Arnold Sports Festival Australia announces ‘postponement’ of scheduled 2020 event

The organisers of the Arnold Sports Festival Australia, due to be held in in Melbourne from 20th to 22nd March, have announced that the event has been postponed.

A statement from the organisers advises “the rapid escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic has created an exceptional and unprecedented set of circumstances for our event. We have received guidance from the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre (MCEC), and its governing body the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust (MCET) on behalf of the State Government of Victoria that elements of the Victorian State Emergency Act will be enacted to ban any events over 500 people.

“As such, the MCEC cannot allow the event to proceed and we are left with no choice but to postpone the event.

“It goes without saying that this is absolutely heart breaking for everyone involved. In the last few days we have been trying to find a way to continue even in a limited capacity, but our primary concern has been; and is, the health and welfare of the athletes competing, exhibitors, staff, our personnel, event partners and of course the tens of thousands of people attending.”

Arnold Sports Festival Organiser Tony Doherty went on to say “I am devastated that we cannot go ahead with the Arnold Sports Festival Australia as scheduled. Although we examined any and all options available, the health and safety of the public, our athletes and our exhibitors are of paramount importance and our primary concern.

“I know that the event will be back bigger than ever and my team, our event partners and I will be working relentlessly to ensure it does.”

With no scheduled events to proceed at the MCEC, pending the particulars of Victoria’s state of emergency legislation, some scheduled sporting events may run in other locations.

Advising that with these details to be finalised, Doherty went on to say “we hope to make announcements shortly”.

He concluded “we very much appreciate the assistance, understanding, support and cooperation of everyone involved in what has been a challenging and unprecedented time for the event.

“Further information regarding refunds for ticket holders, details of the rescheduled date for the event and which sporting events are to continue in other venues will be communicated in due course.”

The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) has also announced that its 2020 Convention, due to be held this week in San Diego, USA, has been cancelled after a recommendation from the California Department of Public Health to cancel or postpone gatherings of more than 250 people.

Click here for more information on the Arnold Sports Festival Australia in the Australasian Leisure Management industry Calendar.

Images: The show floor at the Arnold Sports Festival Australia (top) and Arnold Schwarzenegger [at right] at the Festival (below).