ISLE OF MAN – The Isle of Man TT will not take place this year as the world continues to battle the coronavirus.
The island’s chief minister confirmed the event, slated for May 30 through June 12, would not take place as scheduled. It’s the first time since 2001 that the event will not take place. It was canceled in 2001 during the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.
“The decision to cancel has not been taken lightly and all options including postponement and delaying the decision have been considered in detail,” said Laurence Skelly, Minister for Enterprise. “Representatives from the Isle of Man Government will now discuss the implications with all relevant businesses, stakeholders and individuals affected by this cancellation, which it recognizes will be significant.
“With the visitor restriction in place for the foreseeable future we wanted to make the decision now to give businesses, visitors and all involved stakeholders time to manage the impact going forward. The Isle of Man, and the Isle of Man TT, are faced with unique challenges regarding COVID-19 and making this decision will provide certainty to teams, competitors, sponsors and stakeholders of the event and to visitors across the globe.
“The decision also aims to provide reassurance for our residents and healthcare professionals that the health and well-being of the Isle of Man’s residents is the single biggest priority and focus of this Government.”