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SFU sports sidelined by pandemic

Fall sports at Simon Fraser University have been sidelined. Friday, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference that includes the Burnaby school, announced all fall intercollegiate competition and championships through Nov.
Kiara Buono
Tri-City athletes at Simon Fraser University, like soccer player Kiara Buono, won't be playing competitive games this fall.

Fall sports at Simon Fraser University have been sidelined.

Friday, the Great Northwest Athletic Conference that includes the Burnaby school, announced all fall intercollegiate competition and championships through Nov. 30 will be suspended because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The decision affects the school’s football, volleyball, soccer, cross country, golf, swimming, basketball and wrestling programs.

“There is no greater priority than the health and well-being of our student-athletes,” GNAC commissioner Dave Haglund said in a press release, adding discussions about whether some sports might be able to shift to spring play are ongoing.

Schools will be able to make their own determination whether to hold organized practice activities.

SFU is the only Canadian member of the NCAA Div. II conference and faced the additional hurdle of being able to send its athletes across the border with the United States which remains closed to all non-essential travel.

The fate of any competition scheduled for after Nov. 30 will be decided by Oct. 15.