Domestic sporting competitions have been suspended in Georgia as a safety measure amid the global coronavirus outbreak, with international tournaments and matches either cancelled or going behind closed doors.
As the World Health Organisation declared on Wednesday the outbreak was now considered a pandemic, Georgia joined a string of countries suspending sports events. On Thursday, the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport said scheduled events would not go ahead in the near future.
The ministry also issued recommendations to sporting organisations to refrain from holding their own competitive fixtures as well as trainings and other sessions involving gatherings of a high number of people.
IN VIEW OF CURRENT CIRCUMSTANCES IN GEORGIA IT IS DECIDED @rugby_europe RND5 GAME #GEORGIA VS #RUSSIA TO BE CLOSED FOR PUBLIC
— Georgian Rugby Union (@GeorgianRugby) March 12, 2020
READ MORE HERE: https://t.co/mmg1RNZzsL pic.twitter.com/S29Gw8rirE
National leagues for football, rugby and other sports have all gone on a break, including not only the principal contests but also youth and lower level leagues.
International fixtures and events have now been added to the suspension, with the earlier decision on cancellation of the Tbilisi Judo Grand Prix now joined by moves on other contests throughout this month.
Georgia's Rugby Europe game against Russia, scheduled for Saturday, will go behind closed doors, however the Georgian Football Federation is still to announce its decision on the March 26 Euro 2020 qualifying fixture against Belarus.