The Kentucky Derby has been rescheduled for September 4-5, and is expected to allow spectators on site, but will impose COVID-19 precautions including limited occupancies and barn access, as well as encouraging guests to wear face masks, per a Thursday announcement.
Why it matters: The Derby, usually held in May, is the world's most famous horse race. Kentucky itself has seen a plateau in coronavirus cases, according to state data, and has not experienced the spikes that other states across the U.S. have amid reopening plans.
FIFA announced Thursday that Australia and New Zealand will host the 2023 Women's World Cup.
The state of play: The 2019 Women's World Cup, hosted by France, reached a global audience of over 1 billion viewers — and advertisers bought nearly $100 million in U.S. television commercials during the event, highlighting the growing power of the tournament. It also kicked off an ongoing equal pay fight for the U.S. women's national soccer team after their victory.
Despite multiple positive coronavirus tests and the withdrawal of two top-five players — Brooks Koepka (caddie tested positive) and Webb Simpson (family member tested positive) — the show will go on today at the Travelers Championship.
The intrigue: In the two weeks since the PGA Tour returned, players have recorded notably low scores, suggesting the fanless environment could be helping them focus.
Organizers of the New York City Marathon announced they will be canceling the event this year, which would've celebrated its 50th anniversary, as the city remains engulfed in the coronavirus pandemic, The New York Times reports.
Why it matters: The marathon is one of the largest in the world with over 50,000 runners and 10,000 volunteers participating. Nearly a million fans spread out across the city to watch the 26.2-mile race. The marathon is both prestigious and lucrative for the city, per the Times.
