AFL Asia, in conjunction with the Thailand Tigers Australian Football Club, has today announced that the 2020 Asian Championships, scheduled for August 29 in Pattaya, Thailand, will be postponed.
The health and safety of the travelling parties was the number one priority in the decision to postpone the event, and AFL Asia maintains that has been, and will be, their continued focus.
The Thai Polo & Equestrian Club, the venue for the 2019 edition, has also cancelled all events until September due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and as such, the Asian Championships cannot be held there for 2020.
AFL Asia and the Thailand Tigers Australian Football Club will be sourcing an alternate venue for the rescheduled 2020 event. We will also be monitoring all travel restrictions for the remainder of the year to ensure the suitability and timing of this years ‘Champs.
AFL Asia and the Thailand Tigers Australian Football Club will continue to remain agile in their decision making as they look for an amiable solution to hosting the 2020 Asian Championships, which AFL Asia maintains is a very important event in the annual calendar.
Thailand Tigers Australian Football Club President, John Wellby, remains hopeful in hosting the event this year, stating “the event is of great benefit to the Club and all participants as an opportunity to showcase the growth and development of the game in the region for our players, partners and supporters.”
AFL Asia can assure our community that we are working hard to find possible dates and locations for a rescheduled event, including possible shifts to other countries in the region. AFL Asia Advisory Board and Events Sub-Committee member, Matt Gale, wants to remind all that “AFL Asia has a number of contingency plans in place related to the AFL Asia 2020 Asian Championships and are hopeful that it can still be held in the back end of the year, albeit when travel restrictions are lifted across the region.” We will make available any information as soon as it’s confirmed.
We look forward to putting on AFL Asia’s premier tournament once conditions have improved.
