NHL's Chicago Blackhawks are going with a "better late than never" approach to welcoming paying spectators back to the United Center. In a joint statement released on Thursday, the two organizations announced they've been permitted to welcome fans at 25% capacity beginning when the Bulls host the Boston Celtics on May 7. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, will have to wait until their home game against the Dallas Stars on May 9. Read more here.APRIL 27The Milwaukee Bucks are joining other sports entities around the United States in an attempt to get an increasing number of Americans vaccinated from COVID-19. According to Malika Andrews of ESPN, the Bucks are offering every eligible fan attending Sunday’s game against the Brooklyn Nets at Fiserv Forum the Pfizer vaccine. Read more here.Rockets guard Kevin Porter Jr. has been fined $50,000 for violating the NBA’s health and safety protocols, the league announced in a press release. Porter violated these rules when he attended a club in Miami on April 19. The NBA’s protocols prohibit players and staff from attending indoor social gatherings of 15 or more people, along with entering bars, lounges, clubs or similar establishments. Sterling Brown, who was assaulted and severely injured in the incident, will not be fined. Read more here.APRIL 26According to Baxter Holmes of ESPN, 10 of the NBA’s referees are currently sidelined, primarily due to COVID-related issues, and adding that 24 refs have missed at least one game this season due to the league’s health and safety protocols. Read more here.APRIL 24Evan Fournier's return to the court Friday didn't go as planned, but it was still a step in the right direction. The Boston Celtics guard missed the previous nine games due to COVID-19. Fournier opened up about his experience with the virus after missing all of his shots in a 109-104 loss to the Brooklyn Nets, according to Justin Leger of NBC Sports Boston. Read more here.Magic coach Steve Clifford has returned a positive COVID-19 test, per Shams Charania of The Athletic. Sources tell Charania that Clifford has received his first vaccine and is considered asymptomatic, and there’s hope that the test result is a false positive. Read more here.APRIL 23Already missing Damion Lee due to the NBA’s health and safety protocols, the Warriors placed swingman Kent Bazemore in those protocols as well, tweets Anthony Slater of The Athletic. According to Slater, Bazemore is expected to be out for the next seven days, which suggests he may have been a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Bazemore confirmed in a tweet that he didn’t test positive for the virus himself. Read more here.Kings star guard De’Aaron Fox is expected to miss 10-14 days after being placed under the league’s health and safety protocols, according to Shams Charania and Sam Amick of The Athletic. Read more here.APRIL 22Kevin Porter Jr. will be out until at least Sunday for violating the NBA’s health and safety protocols, ESPN’s Tim MacMahon reports. Rockets head coach Stephen Silas said prior to Wednesday’s game against the Utah Jazz that Porter will be sidelined for several days, though he did not specify the reason. According to MacMahon, the NBA has ruled Brown ineligible because he visited a strip club with Brown. The league’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols limit where players can go during road trips. Read more here.APRIL 21Three new NBA players returned confirmed positive COVID-19 tests during the last week, the NBA and NBPA announced on Wednesday in a press release. A report last week indicated that Bulls guard Zach LaVine was of them. He remains in the health and safety protocols and out of Chicago’s lineup. Read more here.APRIL 19The NBA has not permitted personnel to travel internationally to scout players since October due to COVID-19 concerns. ESPN's Jonathan Givony reports the league office will be eliminating such travel restrictions for individuals who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus. Personnel who do travel internationally for scouting purposes must "comply with all applicable government regulations" and adhere to NBA health and safety protocols. Read more here.On Monday, the NBA confirmed that free agency will begin on Aug. 2 at 6 p.m. ET, when clubs can first start negotiating with out-of-contract players. Teams will be permitted to officially sign free agents on Aug. 6 at 12:01 p.m. ET. Read more here.APRIL 18The Los Angeles Lakers will not visit the White House to celebrate their 2020 NBA title when the team travels to Washington D.C. for a game against the Wizards later this month, according to ESPN's Dave McMenamin. Scheduling conflicts and COVID-19 protocols will prevent the Lakers from visiting President Joe Biden in the nation's capital. Read more here.APRIL 17The condensed NBA season continues to take a big toll on its players, both physically and mentally. Now Fred VanVleet is letting his thoughts on the matter be known. The Toronto Raptors point guard went off on the league Saturday for its handling of the 2020-21 campaign, per Josh Lewenberg of TSN Sports. Read more here.APRIL 16After having to cancel it in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, the NBA will once again hold its G League Elite Camp prior to the draft combine this year, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic, who says the event will take place from June 19-21. The combine will follow, in the same location, from June 21-27. Read more here.APRIL 15Bulls star Zach LaVine is expected to miss several games after entering the NBA’s health and safety protocols, according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Wojnarowski’s report comes on the heels of the Bulls’ PR department announcing that the team had to call off Thursday’s practice due to the protocols, per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Read more here.APRIL 14Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum has been dealing with the effects of COVID-19 for months. As of late, he has started to look more like himself. Tatum said he's feeling "very close" to 100% and added some new information about his recovery from the coronavirus. "I take an inhaler before the game since I've tested positive," Tatum said, according to Boston.com's Tom Westerholm. "This has kind of helped with that and opened up my lungs and, you know, I never took an inhaler before. So that's something different. I for sure feel better now than I did a month ago." The 23-year-old added that he's not sure when he'll be able to stop using the inhaler. Many people who have tested positive for COVID-19 deal with symptoms for many months after the virus is gone. Read more here.Quietly and without much fanfare, the NBA has established the standard among North American leagues for avoiding costly and potentially dangerous COVID-19 outbreaks. The NBA and National Basketball Players Association announced on Wednesday that zero new players tested positive for the coronavirus over the past week. Read more here.An Olympic qualifying tournament in Victoria, Canada, will be played under “bubble” rules if negotiations with the Canadian government are successful. That news came Wednesday from FIBA headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, as planning for this summer’s international basketball tournaments continued. Read more here.The tightened schedule the NBA adopted to squeeze 72 games into five months is being criticized amid an increase in injuries, writes Baxter Holmes of ESPN. Holmes talked to several general managers and training-staff officials who believe players are more at risk than ever. Read more here.APRIL 12Both the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals announced on Monday they're welcoming fans back to Capital One Arena for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic caused the NBA and NHL to halt their seasons over a year ago. Approximately 2,100 fans, or 10% of the arena's capacity, will be permitted to watch the Wizards host the Golden State Warriors on April 21. From there, the Wizards will have six remaining home games on their schedule. Per health and safety protocols listed by the clubs, fans wishing to attend events must verbally answer health survey questions to enter the arena, wear masks at all times inside the venue and follow social distancing guidelines. Read more here.APRIL 9Los Angeles Lakers owner, CEO and governor Jeanie Buss received the COVID-19 vaccine this  week, and she used her inoculation to encourage others, including the  extended “Lakers family,” to do the same. Buss shared an image on Instagram Thursday showing her receiving a shot at a drive-thru vaccination site. On a coincidental note involving Buss’s announcement, the Lakers announced the same day she received the vaccine that the team has scheduled its championship banner ceremony for July 12. Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium also reported Thursday that fans will be allowed to attend the ceremony, although the exact number of fans allowed into Staples Center is unclear at this time. Read more here.During a typical NBA league year, a player must be waived by March 1 in order to retain his postseason eligibility for a new team. However, due to the late start in 2020-21, that date has been pushed back to Friday, April 9 — Friday. That means that any player who remains on an NBA roster after Friday won’t be eligible to suit up in the postseason for a new team, though there are a few exceptions to that general rule. Crucially, a player who is currently on a 10-day contract represents one such exception. For instance, once DeMarcus Cousins‘ 10-day deal with the Clippers expires next Wednesday, he’d still be able to re-sign with L.A. or join a new team and be eligible to play in the postseason, since he’s not being placed on waivers after April 9. Read more here.APRIL 8The Golden State Warriors announced Thursday that fans will be welcomed back at Chase Center beginning with an April 23 game against the Denver Nuggets. Chase Center is expected to accommodate up to 35% capacity initially. However, that number “is subject to the State’s physical distancing requirements, and the actual percentage of fan capacity that will be permitted on a per game basis may vary based on local health approval and subsequent guidance issued by the State and the County,” per the statement. Additionally, fans will have to “produce either proof of a full vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test that was administered within 48 hours prior to the game” before entering Chase Center. Read more here.APRIL 7The NBA reportedly expects arenas to be at full capacity for the 2021-22 season and is hopeful that it can safely welcome more fans into the stands this season, according to ESPN's Baxter Holmes. Holmes reports a "key aspect" toward allowing more fans to attend games is the NBA's league-wide partnership with Clear, "a biometric screening company known for its expedited security process at hundreds of airports worldwide." The partnership makes Clear's COVID-19 health-screening technology available to all NBA teams. The deal could be announced as soon as Wednesday morning, Holmes says. Read more here.The NBA and NBPA have formally announced that of the 483 players tested for the coronavirus within the last week, one has returned a confirmed positive test. Read more here.APRIL 2The BIG3, a summer league that features many former NBA players, will return for its fourth season, the league announced on its website. The 2020 season had to be canceled because of COVID-19 concerns. Read more here.MARCH 31The Oklahoma City Thunder organization, specifically members of the roster and basketball operations staff, received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Tuesday,  as first reported by ESPN. The number of personnel who participated in the inoculations was called “significant.” A link was also provided in the social media messages through which Oklahomans could schedule vaccine appointments of their own. Read more here.The NBA and NBPA have announced their COVID-19 testing results for the past week, stating in a press release that just one player of the 481 tested since March 24 returned a confirmed positive result. Read more here.MARCH 30The NBA has incentivized getting vaccinated, allowing teams that have 85% of both players and staff fully-vaccinated to be freed from the restrictions that have kept them masked in locker rooms, confined to their hotel rooms without guests on the road and banned from eating at restaurants. However, despite the incentives, some players and staff are refusing to be vaccinated, citing religious reasons, health concerns (such as allergies) or other personal reasons. NBPA executive director Michele Roberts spoke with the Wall Street Journal and confirmed that at least a sect of players have concerns about being vaccinated. Roberts suggests, however, that the vaccines -- which she says are “auditioning” -- are “earning credibility” with her constituents. Read more here.MARCH 26Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr revealed that approximately one dozen members of the team, apparently players and coaches, received the COVID-19 vaccine this week. The news of the inoculations arrives amid reports that some Warriors players do not intend to get the vaccine. Kerr disclosed that the players and coaches who were inoculated Thursday received the one-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, which means a second shot will not be necessary. As noted, some Warriors players previously expressed an aversion to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. This week, both Andrew Wiggins and Kent Bazemore indicated vaccinations are not in their future. Bazemore provided a blunt “no” when asked. Wiggins, meanwhile, said, “I don’t really see myself getting it anytime soon, unless forced to, somehow.” Read more here.MARCH 24Some members of the Los Angeles Lakers organization will receive the COVID-19 vaccine at some point this week, according to a report from Ramona Shelburne and Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. The Lakers will join the New Orleans Pelicans, Atlanta Hawks, Portland Trail Blazers and Miami Heat as NBA organizations that have disclosed receipt of COVID-19 vaccines since inoculations became more readily available to the general public. Read more here.MARCH 23Per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), the Heat intend to open two sections in their lower bowl only for fans fully vaccinated against COVID-19 beginning with their April 1 game against the Golden State Warriors. The Heat are the first NBA franchise to announce such a move, but the AP added other clubs are working to follow in Miami's footsteps. Read more here.MARCH 18The NBA and NBPA have reached an agreement to lighten health and safety protocols for players who have been vaccinated. There were also be changes in guidelines for teams where 85% of players and staff have received the vaccination. The NBA considers someone fully vaccinated 14 days after they have received the final dose of the COVID-19 vaccination. According to ESPN's Baxter Holmes, vaccinated individuals will no longer be required to quarantine due to exposure to the coronavirus. Further, they also will be able to have up to four guests on the road without prior testing and allowed to go to outdoor restaurants. For teams that reach 85% vaccination for players and staff, they will no longer be required to wear masks at team practice facilities and they will have more flexibility to leave the hotel when they are on the road, including eating both indoors and outdoors at restaurants. Read more here.MARCH 14Eligible members of the New Orleans Pelicans organization, including several players, received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on Saturday, the team announced, according to ESPN's Andrew Lopez. Pelicans reserve guard Sindarius Thornwell was among the players. Read more here.MARCH 13While the COVID-19 pandemic took a toll on every pro sport and team, the scale of the damage seems to be known for the Sacramento Kings. According to The Athletic’s Sam Amick and Jason Jones, the Kings lost approximately $100 million over the last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Read more here.MARCH 6NBA commissioner Adam Silver said Saturday that he's "optimistic" the 2021-22 season will start on time with "fairly full arenas," according to Marc Stein of the New York Times. Read more here.The NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and NCAA, unsurprisingly, took a massive hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. When the entire country came to a halt about one year ago, Forbes estimated that the four major American sports leagues and the NCAA would lose a combined $5 billion in revenue. According to Forbes' most recent report, the revenue losses for the NCAA and the four major U.S. sports leagues have now hit at least $14.1 billion. Read more here.

