Photo credit should read ROSLAN RAHMAN/AFP via Getty Images
ONE Championship to host audience-free, closed-door events to tackle coronavirus.
In the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, ONE CEO Chatri Sityodtong is doing everything in his power to ensure the safety of his staff and fighters by hosting all upcoming ONE Championship events indoors.
ONE will also be going audience-free for those events, which means there will be no live audience, but fans will be able to watch all the action unfold from the comfort of their homes.
Sityodtong announced the news in a recent Facebook post.
BREAKING NEWS: My team and I have decided to turn all events for ONE Championship into closed-door, audience-free events…
Posted by Chatri Sityodtong on Thursday, March 12, 2020
“BREAKING NEWS: My team and I have decided to turn all events for ONE Championship into closed-door, audience-free events effective immediately,” Sityodtong posted on Thursday. “Bar none, the safety of our fans, athletes, staff, partners, and the public is the highest priority for ONE Championship. All scheduled ONE events with live audiences will now be suspended until at least May 29, 2020 due to the extraordinary COVID-19 global situation.
For the millions of fans at home around the world, the show will go on from the comfort and safety of your living room. Our global broadcast shows behind closed doors will commence in Singapore with an initial schedule of April 17, April 24, May 1, and May 8 respectively. Bout cards will be announced shortly for these broadcast-only shows, and additional dates will be added in the near future. Also, ONE Infinity Series, the world apex of martial arts events, is now slated to kick off on May 29, 2020 in Manila, Philippines with ONE Infinity 1 at the Mall of Asia Arena.
We are operating in truly extraordinary times, but my team and I remain committed to providing you the best sports and entertainment action available anywhere on global broadcast today. ONE Championship will continue to thrill you with the greatest martial artists on the planet and inspire you with their incredible stories. This virus might be on the attack right now, but I believe in the power of the human spirit. LET’S GOOOOO!!! #WeAreONE”.
Per MMA Junkie’s Simon Head, “the schedule changes mean the new ONE Infinity series events will kick off later in the month, with ONE Infinity 1 taking place on May 29 in Manila, Philippines.
The amended ONE Championship schedule for April and May includes:
April 17 – “ONE Championship 111: Kings & Queens” in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia April 24 – TBA May 1 – TBA May 8 – TBA May 29 – ONE Infinity 1 in Manila, Philippines.”
According to reports, over 124,000 people have been infected with COVID-19 and an estimated 4604 people have died from the the virus.