Wednesday, December 25Sports. Travel. Events

Sports events news 27 April: Premier League, F1, UFC, BTTC

Premier League targets June return

The 20 English Premier League clubs will hold a conference call this week to discuss plans to resume the 2019-20 season. 

According to The Times English football’s top-flight has devised “Project Restart”, with plans for the season to begin again on 8 June and matches to be played behind closed doors at “approved stadiums”.

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F1 2020 season to begin in Austria on 5 July 

Formula 1 has confirmed that the French Grand Prix has become the tenth race to be called off because of the coronavirus pandemic. 

It was also announced that the British Grand Prix at Silverstone will be held with no fans should the 19 July event go ahead. 

However, F1 CEO Chase Carey has revealed plans for the 2020 season to start at the Austrian GP on 5 July. He said: “We’re targeting a start to racing in Europe through July, August and beginning of September, with the first race taking place in Austria on 3-5 July weekend. 

“September, October and November, would see us race in Eurasia, Asia and the Americas, finishing the season in the Gulf in December with Bahrain before the traditional finale in Abu Dhabi, having completed between 15-18 races. We will publish our finalised calendar as soon as we possibly can.”

UFC to hold three events in May 

The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is planning to host three events in Florida in May. 

UFC president Dana White confirmed to ESPN that UFC 249 is now scheduled to take place on 9 May and events are also pencilled in for 13 May and 16 May. All three will be held behind closed doors.  

White said: “They want to fight. People are hitting us up and want to fight. We’re putting together three cards in a week. People who want to fight are going to get fights. 

Thailand will host AIMAG in 2021

The Olympic Council of Asia has confirmed that the 6th Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games 2021 (AIMAG) will be hosted in Thailand. AIMAG will take place in two cities, Bangkok and Pattaya, in the first half of 2021 on dates to be finalised. There will be 24 sports on the programme.

2020 BTTC revised calendar 

TOCA has unveiled a revised provisional calendar for the 2020 Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship (BTTC), comprising nine events and a total of 27 races.

The 2020 BTTC season is now scheduled to start on 1-2 August at Donington Park and will conclude at the world-famous Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit in Kent on 14-15 November.

  • 2020 Kwik Fit BTTC provisional calendar 
  • 1-2 August – rounds 1, 2 and 3: Donington Park (National)
  • 8-9 August- rounds 4, 5, 6: Brands Hatch (Indy)
  • 22-23 August – rounds 7, 8, 9: Oulton Park (Island)
  • 29-30 August – rounds 10, 11, 12: Knockhill
  • 19-20 September – rounds 13, 14, 15: Thruxton
  • 26-27 September – rounds 16, 17, 18: Silverstone (National)
  • 10-11 October – rounds 19, 20, 21: Croft
  • 24-25 October – rounds 22, 23, 24: Snetterton (300)
  • 14-15 November – rounds 25, 26, 27: Brands Hatch (GP)

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