Badminton 2021 to run behind closed doors
Organisers of Badminton 2021 Horse Trials have announced that the 5* competition will go ahead behind closed doors. Although there is potential for some spectators to attend should restrictions allow.
Badminton 2021 will run from 5th-9th May 2021, with the rescheduled 2020 final for the Science Supplements Cup running on the first day.
Jane Tuckwell who is the event director stated that “We realise that this is not the scenario everyone would wish for, but feel by announcing our intentions now it will give all involved in whatever capacity the opportunity to plan accordingly. To deliver the ‘behind closed doors’ event will not be without its challenges, but we look forward to bringing you a great competition.”
Organised have said that the health and safety of everyone involved in putting on the Badminton 2021 event will be their first priority. It was also confirmed that although the event would be “running behind closed doors, we would like to ensure everyone is still able to enjoy all the live action via TV or live-stream. Further news will be released on this in due course.”
The event usually attracts crowds of over 200,000 spectators. Jane Tuckwell previously spoke of how devastating the decision was to cancel the 2020 event due to the global coronavirus pandemic. The event has only been cancelled five times due to bad weather in 1966, 1975, 1987 and 2012, and then in 2001 due to the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease. In 1963 the weather also forced Badminton to run as a one day event.