Prime Minister Boris Johnson and the UK government has announced today that a small number of sporting events will be used to pilot the safe return of spectators over the next few weeks.
These pilot events will take commence through late July and early August and form part of the #EnjoySummerSafely campaign, which was announced by Boris Johnson in a live press conference earlier today.
A view to reopening competition venues for sports fans, with necessary social distancing measures in place, is to be introduced from 1st October 2020, but only “if it is safe to do so”.
All sports venues have been closed to spectators since lockdown measures were implemented on 23 March 2020, however in recent weeks, certain elite sports have resumed behind closed doors, including Premier League and Championship football, and international cricket.
According to guidance provided on the gov.uk website, the pilot sporting events chosen to take place over the next couple of weeks have been carefully selected to represent a range of sports and indoor and outdoor spectator environments, and are expected to include two men’s county cricket friendly matches, the World Snooker Championship from 31st July, and the Glorious Goodwood horse racing festival on 1st August.
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There are also likely to be further pilot events for other sports in order to build up to and prepare for the full, socially distanced return of sporting events from 1st October, but these are yet to be announced.
From 1 October, if it's safe to do so, fans will be able to return to stadiums and competition venues with social distancing. We'll be running pilot events over the summer at the Snooker World Champs, Goodwod and in County Cricket – with more to follow. pic.twitter.com/Lnb9gSScGt
Speaking on the announcement of these pilot events, Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said: “For months millions of us have felt the void of being unable to go to the match to support our team or attend a top-class sporting event, so I am pleased that we are now able to move forward with a plan to help venues safely reopen their doors to fans.”
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“I recognise that not every sport, team or club has the benefit of huge commercial revenue, and it is often their dedicated fans that are the lifeblood which helps keep them going.”
“By working closely with sports and medical experts, these pilots will help ensure the safe return of fans to stadia. Although it will remain some time before venues are full to capacity, this is a major step in the right direction for the resumption of live spectator sport across the country”.
Pleased the Prime Minister had announced plans for further easing of lockdown restrictions including:
— Nigel Huddleston MP #EnjoySummerSafely (@HuddlestonNigel) July 17, 2020
The pilot events will provide the opportunity to stress-test the government’s ‘stage five’ guidance, on the return of fans to elite sports events.
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More information in relation to this be found detailed in full here.
Further guidance outlining the licensing obligations for sports stadia and how venue operators must calculate safe capacities in line with social distancing restrictions is expected to be published by the Sports Grounds Safety Authority in due course.
UK takeaway service Deliveroo is set for a massive takeover by a fellow delivery business rival, said to be worth several billion.
The British multinational is known nationwide, occupying one of the biggest market shares alongside competitors Just Eat and Uber Eats, but now the takeaway delivery service is set to be swallowed up by an even bigger brand based in the US.
As reported on Tuesday, 6 May, American delivery firm DoorDash – the biggest of its kind in the States – looks set to complete an estimated £2.9 billion buyout, which will see Deliveroo folded into their growing global portfolio.
This massive deal will see the company’s presence in more than 40 countries further consolidated, already serving somewhere in the region of 50 million customers every month.
US meal delivery firm DoorDash will buy British rival Deliveroo for $3.85 billion. The acquisition will help DoorDash grow its market share in Europe and compete against Just Eat and Uber Eats. Read more: https://t.co/x4dSgRp8Flpic.twitter.com/oeE44CjMYN
According to the likes of Reuters, Bloomberg and BBC, DoorDash is offering 180p per share, which is a 44% increase on Deliveroo’s share price from the point when initial takeover talks were made public in April 2025.
Founded by chief executive Will Shu back in 2013, Deliveroo is now considered one of the big three in the food delivery industry’s UK scene, but is set to get much bigger under the DoorDash umbrella.
As for DoorDash, CEO and co-founder Tony Xu went on to add: “Coming together with teams that have similar visions and values accelerates our work to achieve that mission. Deliveroo is just such a team and one that I have long admired.
“Like DoorDash, Deliveroo is obsessively focused on their customers – consumers, merchants, and riders. They work day in and day out to improve their consumer value proposition, bring new services to local businesses, and offer flexibility and support to riders.”
Two ‘quick-thinking’ police officers have been praised for saving baby’s life after they suffering epileptic seizure.
After PCs Harry Moore and Alexandra Higginson were called to reports of a concern for welfare at an address in the Gorton area of Manchester, they managed to save the life of an eight-month-old baby who had suffered a seizure.
“When we entered the street, the baby’s father was already running towards us with the baby in his arms,” explained PC Moore.
“The baby was unconscious at the time with a very irregular breathing pattern, so I immediately took the child from the father and started performing CPR. Whilst performing CPR, I had to give the recovery breaths into the baby’s nose because he had a locked jaw, which I now realise was because of the seizure.”
The ambulance came roughly five minutes after police arrived on the scene.
Quick-thinking officers saved a baby’s life after an eight-month-old suffered an epileptic seizure.
PCs Harry Moore and Alexandra Higginson recently saved the life of an eight-month-old baby who had suffered a seizure.
— Greater Manchester Police (@gmpolice) May 3, 2025
After paramedics arrived, they took the baby into the ambulance, where he then proceeded had another seizure, but not long after, he started crying loudly which meant he was back to breathing again.
“I told the father, who was just outside the ambulance at the time, and he was so relieved and gave me a hug,” PC Moore continued. “This is a moment I will never forget.”
PC Moore also praised his colleague PC Higginson, adding: “I can’t state enough how much of a team effort this job was. My colleague did an absolutely fantastic job of passing important information along as appropriate and we worked together as a team.
“Alex travelled to hospital in the ambulance with the mother and baby and I followed separately. Alex constantly relayed vital information and got the details of all parties involved, which was really helpful.
“We hope the baby and family they are all doing well and that the baby is happy and recovering.”
The Manc -
17th July 2020 
