Resume non-contact sports in sanitised empty stadia, in few locations with limited manpower: FICCI

Resume non-contact sports like cricket and badminton behind closed doors, in few locations and with limited manpower, the FICCI suggested on Wednesday, as the Indian sports sector looks to get the wheels back in motion amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The novel coronavirus, which has so far killed more than 2400 people and infected over 70,000 in the country, has disrupted the sports calender and also impacted other industries such as event management, food & beverages, hotels and tourism.

The unprecedented health crisis forced an indefinite shutdown of all sports activities -- both contact and non-contact.

The FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry) said non-contact sports can resume first by maintaining social distancing norms.

"Resumption of non-contact live sporting events like cricket, tennis, badminton, table-tennis etc. with athletes and staff practicing social distancing guidelines specified by government and WHO," it said in a release.

"These events ...