The men’s curling world championship in Glasgow, Scotland, was cancelled Saturday morning as event organizers supported the Scottish government’s protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

“Our first priority is the safety and well-being of our athletes, officials, staff and supporters and this cannot be guaranteed,” World Curling Federation president Kate Caithness said in a statement. “… My sincere appreciation to our athletes, officials and staff, and to curling supporters around the world for your patience and understanding in this matter.”

Brad Gushue’s rink from Newfoundland and Labrador was going to represent Canada at the world championship March 28 to April 5 after winning the 2020 Tim Hortons Brier earlier this month.

The women’s world curling championship in Prince George, B.C., was officially cancelled on Thursday. Gushue was skeptical at the time that the men’s tournament would go ahead as planned.

“My gut is probably telling me it’s not going to go,” the skip told The Canadian Press from St. John’s, N.L. on Thursday.

“We’ve just seen a report in Scotland they’re advising events over 500 people to cancel. That’s straight from their government which doesn’t seem like a very good sign.”

All ticket holders for the men’s world championship will receive a full refund.

The World Curling Federation is considering how this will impact the qualifications for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

Shortly after announcing that the event in Scotland was being cancelled, the World Curling Federation added that the World Senior Curling Championships and the World Mixed Doubles both scheduled for Kelowna had also been scrapped.  Canada was to be represented at the seniors by Saskatchewan’s Sherry Anderson and Bruce Korte.  Anderson was the defending champ on the women’s side.

(Canadian Press)