Here is the latest MLB news from the past couple of weeks:MAY 5The Blue Jays have spent the first month-plus of the 2021 season playing their home games at their spring training facility in Dunedin, Fla., but they announced Wednesday that beginning June 1, they’ll move their home games to Buffalo’s Sahlen Field — the home of their Triple-A affiliate and the site of last summer’s home games. The Blue Jays are in the process of a renovation project at Sahlen Field in order to prepare the facility for compliance with health-and-safety protocols associated with the return of fans. There are also updates being made to the field of play itself and the facilities, which include moving the bullpens off the field and behind the outfield walls, installing new batting cages beyond the right field wall, re-sodding the outfield grass, a new weight room, updated clubhouse facilities and updates to the stadium lighting. While those renovations are ongoing, they’re expected to be completed prior to June 1. The Bisons, meanwhile, are playing their home games out of Trenton, N.J., to accommodate the Blue Jays’ relocation and the ongoing renovations. The move to Sahlen Field is indefinite, as a return to Toronto is dependent on government regulations and recommendations of medical experts in Canada. The Jays will open Sahlen Field at 24% capacity and begin selling tickets the morning of May 13. Read more here.MAY 1The Phillies announced that Didi Gregorius has been reinstated from the IL and that catcher Rafael Marchan has been optioned back to their alternate site. Additionally, outfielder Roman Quinn has now been placed on the COVID IL, while fellow outfielder Mickey Moniak was recalled in a corresponding roster move. Read more here.APRIL 30The Twins reinstated outfielders Max Kepler and Kyle Garlick from the COVID-19 list. Read more here.According to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN), MLB announced Friday that nine clubs have had 85% of their Tier 1 traveling parties — including players, managers, coaches and other essential personnel — receive final doses of coronavirus vaccines. Read more here.APRIL 29New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday during an appearance on MSNBC’s "Morning Joe" program that he intends "to fully reopen New York City on July 1." This, as Justin Shackil of SiriusXM and Westwood One Sports tweeted, would allow the New York Mets (Citi Field) and New York Yankees (Yankee Stadium) to fill ballparks to 100% capacity on the first day of July. Both the Mets and Yankees currently require proof of either a negative COVID-19 test within differing time frames or of full vaccination against the coronavirus for fans three years old and older to attend games. According to SNY's Danny Abriano, capacities for their ballparks can increase from 20% to roughly 33% (depending on social-distancing pods for seating arrangements) on May 19. Masks are required throughout both ballparks except when guests are actively eating and/or drinking. Read more here.The Cardinals are placing right-hander Adam Wainwright on the COVID-19 injured list, per Katie Woo of The Athletic. The team’s shelving Wainwright as a precautionary move after one of his family members tested positive for the virus. Read more here.APRIL 28The Boston Red Sox offered their historic ballpark to all 38 graduating classes in the city’s public schools system. Fifteen schools accepted the novel invitation to hold commencement ceremonies at Fenway, while the remaining 23 already secured outdoor venues in Boston. Some of the other smaller schools that declined made other appropriate arrangements as well. The commencement ceremonies for the 15 graduating classes will be held between June 7 to June 21, with the celebrations held in the mornings on days when the Red Sox are in town from June 8 through June 14 and have games scheduled. Read more here.The Atlanta Braves announced Wednesday that fans will be allowed back to the ballpark at 100% capacity beginning May 7 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Modified health and safety measures will remain in place, the Braves said. Masks are still required unless actively eating or drinking. Read more here.APRIL 27On Tuesday, commissioner Rob Manfred told the Associated Press (h/t ESPN) via an email that 70% of the league's overall Tier 1 players, managers, coaches, athletic trainers, and other "essential personnel" have received either partial or full vaccinations. Those figures include individuals planning to receive two vaccine doses. Read more here.APRIL 26Andrelton Simmons is back in the Twins lineup, as the team reinstated the shortstop off of the COVID-19 injured list. Read more here.The Phillies activated left-handers Jose Alvarado and Matt Moore from the injured list. They went the past week without Alvarado and Moore, whom they placed on the COVID list along with infielder Ronald Torreyes on April 19. None of those players tested positive for the virus. Read more here.The Astros will activate second baseman Jose Altuve from the COVID-19 list. Altuve hasn’t played since April 13 on account of a positive COVID test. Read more here.APRIL 23Major League Baseball experienced a small increase in positive COVID-19 test results among personnel for the second straight week. Per ESPN's Buster Olney, MLB and the MLB Players Association announced on Friday that three players and five staff members tested positive for the coronavirus over the past week. Back on April 16, those entities confirmed that three new players and three staff members tested positive for the virus. Read more here.The Rays placed righty Diego Castillo on the COVID-19 injured list. Read more here.APRIL 21The Twins announced Wednesday that they placed infielder JT Riddle on the COVID-19-related injured list and selected the contract of catcher Tomas Telis from their taxi squad. Riddle becomes the fifth member of the Twins’ roster to land on the COVID-19 IL, joining lefty Caleb Thielbar and outfielders Max Kepler and Kyle Garlick. Read more here.APRIL 20The Twins have placed a pair of outfielders – Max Kepler