Henley Royal Regatta, the world’s pre-eminent river regatta, is a staple in every rower’s calendar. Not only is it a unique opportunity to catch up with friends and former crew-mates in the summer sun but it also features some of the most competitive racing on the circuit. Club athletes train all year for a ride between the booms, students consider it the crowning glory of a long season contesting for various honours and decorated Olympians count it as one of their most important and personally significant victories.
However, as COVID-19 continues to sweep across Europe, there is now a very real threat that Henley Royal Regatta will be called off in the summer. Although it seems relatively unfeasible at this stage, given the fact that the event isn’t until early July and is hosted outside in the height of summer, the approach to other similar events has been unnerving.
According to senior staff in the NHS, the UK is teetering on the edge of a mass-breakout similar to that seen in Italy. Latest intelligence indicates that we’re approximately three weeks behind the Southern European state as the number of confirmed cases in the UK mirror those seen in Italy towards the end of February.
Should this happen – and other sporting events follow the same path as Arsenal Vs Manchester City – then HRR may be left with little choice. JRN understands that the committee are currently exploring contingency options for the 2020 Regatta and taking all relevant advice from appropriate authorities. Given this stance and continued COVID-19 transmission, it would be surprising if there were not major changes to the format of the Regatta.
Those is the know – executives within the NHS and the governmental officials tasked with beating back COVID-19 – believe that we may reach our peak of cases in around 10 days time. After this, the peak could last as long as 18 weeks, depending on the effect that warmer weather has on the virus.
So little is known about COVID-19 at this stage, including specifics on how it is transmitted and how genuinely dangerous it is in comparison to SARS and the common flu. This lack of information may well force the hand of communal large-scale events, who will not want to expose their attendees to something they do not fully understand.
Although a lot of the speculation circulating through social media and the digital world is nothing more than conjecture, one need only glance over at the state of Italy to understand the genuine threat posed by COVID-19. With over 10,000 confirmed cases and closing on 700 deaths, this virus is not to be taken lightly and although the majority of competitors and spectators at Henley Royal Regatta are unlikely to be considered ‘at-risk’ of succumbing to the symptoms, the danger of transmission to vulnerable sections of our society is vast at this stage.
We await further information, from not only HRR but other rowing events, following the cancellation of the first two World Rowing Cups in Italy. It is however impossible to ignore the fact that, according to expert timelines, Henley is very much in the danger zone. A cancellation would naturally be the last possible resort for the Stewards but if COVID-19 continues to expand and fester, then there may be real need for decisive action.
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