Bluegrass State Games canceled due to COVID-19. Here’s what to do if you registered.
The Bluegrass State Games, an annual tradition for amateur and youth sports in Kentucky for 35 years, will not be held this summer due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“It is with deep regret that because of the global COVID-19 pandemic, the Bluegrass Sports Commission has made the difficult, yet necessary, decision to cancel this year’s Bluegrass State Games,” said BSC Board Chair David Bertram. “The Games have been an annual tradition for thousands of Kentuckians over the last 35 years and we look forward to hosting those athletes and families next year for the 2021 Games.”
Measures taken to mitigate the spread of the deadly COVID-19 virus could still mean travel limits and restrictions on large groups at the time when the games were set to begin next month.
“The challenges and uncertainty that COVID-19 has presented prevent the organization from appropriately planning, organizing, and producing events this year,” the commission said in its release. “Due to venue cancellations, the inability for team travel for competition, medical committee concerns, as well as other factors, the Summer Games will not be able to proceed as scheduled.”
Participating in youth sports had only received an initial go-ahead on Monday with several state and CDC-imposed limits placed on how many athletes could be gathered together and rules against games and game-like situations.
Little guidance for what sports will look like in Kentucky by late July has been announced because federal and state officials are still gathering data on the virus and considering future safety protocols.
Two of the largest events of the BGSG are the soccer and volleyball tournaments, which draw scores of high school varsity and junior varsity teams from around the state. Travel for such sports has not yet been approved by the state and the Kentucky High School Athletic Association has not yet signed off on preseason scrimmages and games.
In addition, KBC Hoops, which has been one of the major venues for the volleyball tournament in Lexington, shuttered earlier this month.
The games also include such events as chess, cross country, disc golf, fencing, martial arts, mountain biking, pickleball, softball, table tennis, tennis, track and field, ultimate frisbee, wrestling and even sailing.
“All athletes and teams who have registered for the 2020 Summer Games will be refunded for their registration fee. Participants also have the option to donate those funds to the 501c(3) non-profit BSC or move them to their 2021 registration,” the commission said.