and Kyle Garlick – as well as left-hander Caleb Thielbar on the COVID-19 injured list, the team announced. Kepler tested positive for the virus, manager Rocco Baldelli announced to Do-Hyoung Park of MLB.com and other reporters. Garlick tested positive over the weekend, while Thielbar is on the list as a close contact. Read more here.APRIL 19Following Monday's 11 a.m. game against the Chicago White Sox, a group of Boston Red Sox players will receive the COVID-19 vaccine, manager Alex Cora said prior to first pitch, according to the Boston Herald's Jason Mastrodonato. Read more here.APRIL 18The San Francisco Giants placed closer Jake McGee and right-hander Logan Webb on the injured list on Sunday after both pitchers received the COVID-19 vaccine, according to the Associated Press. Both players are still feeling the effects of the vaccine, and the Giants are hopeful they'll only miss one or two games. Read more here.APRIL 16Major League Baseball saw a slight uptick in positive COVID-19 test results among players and personnel over the past week. In their weekly joint statement, MLB and the MLB Players Association announced on Friday that three new players and three staff members returned positive coronavirus results in the latest round of testing. MLB had recorded four positive COVID-19 tests over each of the previous three weeks. Read more here.APRIL 13Toronto’s outfield will continue to go without Teoscar Hernandez, who tested positive for COVID-19, per Scott Mitchell of TSN. Manager Charlie Montoyo said Hernandez will quarantine for 10 days, and then the Jays will re-evaluate from there. Read more here.APRIL 9The Blue Jays will likely be back in Buffalo. As Keegan Matheson wrote for the league's official website, the Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, announced on Friday that they're beginning the season in Trenton, N.J., while the Blue Jays renovate Buffalo's Sahlen Field to prepare it for MLB action. Read more here.APRIL 8The New York Yankees appear like they will soon reach the 85% COVID-19 vaccination rate, manager Aaron Boone revealed this week. Hitting that benchmark would mean the Yankees would satisfy MLB’s requirements for relaxed COVID-19 heath and safety protocols. “I’m very optimistic we’ll get to that point very soon,’’ Boone said Wednesday, per the New York Post. “It’s a matter of when we got that opportunity, which I know is coming.” Boone, who also was recently vaccinated, indicated the team brought in doctors to educate players and staff on the wisdom, not to mention safety, of getting inoculated against COVID-19. Read more here.APRIL 7Many professional athletes have spoken about how much they missed having fans at games during the pandemic, but Zack Greinke offered a different take during the playoffs last year. Now that ballparks are once again allowing spectators, the pitcher seems to have changed his mind. “It has been pretty nice having the fans in the stadium actually,” the right-hander said, via Chandler Rome of the Houston Chronicle. “I thought I enjoyed it last year without them. So far, I would say it’s been pretty nice having the fans. Going home will be nice also.” Read more here.APRIL 2Major League Baseball has settled on a 20-round draft for the 2021 season, J.J. Cooper of Baseball America reports. That outcome has long seemed likely, as it is the minimum number of rounds required in the 2020 agreement between MLB and the MLBPA. While it’s obviously a step up from last year’s five-round event, the 20-round length still clocks in at half the length of the standard 40-round draft. Read more here.

Here is what the NHL has been doing over the past couple of weeks to prepare for he league's resumption:MAY 7Players in the COVID protocol are: Colorado's Devan Dubnyk and Washington's Evgeny Kuznetsov. Read more here.APRIL 29There will not be a traditional Calder Cup playoffs in 2021, but that doesn’t mean the AHL will forgo postseason contests. Each of the four divisions was given the opportunity to decide a postseason format, and while the Atlantic, North, Canadian and Central will all simply award the divisional champion based on regular-season points percentage, the Pacific Division is going to have a playoff tournament. Also in the announcement comes news on the 2021-22 season, which is set to begin on Oct. 15, 2021, and conclude on April 24, 2022. The divisions will likely be put back to normal, but an announcement will come later this summer. Read more here.The NBA's Chicago Bulls and NHL's Chicago Blackhawks are going with a "better late than never" approach to welcoming paying spectators back to the United Center. In a joint statement released on Thursday, the two organizations announced they've been permitted to welcome fans at 25% capacity beginning when the Bulls host the Boston Celtics on May 7. The Blackhawks, meanwhile, will have to wait until their home game against the Dallas Stars on May 9. Read more here.APRIL 28 As Pittsburgh and other postseason hopefuls face continued challenges linked with the COVID-19 pandemic, Penguins president David Morehouse explained in an email sent to season-ticket holders that the club has asked the Pennsylvania Department of Health about the possibility of opening separate sections of PPG Paints Arena to fans fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and also to those who haven't received shots. Read more here.APRIL 27Discussions about teams traveling to and from Canada for the playoffs that are set to begin in mid-May could continue through the first week of June. Per the planned format, the first two rounds of the postseason tournament will involve teams playing only divisional opponents. However, the last club standing from each division will then advance to a semifinal matchup determined by regular-season records. Current Canadian quarantine guidelines would make it impossible for any club to host playoff games up north in June. The NHL is asking that the Canadian government give the North Division winner and its opponent special permission to travel without completing mandatory quarantines, but the league could