Believe the science is the mantra from climate to COVID.
If so, those purple-clad supporters groups could be drumming and waving their flags next summer during professional 91原创 FC soccer games at Westhills Stadium. The smell of sizzling onions may again waft across Royal Athletic Park during HarbourCats baseball games. And you could be rolling your TV out to the patio to watch athletes from around the world, including up to 75 from the Island, 颅compete in the Tokyo Plus One Olympics and Paralympics.
Experts in the health professions appear almost universally confident about the vaccines. That has given rise to optimism for those involved in summer sports. By fall, it should be a slam dunk with the University of 颅Victoria Vikes, Camosun Chargers and VIU Mariners teams back to varsity play and the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League and Island Division of the B.C. Hockey League skating into normal 2021-22 seasons.
Or at least that鈥檚 the projection.
鈥淭wo months ago, I would have said we had zero chance,鈥� said Dave Potter, coach of the Layritz Park baseball team, set to host the 2021 91原创 Little League championship in August.
鈥淣ow, I think the national championship will go ahead. We start practice on January 1.鈥�
Layritz was to host this year but the 2020 nationals, and the Little League World Series in 颅Williamsport, Pennsylvania, were cancelled due to the pandemic. 鈥淲e are thankful that all but one or two of our sponsors stuck with us to 2021,鈥� said Potter.
With the Japanese government and the International Olympic Committee robustly indicating the Tokyo Olympics are pretty much a certainty next summer, it means the Olympic basketball qualifying tournament from June 29 to July 4 at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre will go ahead.
鈥淲e are optimistic about the FIBA Olympic basketball qualifying tournament being completed,鈥� said Keith Wells, executive director of the Greater Victoria Sport Tourism Commission.
The host organizing committee, under chairman Clint Hamilton, is preparing for the tournament, whatever form it takes. That鈥檚 a common refrain among those in sports looking to 2021.
鈥淚 am definitely more confident now than I was a few months ago,鈥� said Josh Simpson, president and co-owner of Island-based pro soccer club 91原创 FC. 鈥淚t鈥檚 exciting that vaccines are around the corner. I am feeling pretty good about 2021,鈥� said the 43-time Canada-capped former pro defender.
The West Coast League of baseball has released a normal schedule for 2021, which includes games in Washington and Oregon across the currently closed Canada-U.S. border for both the Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls.
鈥淎ll we can do is plan for a full go, even though we don鈥檛 know what the specific health orders will be in May or June,鈥� said Jim Swanson, managing partner and GM of both the HarbourCats and NightOwls.
鈥淚t鈥檚 six months away. We鈥檙e both confident and cautious. The vaccine rollout will have twists and turns, much like a baseball game. We will follow the guidelines at the time.鈥�
The WHL Royals and Island Division of the BCHL are awaiting decisions on possible start dates in January or February.
鈥淚 will be at the first WHL and BCHL games we are allowed to attend,鈥� said Swanson. 鈥淏ut if it turns out we [WCL baseball] are the first ones back and celebrating normal, we鈥檒l be ready.鈥�
Players, however, may return to the fields, diamonds and rinks of play before fans do in the bleachers.
鈥淚 am hopeful we will see some spectators allowed in the stands,鈥� said Simpson. 鈥淭o what extent is the question mark. From the league to club level, we are 颅looking at all sorts of options.鈥�
That will be dictated by health guidelines in effect at the time. Attendance is a key consideration because the CPL, WCL, WHL, BCHL and Western Lacrosse Association are gate-driven leagues.
鈥淲hat we do is not cheap,鈥� said Swanson.
The Victoria Shamrocks and Nanaimo Timbermen of the WLA face an additional dilemma.
Their returns are complicated by the pro National Lacrosse League having pushed the start of its 2021 season from its regular December back to April due to the pandemic.
That would cause an overlap with the WLA season, which begins in May. All WLA marquee players also play pro in the NLL. The WLA is considering its options.