The Canada Cup International Softball Championship has been cancelled for a second consecutive year amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

The cancellation of the long-running tournament 鈥� which is typically held in July at Softball City and other parks around South Surrey and sometimes Cloverdale 鈥� was announced Wednesday morning.

This year鈥檚 event was scheduled for July 2-11.

鈥淭he decision to cancel this year鈥檚 event is terribly disappointing, but there are simply too many health-related concerns and logistical issues to allow the event to take place,鈥� said Canada Cup board chair Greg Timm. 鈥淭he health and safety of players, their families, our volunteer base and the fans needs to come first and foremost.鈥�

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Considering teams 鈥� both youth squads and national women鈥檚 teams 鈥� come to the tournament from across the world, ongoing border issues and Canada鈥檚 quarantine rules played a major role in this year鈥檚 cancellation. As well, Timm noted that 鈥渢he suggestion by public health officials that no large-scale events (should) occur this summer鈥� was a major factor in the decision.

Last year鈥檚 event for many of the same reasons.

鈥淲e are especially disappointed for the young athletes who count on this event as a marquee showcase tournament that has led to hundreds of scholarships from academic institutions across North America,鈥� Timm said.

The national teams that would have attended the Canada Cup 鈥� including the Canadian women鈥檚 team, which features a number of local players 鈥� are currently training in advance of the Summer Olympics in Tokyo, which is slated for a late-July start.

In normal Olympic or world championships years, many of those teams use the Canada Cup as a tune-up event, and head to the worlds or Olympics after the South Surrey tournament wraps.

Timm said organizers are now focused on planning for a 2022 Canada Cup 鈥渢hat will be better than ever.鈥�

sports@peacearchnews.com
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