2020 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship COVID-19 UPDATE

INTERNATIONAL INDOOR JUNIOR LACROSSE RESCHEDULES 2020 IIJL WORLD JUNIOR LACROSSE CHAMPIONSHIP TO AUGUST 2021 REMAINS IN WINNIPEG MANITOBA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA, CANADA - International Indoor Junior Lacrosse (IIJL) is announcing that the 2020 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship scheduled for August 3-9, 2020 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada will be rescheduled for August 2021 and will remain in Winnipeg hosted at Bell MTS Place. 

The province of Manitoba announced that mass gatherings such as concerts, summer festivals, and major sporting events will not be considered before September 2020. In addition to the uncertainty surrounding the potential health risks and international travel due to the COVID-19 global pandemic it is in the best interest of everyone involved not to proceed with the championship as originally scheduled. 

Additionally, the mission of International Indoor Junior Lacrosse is to leave a legacy in each of the communities that hosts the World Junior Lacrosse Championship. Minor (youth) box lacrosse in Manitoba recently announced its cancelation as well, which vastly limits the impact the 2020 WJLC would have in raising awareness for the local lacrosse community. 

"Like so many other events, as an organization committed we were remaining positive that there might be a possibility to hold the World Juniors in 2020. With so much uncertainty still remaining, and following Federal and Provincial government guidelines, we've made the decision to postpone the 2020 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship in the best interest of everyone involved," said 2020 WJLC Tournament Chair, Chris Fox. "We are very thankful for our partners Tourism Winnipeg, True North Sports & Entertainment, and Bell MTS Place for the opportunity to reschedule and provide a world class experience for young international athletes in Winnipeg next summer."

The IIJL is currently evaluating how the postponement will affect age and exemption categories. Players that were schedule to “age out” after the 2020 WJLC will remain eligible for the 2021 WJLC under specific criteria. The temporary changes to player age and exemption categories for the 2021 IIJl World Junior Lacrosse Championship will be communicated once finalized. 

The next event scheduled for the IIJl is the inaugural IIJl World U17 Lacrosse Championship (WU17LC), scheduled to take place October 9-12, 2020 in Six Nations hosted by Haudenosaunee. The IIJL and Haudenosaunee will continue to monitor recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and World Health Organization (WHO) and adhere to the guidelines set-forth by the Federal, Provincial, and Municipal governments to determine if the 2020 WU17LC will commence as planned. 

ABOUT INTERNATIONAL INDOOR JUNIOR LACROSSE
Founded in 2017 by the Canadian Lacrosse League, Iroquois Lacrosse, and US Indoor Lacrosse, International Indoor Junior Lacrosse (IIJL) administers the IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship and other international indoor (box lacrosse) championships and events at the junior (21 years old and under) age category. For more information about the IIJL, visit iijl.org.