Arnold Schwarzenegger Scales Back Sports Expo Amid Virus Concerns

(Bloomberg) -- Ohio public-health officials barred spectators from most events at Arnold Schwarzenegger's annual athletic competition in Columbus, Ohio, due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak.

Governor Mike DeWine cited the “unique and unacceptable risk for the spread” of the virus. Coordinators of the March 5-8 event, which draws hundreds of thousands of athletes, body builders and fitness buffs every year, had already sent an email to participants saying that some competitions and the event's Fitness Expo would be canceled.

There have been no known confirmed virus cases in Ohio, but the event attracts people from across the U.S. and other countries. The Expo was a big draw and by canceling it “we eliminate several hundred thousand visitors,” the email said.

The body building and weight lifting competitions, which have not been canceled, are also popular: Schwarzenegger attends and hands out some of the medals. The event's website said that most sporting competitions will go on as scheduled with a dozen of them being canceled, including arm wrestling and Medieval fighting. Event spokesman Matt Lorz did not return a call seeking comment.

To contact the reporter on this story: David Welch in Southfield at dwelch12@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Flynn McRoberts at fmcroberts1@bloomberg.net

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