How will COVID affect the biggest shooting events in 2021?
The Northern Shooting Show and the British Shooting Show have cancelled although the Game Fair looks set to continue.
The organisers of the Northern Shooting Show have announced that the show planned in May 2021 has had to be cancelled. The organisers explained: “We know that you, like us, will be hugely disappointed, but it was just not possible to deliver the show with the current government restrictions.
“Any tickets that have been purchased will automatically be valid for 2022 and anyone using their tickets to enter the show next year will be given a discount on 2023 tickets. Any child tickets bought to date will also be valid even if the child will be over 16 by the date of the next show.”
However the website stresses optimism for the future, stating that the Northern Shooting Show will return on 7th and 8th May 2022.
Due to the current pandemic we have had no alternative than to postpone the show until 2022. We thank all our exhibitors and loyal visitors for their continued support. Our DM’s are open for any queries. pic.twitter.com/ArL0BdqhkI
— National Shooting Show (@National_shoot) January 22, 2021
And the British Shooting Show
The Great British Shooting Show has also posted notice on its website that the event has been postponed this year and will take place again in February 2022.
— The British Shooting Show (@BritishShooting) January 15, 2021
What about the Game Fair 2021?
At the time of writing, the Game Fair is going ahead as planned from 23-25 July 2021 at at Ragley Hall in Warwickshire. The event has been given a licence to operate if the country is in Tier Three or lower at the time. The organisers have been informed that under Tier 3 restrictions 4000 people are permitted in each zone and the Game Fair has 10 zones, so visitor numbers would comply with that.
We have clay shooting galore at The Game Fair in July. The clay line, once again hosted by E. J. Churchill, will feature sporting stands, competitions, flurries and a pool shoot. pic.twitter.com/ADzdMS9ao4
— The Game Fair (@TheGameFair) January 15, 2021
In addition the Game Fair benefits from being held out of doors so social distancing is made easier.
The president of World Athletics, Lord Coe, says he believes the Tokyo Olympics will take place in 2021 but they "will look different".
Latest world news: https://t.co/guZouFnHYs pic.twitter.com/A0z7NQMpy1
— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 19, 2021
And the Tokyo Olympics 2021?
Lord Coe has warned that the 2021 Olympics may have to take place behind closed doors. Talking to the BBC on 23 January he said: ” If the only way we’re able to deliver it is behind closed doors, I think everybody is accepting of that.”
Coe, who headed the London 2012 organising committee and is also an International Olympic Committee (IOC) member, said, in the event of a cancellation, it was “not a realistic solution” to push back Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 in order for Tokyo to host the Olympics in three years’ time.