relocate the Canadian club to the U.S. for the remainder of its playoff journey if necessary. The surviving Canadian team would be moved to a city close to its opponent to reduce travel costs. Read more here.As per a report by Elliotte Friedman, the NHL is going to hold teams accountable to their actions when it comes to the COVID virus and doing their part to stop the spread. Specifically, if players break protocols that lead to multiple illnesses during the playoffs, there could be huge consequences. Essentially, if a player(s) breaks the rules when it comes to COVID protocols and it costs their team a number of players because the virus spreads, the NHL won’t first look to reschedule games. Instead, they’ll look at why the breakout and spread of the virus occurred and the team could be penalized by having to pull out of the NHL postseason. Read more here.APRIL 23Calgary added forward Josh Leivo to the COVID-19 protocol. Read more here.The New Jersey Devils will be without P.K. Subban for a little while. The defenseman revealed Friday that he has tested positive for COVID-19 and has been “hit pretty hard” by the virus. Read more here.APRIL 21According to TSN and RDS hockey insider Pierre LeBrun, the tentative date for the start of the 2021-22 NHL season is currently set for Oct. 12, with training camps hopefully able to open Sept. 22. Read more here.The Colorado Avalanche are on track to end their COVID-19 pause and play Thursday night at the St. Louis Blues. Read more here.The NHL schedule makers completed another shift, moving things around to try and fit in 56 games for all 31 teams. The Colorado Avalanche were the team that precipitated changes this time thanks to their recent COVID situation, but other teams in the West Division will also be affected. Of note, two games are now scheduled for May 13, extending the regular season for all four teams involved. The original plan was to have the season done by May 8, but that is obviously out the window after many of the league’s teams have experienced coronavirus outbreaks. Read more here.APRIL 20Though it had been clear for the last few weeks, Tuesday brought the death knell for the 2020-21 OHL season. The junior league announced the end of its return-to-play plans, stating that the recent extended stay-at-home order in Ontario along with the increasing cases of COVID-19 has made it impossible to hold a season. Read more here.APRIL 19The Western Hockey League, whose teams did not begin regular season play until late February at the earliest, will play no more than their shortened 24-game season this year. The league has announced that there will be no 2021 WHL Playoffs due to “the ongoing challenges with COVID-19.” Read more here.APRIL 15The NHL has confirmed that the Vancouver Canucks will not return to play from their lengthy COVID-19 pause Friday night versus the Edmonton Oilers as originally hoped.  "The decision to extend the period prior to the team’s resumption of play was made to provide Club staff and Players with additional time for recovery and preparation following its recent COVID outbreak," the league said in the prepared statement. Read more here.The 2021 IIHF World Championship, scheduled to take place in Latvia from May 21 to June 6, is proceeding as planned. However, the NHL regular season is currently on pace to end on May 16, if not later, due to the delays created by the recent COVID-19 outbreak within the Vancouver Canucks locker room. This means that when the World Championship begins, the postseason will have just begun and national teams will be without options from 16 NHL teams. Read more here.APRIL 14The Colorado Avalanche canceled their morning skate Wednesday after a positive result in their COVID-19 testing Tuesday. The person is isolating, and the rest of the tests have all returned negative. Read more here.APRIL 13The WHL and QMJHL have been back in action for a while now, they won’t be chasing a Memorial Cup this season. The CHL has announced that the 2021 Memorial Cup has been canceled. Read more here.The Buffalo Bills and Sabres plan to have full attendance at home games in the fall, though you will only be able to attend if you can provide proof that you have been vaccinated for COVID-19. "Our goal is to have a 100 percent full house for the Bills and the Sabres, starting in the fall," Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz announced via video conference. Poloncarz said that while individuals can make their own choice about getting vaccinated, to ensure that as many fans as possible can attend safely, vaccination will be required. This will make it so mass testing is not required for fans, which will make the entire game-day experience feel more normal and enjoyable. On Twitter, he said that fans can apply for an Excelsior Pass, which will show that they have been fully vaccinated and is already being used by the New York state health department. Read more here.APRIL 12Both the Washington Wizards and Washington Capitals announced on Monday they're welcoming fans back to Capital One Arena for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic caused the NBA and NHL to halt their seasons over a year ago. The Capitals will first allow spectators into the venue at 10% capacity for the April 27 matchup versus the New York Islanders. "Due to the very limited tickets to be made available, priority for ticketing will be given to season ticket members," the Capitals said in their prepared statement. "If there is any remaining single game ticket availability for a general public sale, related information will be communicated at a later date." Per health and safety protocols listed by the clubs, fans wishing to attend events must verbally answer health survey questions to enter the arena, wear masks at all times inside the venue and follow social distancing guidelines. Read more here.APRIL 4The NHL will reportedly discuss the possibility of returning to a bubble environment for the 2021 playoffs, according to SportsNet's Elliotte Friedman. The news comes amid the Vancouver Canucks major COVID-19 outbreak. Read more here.

