Coronavirus Update: Aussie World, the AOC, Keep Gyms Open Petition, NRL, Queensland Art Gallery and Sydney Biennale - 23rd March

March 23, 2020

The Australian Olympic Committee is reportedly poised to withdraw from the Tokyo Olympics if the 2020 Games are not postponed amid the Coronavirus pandemic.

The Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art is to close to the public from noon today until further notice.

Sunshine Coast amusement park Aussie World (pictured) will close its doors this afternoon in response to the Coronavirus crisis. While the Banana Bender Pub did not open today, the bottle shop and other retail outlets in the Aussie World precinct remain open for now, with appropriate social distancing and personal hygiene measures employed.

The Biennale of Sydney is closing its public exhibitions from tomorrow but will continue as a digital experience.

Describing how it is operating through "unprecedented times", BridgeClimb Sydney is closing its operations from today.

The NRL say its season will continue until the Australian Government tells it to stop. NRL Chief Executive, Todd Greenberg stated "at this stage, our intent is to play on and we remain committed to the continuation of the 2020 season as far as government advice allows it."

The Dubai Racing Club (DRC) has cancelled this year’s edition of the Dubai World Cup, one of horse racing’s most lucrative events.

Due to take place on 28th March, the event's stage was placed in doubt after the United Arab Emirates on Thursday suspended all sporting events.

Mel Tempest, franchisee at Genesis Health and Fitness Ballarat and presenter of the Gym Owners' Fitness Business Podcast, has started an online petition calling on the Federal Government to reconsider its ‘non-essential services’ definition that is seeing fitness centres close based on the role of gyms and fitness facilities in mental wellbeing.

Click here to view the petition.

22nd March 2020 - AFL suspends season until end of May in response to Coronavirus

22nd March 2020 - Man injured after BridgeClimb Sydney fall

22nd March 2020 - Coronavirus Update: Crown Casino, Fitness Australia, LIWA Aquatics and gyms and theatres closed in the UK - 22nd March

22nd March 2020 - NSW and Victoria to close ‘non-essential services’ while South and Western Australia seal borders in response to Coronavirus pandemic

21st March 2020 - Coronavirus Update: Bondi Beach, Christchurch, Mass Gatherings, Social Distancing in Gyms and Jobs - 21st March

21st March 2020 - Australian music industry launches SOS campaign

21st March 2020 - One million jobs a day being lost due to Coronavirus pandemic

20th March 2020 - Coronavirus and the leisure industry update: The arts, aquatics, aviation, fitness, golf and swim schools - Friday 20th March

18th March 2020 - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison halts international travel and bans indoor gatherings of over 100

16th March 2020 - Vodafone Warriors to play NRL season matches in Australia

13th March 2020 - AFL and NRL seasons to go ahead behind closed doors due to Coronavirus fears

13th March 2020 - Non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people effectively banned across Australia

10th March 2020 - 22nd Biennale of Sydney embraces being at the edge

28th January 2018 - QAGOMA achieves record two million visitors in 2017

26th December 2018 - Former Zamperla rides engineer drives Aussie World to new heights

19th March 2020 - Australian Olympic Committee continues planning for Tokyo 2020 Games

23rd March 2020 - IOC sets deadline for potential Tokyo Olympics postponement

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