NEWS: Pandemic forces cancellation of all OUA-sanctioned sport programming and championships for remainder of 2020
To best ensure the safety and well-being of all participants, OUA moves to cancel all sports competitions and championships up to December 31, 2020, with no decision made beyond the first semester.
Ontario University Athletics (OUA), under the direction of its Board of Directors, announced Monday the cancellation of all OUA-sanctioned sport programming and championships up to December 31st, 2020. The difficult decision was made after significant consultation and with the health of all student-athletes, coaches, administrators, officials, and fans in mind.
"Unprecedented times require unprecedented action, which is what led us to this difficult decision," said Dr. Mike DeGagné, Chair of the OUA Board of Directors. "The health of our student-athletes, coaches, administrators, officials, and fans is our number one priority, and after significant consultation, we believe that OUA sport cannot be delivered prior to December 31st."
This decision affects 14 of the 32 Gee-Gees programs: six varsity programs (Football, Men's and Women's Basketball, Track and Cross Country, Men's Hockey, Women's Soccer), two varsity club programs (Rowing, Men's Golf), and six competitive club programs (Badminton, Fencing, Nordic Skiing, Baseball, Men's Water Polo, Women's Golf).
The Gee-Gees also have teams competing in the Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec (RSEQ) and in various other leagues, tournaments and university championships, none of them having reached decisions yet on their status for the Fall.
Three Canadian conferences (Canada West, Ontario University Athletics and Atlantic University Sports) announced the cancellation of all of their fall 2020 term programming on Monday, in addition to the national governing body, U SPORTS, announcing the cancellation of its fall national championships.
The University of Ottawa and its Varsity Athletics team continue to work on a return to sport plan that could see student-athletes resume team activities on-campus, despite the lack of conference competition when health and safety guidelines allow it.