You must have heard a lot of canceled and postponed events due to awful acts such as terrorism, poor weather condition, natural disasters, disease spread, and more. Over the years, there have been plenty of canceled games for a variety of reasons. Mainly the weather. Here are some of the most tragic reasons for canceled sporting events.
The modern Olympic Games started in 1896 and the major international sporting events canceled three times: once during World War I (1916), twice during World War II (1940 and 1944). Now, due to the outbreak of coronavirus, the Summer Olympic games are postponed for a year.
List of Sports Events That Got Canceled
Olympics 1916, 1920, and 1924
The Olympic sports event were supposed to be hosted in the German Empire. They built an impressive 30,000 seat stadium in Berlin for the major sporting event. However, due to the outbreak of World War I in 1914, and the involvement of other nations, the Olympic was canceled.
1. Who Survived the Chapecoense Plane Crash?
- A. Jakson Follmann
- B. Neto
- C. Alan Ruschel
- D. All the Above
Olympics 1920 was held in Antwerp, Belgium. It was the first time in history to actively disinvite Germany from participating in the Olympics. Though Germany was under a new government, they were blamed for starting the World War and Olympic officials banned German Athletes from participating in games. German did not participate in the 1920 and 1924 Olympics.
World War II and Olympic Game Cancellations
1940 Olympics (Summer and Winter Games) were scheduled to be held in Japan. It was the first non-western country to host the game but Japan was forfeited when it went to war with China in 1937. The 1940 games were rescheduled in Helsinki, Finland in the Summer and Garmisch-Partenkirchen in the Winter but finally the games were canceled in 1939 due to Hitler’s invasion of Poland. London was supposed to host the 1944 Summer Olympics but it was canceled due to World War II. 1944 winter games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy was also canceled for the same reason. Olympics games were then hosted in 1948 in London but they banned German and Japan from participation.
1919 Stanley Cup Finals: Seattle vs Montreal
In 1919, the world was in the grip of the worst pandemics in history that killed more than 50 million people. The Stanley Cup was a six-game series with Seattle and Montreal’s having won two and tied once. The game was canceled a few hours before the finals on 1 April. Players from both the teams were hospitalized and the Canadiens were hard hit with only 3 players remaining healthy. Four days later the defensemen Joe Hall died due to Spanish Flu.
1940 Aryan Games
The Aryan games were supposed to be a replacement for the Olympics games. The Sports organizer in Nazi recommended Aryan games which were also acknowledged by Adolf Hitler.
The multi-sport games were planned to be held in German Stadium with Nazi architect which was never built. The idea of Aryan games was originally entertained in 1939 which claimed that Germans can only be defeated by other Germans. Hitler said that once the stadium was built there wouldn’t be any Olympics but just the Aryan Games. Unfortunately, Germany lost the war and the idea was flushed.
PGA Golf Tour
Right after the depressing September 11, 2001 attack, many big sporting events were canceled. World Golf Championship on the PGA gold tour was also canceled because it was evident that the United States was going to need more time to digest the event that had happened on that uneventful day.
2010 Islamic Solidarity Games
The Islamic Solidarity Games was successful in Saudi Arabia in 2005. it strengthened the ties among 57 nations of the Organization of the Islamic Conference. More than 7,000 participants took part in 108 events. The next game was supposed to happen in 2010 in Iran but was canceled after a dispute between Arab countries and Iran over the name of a waterway dividing them.
2011/2012 Egyptian Premier League
The disruption between Al Masry and Al Ahly at Masry’s Port Said stadium in 2012 led to the cancellation of the game. Al Masry fans invaded the pitch and the Ahly fans started attacking each other with knives and clubs. 74 fans died due to this clash and the league was suspended with an immediate effect and canceled. 10 Masry fans were sentenced to death and many others were given lengthy prison terms due to the suspicion of a political attack.
New York City Marathon
New York City Marathon started in 1970 and it has taken place every year. Even the 2001 terror attack did not hold back this event from taking place. However, this event was canceled due to Hurricane Sandy which damaged a part of the city.
2016 Copa Sudamericana Finals
The Brazilian Chapecoense was flying to Colombia for their final against Atlético Nacional of Medellin in 2016. The LaMia Flight 2933, which was supposed to land on Medellin airport was put on hold. Six minutes later, the plane requested priority lading due to a shortage of fuel. A minute later, the engines stopped and 71 people died including 19 out of 22 Chapecoense players.
These events illustrate how major sporting events are canceled due to natural calamities, accidents, disasters, terror attacks, and diseases. Aren’t we supposed to expect the unexpected always?