The latest from the world of golf since competition resumed:APRIL 28England's Paul Casey, 43, told reporters on Thursday he's already received both vaccine shots, in part, because he's "willing to do the things necessary to get through" the pandemic. Read more here.APRIL 20Seamus Power won't play in this week's Zurich Classic of New Orleans. The PGA Tour confirmed on Tuesday that Power has withdrawn from the event after testing positive for COVID-19. Read more here.APRIL 19The PGA the Tour is strongly encouraging players and caddies to receive vaccine shots but is not requiring vaccinations to participate in tournaments. Players and caddies will be considered fully vaccinated 14 days after receiving second doses of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines and also after the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine and the AstraZeneca shot. The Tour intends to stop on-site testing at the end of June and will permit fully vaccinated personnel to "gather in small groups without face coverings" without facing any restrictions or punishments. Read more here.APRIL 13ESPN's Bob Harig reported on Tuesday that the PGA Tour recently sent a memo saying that players and caddies who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to take coronavirus tests at tournament sites to participate. Players and others who elect against getting vaccine shots must still test negative for COVID-19 to participate in future PGA events per current guidelines. Read more here.MARCH 25Spectators attending Masters practice rounds and also individuals holding daily tournament tickets and series badges will no longer be required to produce negative COVID-19 tests. Per ESPN's Bob Harig and GolfWeek, Masters ticket holders were notified of this decision via an email. The email added that those with tickets to Berckmans Place, the tournament's high-end hospitality venue, must take at-home coronavirus tests 72-hours before arriving. They will also undergo on-site testing. Read more here.MARCH 11More and more states, cities, and communities are opening outdoor and indoor events to paying spectators despite continued COVID-19 concerns. During a Thursday appearance on ESPN's "First Take," National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci explained that the existence of at least three coronavirus vaccines should permit growing numbers of fans to safely attend sporting events over the next several months. Read more here.MARCH 9Like other sports leagues and competitions throughout the United States, the PGA Tour is slowly but surely opening events to percentages of paying spectators as COVID-19 vaccine rollouts continue. One hot-button topic likely to be addressed by league executives and ticket brokers is the idea of so-called coronavirus "vaccine passports" that would allow fans to prove they've received COVID-19 vaccines before purchasing tickets to an event such as a golf tournament. According to Bob Harig of ESPN, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan told reporters on Tuesday he's currently not considering opening tournaments only to those who have been vaccinated. Monahan added that the Tour intends to continue to enforce mask decrees at events and tournaments. Read more here.FEBRUARY 23A limited number of spectators will be able to attend the PGA Championship held at The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island Golf Resort in South Carolina in May. Per an official PGA of America statement, attendance for the tournament held May 20-23 will be capped at approximately 10,000 fans per round. This decision was made in coordination with South Carolina state officials, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Medical University of South Carolina. Read more here.FEBRUARY 9Ryder Cup captain Padraig Harrington missed the cut at last week's Waste Management Phoenix Open but was looking to get back on track at the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am. However, the 49-year-old won't be playing in that tournament after he recorded a positive COVID-19 test result. The PGA Tour announced that first alternate Bae Sang-moon will take Harrington's place. Read more here.JANUARY 13Todd Kelly of Golfweek noted as recently as last Friday that Waste Management Phoenix Open chairman Scott Jenkins was committed to welcoming fans to TPC Scottsdale for the 2021 tournament scheduled to take place from Feb. 4-7 despite concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. On Wednesday, Jenkins officially capped the attendance. "We remain hopeful we can host an extremely limited number of socially distanced fans at 'The People’s Open,' and in light of the current COVID climate, we have decided to further reduce our attendance to fewer than 5,000 fans each day," Jenkins said in a statement shared by Josh Frigerio of ABC15 Arizona. The statement added that guests are required to wear masks on the course and also undergo temperature checks before they're permitted on the grounds. Read more here.JANUARY 12Masters chairman Fred Ridley explained in a prepared statement that officials are working on protocols "to include a limited number of patrons, provided it can be done safely" for this year's event held from April 5-11. It's hoped that "a small number of patrons" will also be allowed to attend the Augusta National Women’s Amateur on April 3 and the Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals on April 4. The Masters added that refunds will be offered to ticket holders not selected for this year's event. Read more here.DECEMBER 17PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan said he does not think that golfers, caddies or officials will be required to get vaccinated for COVID-19, saying that it will be an individual choice for everyone and that "there's still an awful lot that we need to learn and we need to know." Read more here.NOVEMBER 11There is no guarantee that spectators will be welcomed to the 85th Masters scheduled for next  April. "We would need to see objective data that would give us a high level of confidence that we could bring large numbers of people onto the grounds for April,'' Augusta National and Masters chairman Fred Ridley told reporters on Wednesday, per Bob Harig of ESPN. "I think the vaccine — I don't want to get into medical prognostications — but just logically as a layperson, the vaccine while it will be wonderful when it happens, there are all kinds of issues that point to beyond April (for the vaccine) as the silver bullet. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 16PGA Tour of Australasia Tournaments director Nick Dastey confirmed that the Australian PGA Championship has been postponed until at least February 2021 due to concerns related to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Read more here.

What's the latest from the world of NASCAR:APRIL 25NASCAR will not require drivers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, president Steve Phelps said Sunday, according to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). "It is important, in my opinion, that people get vaccinated," Phelps said before the race at Talladega Superspeedway. Bubba Wallace and Denny Hamlin are among the few NASCAR drivers who have made it known that they received the COVID-19 vaccine. Read more here.MARCH 11More and more states, cities, and communities are opening outdoor and indoor events to paying spectators despite continued COVID-19 concerns. During a Thursday appearance on ESPN's "First Take," National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci explained that the existence of at least three coronavirus vaccines should permit growing numbers of fans to safely attend sporting events over the next several months. Read more here.

The NCAA was able complete its college football season. On January 11, the Alabama Crimson Tide won the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. However, college basketball programs experienced issues during the regular season. Teams are competing in a bubble for March Madness. Here is the fallout from the most recent news from the NCAA:MAY 5Clemson Tigers defensive end Justin Foster, once thought to be a future NFL prospect, shocked the college football world in February when he announced he was retiring due to lingering complications caused by a bout with COVID-19 combined with problems linked with asthma and allergies. However, Clemson confirmed on Wednesday that Foster is returning to the program for the 2021 campaign after he missed last season. Read more here.MARCH 24The Big Ten announced on Wednesday that percentages of fans will be permitted to attend remaining 2020-21 games and other events, including those related to springtime football activities. Read more here.MARCH 11More and more states, cities, and communities are opening outdoor and indoor events to paying spectators despite continued COVID-19 concerns. During a Thursday appearance on ESPN's "First Take," National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci explained that the existence of at least three coronavirus vaccines should permit growing numbers of fans to safely attend sporting events over the next several months. Read more here.MARCH 6The NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and NCAA, unsurprisingly, took a massive hit due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. When the entire country came to a halt about one year ago, Forbes estimated that the four major American sports leagues and the NCAA would lose a combined $5 billion in revenue. According to Forbes' most recent report, the revenue losses for the NCAA and the four major U.S. sports leagues have now hit at least $14.1 billion. Read more here.

