Olympic boxing qualifiers for fighters from Europe are taking place in London today behind closed doors despite mounting concerns over coronavirus and enormous disruption across the world of sport.
 
The Boxing Road to Tokyo event in London started on Saturday in front of paying spectators at the Copper Box Arena and is due to run until March 24.

It features around 350 male and female boxers from dozens of nations and is the first opportunity for boxers from Europe to qualify for Tokyo 2020.

The IOC Boxing Task Force, in a statement yesterday, said the rest of the event,  would take behind closed doors due to the changing situation with coronavirus and concerns for the public, athlete and volunteer welfare.

Britain's death toll from COVID-19 has risen to 35. Official figures showed the country has recorded 1,372 confirmed cases.
                 
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Saturday said the country would host the Tokyo Olympics, due to start on 24th July as planned.