Covid Scare: Davos Economic Forum Conclave Postponed, India – South Africa Cricket Series at Empty Stands
NEW DELHI, Dec 20: The World Economic Forum (WEF) has decided to postpone its annual meeting in Davos scheduled from January 17 over the surge in Covid-19 cases from the Omicron variant.
The body on Monday announced the deferment of the meeting stating the “continued uncertainty over the Omicron outbreak.”
The annual meeting was scheduled to be held in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland between January 17-21, 2022. While the WEF did not announce the new dates, it maintained that it would be held over the summer.
“Current pandemic conditions make it extremely difficult to deliver a global in-person meeting. Preparations have been guided by expert advice and have benefited from the close collaboration of the Swiss government at all levels,” WEF said in a statement.
It said that despite the meeting’s stringent health protocols, the transmissibility of Omicron and its impact on travel and mobility have made deferral necessary. “The deferral of the Annual Meeting will not prevent progress through continued digital convening of leaders from business, government and civil society. Public-private cooperation has moved forward throughout the pandemic and that will continue apace. We look forward to bringing global leaders together in person soon,” Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum said.
Participants will, however, join a headline series of ‘State of the World’ sessions online to focus on shaping solutions to the world’s most pressing challenges.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated but similar development, the Cricket South Africa on Monday said the coming India – South Africa cricket tests and ODI series beginning from December 26 would be played without fans. The Cricket South Africa decided not to sell any tickets due to the Covid-19 scare in the country.
The two teams are going to lock horns in a series of 3 Tests and 3 ODIs from December 26. The red-ball matches will be played at Centurion, Cape Town and Johannesburg while Paarl and Cape Town will host the 50-over matches from January 19.
“Cricket South Africa (CSA) has noted the interests of cricket fans and other stakeholders on the scheduling and the release of the details of ticket sales, in connection with the forthcoming India vs Proteas tour that is scheduled to begin in less than a week.
“Regrettably, CSA wishes to inform the most ardent fans of cricket as well as all sports lovers that owing to the increasing COVID cases around the world, and the fourth wave locally, the two cricketing bodies have taken a joint decision to protect the players and the tour by NOT making tickets available for the India vs Proteas offerings. This decision was taken in order to avoid any breaches that could compromise the tour from a Covid-risk perspective and to also maintain a hazard-free bubble environment.
(Manas Dasgupta)
