The Japan Sumo Association is proceeding with the upcoming Spring Grand Sumo Tournament, but has decided, in light of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak, that it will be held behind closed doors.
Calling off the event completely would undoubtedly have been a safer course of action, but as hundreds of wrestlers, stablemasters, referees, hairdressers and other sumo personnel were already in the Kansai region; and with television income being such a vital part of the JSA's finances, it's not difficult to see why it chose the current course of action.
Closed doors or not, there are still risks involved of course.
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