Here is what has happened most recently in the world of tennis:APRIL 13World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev won't be competing in this week's Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters as scheduled. The ATP Tour announced on Tuesday that Medvedev tested positive for COVID-19 and has been withdrawn from the event that serves as a warmup for next month's French Open. Tournament officials replaced him for the main draw and withdrew him from the doubles competition. Read more here.APRIL 8The French Open will start almost two weeks later than it was originally scheduled due to the ongoing COIVD-19 pandemic. The tournament was set to begin on May 17 but will not start until May 30 instead, the French Tennis Federation (FFT) announced on Thursday. France has been forced to enter lockdown due to the recent rise in coronavirus cases across the country. On Wednesday, the French Health Ministry reported that 5,729 people were in the ICU due to COVID-19, the highest number since the early days of the pandemic. President Emmanuel Macron said that he hoped the lockdown would help the number of COVID-19 cases to drop, allowing France to re-open by mid-May. Read more here.APRIL 1Organizers for the Rio Open tennis tournament confirmed on Thursday that the event has been canceled due to COVID-19 spikes throughout Brazil. The tournament was originally scheduled to run from Feb. 15-21 but was postponed because of coronavirus-related concerns. Read more here.MARCH 19Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are now among the big names that won't be participating in the Miami Open set that runs through April 4 at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens. Djokovic announced Friday afternoon that he's skipping the tournament due to restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Read more here.MARCH 11More and more states, cities, and communities are opening outdoor and indoor events to paying spectators despite continued COVID-19 concerns. During a Thursday appearance on ESPN's "First Take," National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci explained that the existence of at least three coronavirus vaccines should permit growing numbers of fans to safely attend sporting events over the next several months. Read more here.

Pro wrestling news over the past few weeks:JANUARY 11WWE champion Drew McIntyre tested positive for COVID-19 and is now in quarantine. As Joseph Currier of the Wrestling Observer noted, this is the first time that WWE confirmed the identity of a roster member who returned a positive coronavirus test since the start of the pandemic. According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com, multiple wrestling brands that have national television deals are currently dealing with COVID-19 issues. Read more here.SEPTEMER 24Back in March, Roman Reigns decided to opt out of WrestleMania 36 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During an appearance on "WWE After the Bell" with "SmackDown" announcer Corey Graves, Reigns explained his choice, saying that it was entirely based on keeping his family safe. Read more here.SEPTEMBER 2Legendary wrestler Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson shared on Instagram that he, his wife, and his two baby daughters all tested positive for the coronavirus. The Rock says they got the virus from close family friends. He said overcoming the virus was harder than recovering from injuries he’s dealt with in the past. Read more here.

What's new in boxing:OCTOBER 8The unified welterweight title fight between champion Errol Spence Jr. and challenger Danny Garcia has been moved to Dec. 5 at AT&T Stadium, home of the NFL's Dallas Cowboys, in Arlington, Texas. The bout was originally planned for Nov. 21 at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, but promoters had placed holds on other venues with the hope that spectators could attend despite concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic. Seats for the upcoming boxing event will be sold in "pods" to allow for social distancing. Attendees will be required to wear masks or other face coverings when not actively eating or drinking. Read more here.

The latest from the IOC:APRIL 15After being postponed a year, the Tokyo Olympics are scheduled to begin in July, but one official said that the games could still be canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Toshihiro Nikai, who is the Liberal Democratic Party secretary-general, told the Associated Press that if there is another wave or a rise in new cases, the Olympics would likely need to be pushed back or altogether scrapped. Read more here.APRIL 14An Olympic qualifying tournament in Victoria, Canada, will be played under “bubble” rules if negotiations with the Canadian government are successful. That news came Wednesday from FIBA headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, as planning for this summer’s international basketball tournaments continued. Read more here.FEBRUARY 8The Olympics remain set to occur from July 23 through Aug. 8 as of Monday, and President Joe Biden is hopeful they will take place as long as all involved follow health and safety guidelines. "I’ve spoken with the prime minister of Japan, he’s working very hard to be in a position to safely open the Games, to have the Games, and I think that has to be based on science, whether or not it is safe for that to occur," President Biden told Jim Gray during halftime of the Westwood One Super Bowl LV broadcast, per Reuters. The International Olympic Committee is considering holding the Games without spectators, but no final decision has been made. It's likely all athletes and coaches would have to quarantine in Japan before competitions begin. Read more here.

MLS and NWSL most recent developments:APRIL 23On Friday, LAFC announced the establishment of a fully vaccinated-only section where fans can lock arms, sing, chant and not adhere to social distancing guidelines for Saturday's match against Seattle Sounders FC. Read more here.MARCH 11More and more states, cities, and communities are opening outdoor and indoor events to paying spectators despite continued COVID-19 concerns. During a Thursday appearance on ESPN's "First Take," National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci explained that the existence of at least three coronavirus vaccines should permit growing numbers of fans to safely attend sporting events over the next several months. Read more here.

