One of the largest annual sporting events in McLean County, the State Farm Holiday Classic basketball tournament, has been canceled due to concerns over the pandemic.
The Classic, which is played at multiple venues in Bloomington-Normal, bills itself as one of the largest high school basketball tournaments in the Midwest, featuring 64 boys and girls teams and 16 Special Olympics squads from across the region. It was scheduled for Dec. 28-31 this year .
Organizers said the move to cancel was to adhere to Illinois High School Association (IHSA) and state of Illinois health guidelines.
“Please know this is not a decision we made lightly, but in order to ensure the safety of all participants; players, coaches, administrators, fans, officials, volunteers tournament staff and sponsors, we find it best to not organize a tournament this year,” tournament organizers said in a statement on social media.
The IHSA has moved most fall sports to the spring because of COVID-19, but it has not decided on basketball and other winter sports.
Those sports could present additional health and safety challenges because they are played indoors where health experts say coronavirus spread is much easier.
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