LPGA event in China canceled through coronavirus

The Blue Bay event, which will be staged on the island of Hainan, was postponed from November to March for 2020

The LPGA Blue Bay golf event, which will take place in China, has been canceled due to the corona virus outbreak.

The women's competition was to start on March 5.

The organizers of the event, which was to be staged on the island of Hainan, said that the health and safety of players, fans and staff was their "highest priority".

The start of China's domestic football season and the Nanjing World Athletics Championships were already postponed.

"Every time you cancel an event, this is a difficult decision and we appreciate how hard our partners, the China LPGA and the China Golf Association have worked to organize an incredible event, "said a statement from the LPGA on Friday.

" Although we are disappointed that the tournament will not take place this season, we look forward to returning going to Blue Bay in 2021 and many more years. "

The chief medical officer for England confirmed on Friday that two people in the UK tested positive for coronavirus.

At least 213 people in China died of the virus, mostly in Hubei, with nearly 10,000 cases nationally.

There are also 98 cases of the virus in another 18 countries around the world.

The World Health Organization declared the outbreak a global emergency on Thursday.

Other sporting events in China have also been affected by the crisis.

The alpine skiing world championships in China, scheduled for February 15 and 16 in Yanqing, have been canceled.

The governing body of Formula 1 has also admitted that the Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai could be in danger from April 17 to 19.