Most recent news from international soccer circles:APRIL 22The German Football League confirmed that the Bundesliga and second-tier 2. Bundesliga will adopt quarantine measures starting May 2 after Hertha Berlin were forced into a two-week quarantine due to a coronavirus outbreak. According to Tom Hamilton of ESPN, players and staff members will only be permitted to leave their homes for training sessions and matches from May 2 through May 11. Starting May 12, personnel will be placed into "quarantine training camps" through the final day of the season scheduled for May 23. The German Football League explained that postponing the completion of the season is off the table due to the upcoming UEFA European Championship that was rescheduled from last year because of the health crisis. Read more here.APRIL 2Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo announced Friday that Weston McKennie, Paulo Dybala and Arthur will not play in Saturday's match against Torino after the trio attended a party at McKennie's home, which was broken up by police, according to ESPN's Andrew Cesare Richardson. Parties are currently prohibited under COVID-19 restrictions in Italy. There is also a curfew in place between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. Police responded to the party at McKennie's home at around 11:30 p.m. Read more here.MARCH 18Inter Milan has paused all team activities and postponed an upcoming match against Sassuolo, which was scheduled to be played Saturday, following a COVID-19 outbreak. An official announcement from the club identified Stefan de Vrij and Matias Vecino as testing positive, joining goalkeeper Samir Handanovic and defender Danilo D'Ambrosioand, whose positive results were announced on Wednesday. The team said that the four are quarantined in their homes. Read more here.MARCH 2Brazilian soccer living legend Pele announced via social media on Tuesday that he has received what the Associated Press called his first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Pele has been staying in Guaruja since the pandemic first struck Brazil in 2020, but it's unclear where he received the shot. Read more here.FEBRUARY 22Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Monday that sporting events could be opened to spectators on May 17 barring a spike in coronavirus cases and/or infection rates. Clubs will be able to permit either 10,000 fans or 25% of a venue's capacity, whichever is the lowest figure. Assuming venues can open to customers on May 17, Premier League clubs will welcome supporters for the final day of the season on May 23. This could become a controversial topic, however, as home teams either fighting to avoid relegation or competing for European places in the table will receive one-off morale boosts not enjoyed by most clubs throughout the campaign. Read more here.FEBRUARY 15Martyn Ziegler of The Times reported on Monday that the Carabao Cup and FA Cup finals are listed as potential test events for permitting socially distanced spectators to return to sporting events in the spring and summer months. Tottenham Hotspur will face Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on April 25, while the FA Cup final is set for May 15. Read more here.

WNBA's latest developments:APRIL 13The 25th WNBA season will have a much more normal feel to it than its 24th. On Tuesday, the WNBA announced the upcoming regular season will begin May 14 and feature the league's 12 teams playing at their home venues. The league will temporarily pause from July 15 through Aug. 11 due to the Summer Olympics, and teams will play a total of 32 games through the final day of the regular season scheduled for Sept. 19. The 2020 campaign was shifted to the bubble site at IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla. due to concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fan attendance for upcoming games will be determined and announced by individual clubs, and all teams will follow local health and safety recommendations. Read more here.MARCH 8The Associated Press reported late Sunday night that every eligible player must renounce her remaining intercollegiate eligibility and opt in for the 2021 WNBA Draft if she wishes to enter the league this year. According to the WNBA, the draft is set to occur at some point in April. Per Jack Maloney of CBS Sports, there's still no announced date for the player selection process. Typically, players out of college eligibility are automatically entered in the draft. However, the NCAA granted athletes an extra year of eligibility because of hardships related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The AP added that rules for a player entering but then removing herself from draft eligibility this year remain unclear. Players must opt in by emailing the WNBA no later than April 1. Those competing in the Final Four have up to 48 hours after their final games to inform the league of their draft decisions. Read more here.

esports carries on:MAY 19Esports’ popularity has experienced an uptick on both sides of the remote, as CNBC’s Bob Woods reported on May 19 that streaming website Twitch experienced a “23% surge in viewership in March,” coinciding with the time frame when much of the country started to stay home.MAY 4While the pandemic is having a negative effect on the sports world, it’s been business as usual for esports and gaming. Participants can easily play while maintaining social distancing guidelines since gaming takes place online. In fact, esports has been flourishing. Texas A&M head esports coach Travis Yang told KSAT.com that there has been a “noticeable increase” in gamers and tournaments as people were forced to stay at home.

Most recent developments among other sports:AUGUST 21After hoping to allow a decreased percentage of spectators to the 146th running of the Kentucky Derby, Churchill Downs Incorporated announced on Friday afternoon that no fans will be welcomed to the event postponed from May 2 to Sept. 5 because of the coronavirus pandemic. Read more here.AUGUST 4Indianapolis Motor Speedway has once again reversed course and declared that the Indianapolis 500 held on Aug. 23 will occur without fans in the stands due to the worsening coronavirus pandemic. Read more here.JULY 1The 2020 Mexico City Marathon announced that the race scheduled for Aug. 30 is canceled. According to Mexico News Daily, the event drew roughly 30,000 runners last year. Read more here.JUNE 26The Indianapolis 500, set for Aug. 23, became the latest American sporting event to welcome fans amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Indianapolis Motor Speedway President J. Douglas Boles confirmed the news, stating, "We will be limiting attendance to approximately 50 percent of venue capacity." Per Shanna McCarriston of CBS Sports, Indianapolis Motor Speedway carries a capacity of around 235,000. The official announcement also explained that individuals who do not wish to attend, such as those considered high-risk, will receive credits. Safety items such as masks and hand sanitizer will be distributed to all race attendees. Read more here.JUNE 24The world's largest marathon in New York City has officially been canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, according to Jackie Salo of the New York Post. The five-borough race, which hosts more than 50,000 runners from across the globe, would've celebrated its 50th anniversary on Nov. 1. It is now set to take place on Nov. 7, 2021. Read more here.JUNE 23The Haspa Marathon Hamburg, which was postponed from April, is set to occur on Sept. 13. The race is expecting 10,000 to 14,000 runners. However, Americans might not be among thm. Action Network's Darren Rovell reported that runners from "higher-risk COVID areas" will not be allowed to participate. A higher-risk area could include the United States. Read more here.JUNE 13Approximately 20,000 rugby fans in New Zealand packed the stands to watch the Otago Highlanders take on the Waikato Chiefs in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition. New Zealand lifted nearly all of its coronavirus restrictions earlier in the week, as no new cases have been reported for more than 20 days and the death toll is at just 22 in the country since the pandemic started. Read more here.MAY 28The Boston Marathon, originally scheduled for April 20 but postponed amid the coronavirus pandemic, was canceled and converted into a virtual experience. It's the first time in 124 years the Marathon won't run. Read more here.