Key takeaways:
- Organizers are optimistic the tournament will not be revoked for the 2nd year in a row.
- 2022 All Native Basketball Tournament has been delayed to March.
Covid concerns result in the delaying of the Native Basketball Tournament:
The 62nd edition of the All Native Basketball Tournament set to begin on Feb. 12 has been rescheduled amid COVID-19 situations.
The opening date of the tournament, which notices dozens of men’s and women’s teams from across British Columbia and regions of Alaska contest for a week each year in Prince Rupert, has been pushed to March 27.
Tournament organizer Peter Haugan stated a committee voted for the hold as the Omicron variant persists to contribute to increased case counts. He stated he has heard from teams who are cleared they don’t have to choose yet whether or not to participate.
“They want to have a tournament. They just want it to be a healthy environment,” he stated. Source – cbc.ca
The previous year, the tournament was revoked for the first time in its long history because of COVID-19 problems, and Haugan is optimistic that won’t occur again this year.
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Regional rules declare that indoor events at venues, such as sports events, shows, and movies, can run at 50 per cent capacity.
Attendees must show evidence of vaccination and wear masks.
Ere the pandemic, the tournament, which takes place at the Jim Ciccone Civic Centre, averaged about 5,000 fans a day.
Haugan stated the tournament could stay at half-capacity but may have to reserve more sponsors to survive the economic impact. The tournament may also strive COVID relief grant.
“We’re affected no different than the Canucks or the restaurants or what have you,” he stated. “Everybody has expenses and if you have no way of developing the revenue, that becomes a problem,” he stated. Source – cbc.ca
