PHOTOS: Stadiums without spectators, turned quarantine centres

2020 was meant to be a year with a hefty sports calendar—among other big-ticket events, the year of the Tokyo Olympics. Now, as most sporting events stand cancelled, prominent arenas are being converted to hospitals or emergency healthcare facilities, while in others, ghost games are being played, sans the cheers of fans

Curated By: Amit Verma

Published: Apr 16, 2020

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LONDON, ENGLAND: A quiet day at The All England Tennis and Croquet Club, best known as the venue for the Wimbledon Tennis Championships.

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BARCELONA, SPAIN: The FC Barcelona Stadium Camp Nou, one of the most famous football clubs in the world, closed after the government declared a state of alarm in Spain. Spain is one of the most affected countries with the pandemic.

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RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL: Aerial view of a temporary field hospital set up for coronavirus patients at Maracana stadium complex, one of the most famous football and sports arena in Brazil.

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CARDIFF, WALES: Workers prepare the Dragon's Heart hospital on April 9, 2020, in Cardiff, Wales. The Principality Stadium is being converted into a 2,000-bed field hospital for coronavirus patients called the Dragon's Heart Hospital.

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MUMBAI, INDIA: Brinhanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) workers prepare an isolation centre at the NSCI Dome in Worli, during a government-imposed nationwide lockdown as a preventive measure against the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Mumbai on April 9, 2020.

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NORTH RHINE-WESTPHALIA, MÖNCHENGLADBACH: The players from Mönchengladbach cheer with the goal scorer Breel Embolo (r) for the 1:0. The game takes place without spectators as a ghost game due to the coronavirus.

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LONG BEACH, USA: Cal Poly Mustangs forward Alicia Roufosse, left, grabs a rebound from Long Beach State forward Cydnee Kinslow, right, in an empty tournament. Fears over the coronavirus have forced tournament organisers to ban fans from the games this week. USA is quickly becoming the most affected country with the coronavirus.

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KILDARE, IRELAND: Horses ride past the empty grandstand at the Naas Racecourse. Covid-19 pandemic forced the organizers to have the event without spectators.

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TOLUCA, MEXICO: General view of the stadium prior to the 10th round match between Toluca and Atlas as part of the Torneo Clausura 2020 Liga MX at Nemesio Diez Stadium on March 15, 2020. The match was played behind closed doors to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

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ISTANBUL, TURKEY: The Turk Telekom Stadium ahead of the Turkish Super Lig Week 26 football match, between Galatasaray and Besiktas, to be played behind closed doors over coronavirus (Covid-19) concerns on March 15, 2020.

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YANGON, MYANMAR: A general view of the inside of the government quarantine facilitiy prepared for Myanmar citizens entering the country from abroad at Thein Phyu indoor stadium on March 21, 2020.

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MILAN, ITALY: Giuseppe Meazza (also known as San Siro stadium), where FC Internazionale and AC Milan usually play home football matches. The Italian government imposed restrictions to halt the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus outbreak as the country was one of the hotspots of the pandemic with almost 1.5 lac confirmed cases.

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HEERENVEEN, NETHERLANDS: Surroundings of the national speed skating stadium Thialf remain empty as all sports facilities are closed while the Netherlands is facing the outbreak of the coronavirus.

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AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS: Surroundings at the Johan Cruijff Arena stadium and De Toekomst training ground of Ajax remain empty as all sports facilities are closed and soccer leagues are postponed while the Netherlands is facing the outbreak of the coronavirus.

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LONDON, ENGLAND: A lorry prepares to transport food packages on behalf of the Arsenal Foundation And HIS Church to local residents at the Emirates stadium on April 09, 2020 in London, England.

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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: A statue of former Chicago Cub Ron Santo is seen at the right field entrance to Wrigley Field, where the Chicago Cubs were scheduled to open the season March 30 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Major League baseball season has been delayed by the Covid-19 crisis.