It's a confusing time to make plans for international events. While some regional trade shows and gatherings are taking place, others are being postponed or canceled for another year due to worries COVID-19 cases will surge again. (Just follow the Tokyo Olympic games coverage for further evidence.)
Materials company Toray Industries Inc., sponsor of the Women's Tennis Association's Toray Pan Pacific Open Tennis 2021 tournament, announced July 2 that it would cancel the event set for September in Japan.
"[Organizers] looked at every possible way to make this international tournament happen, by implementing various measures to prevent the spread of ... COVID-19 including the idea of restricting admissions, in order to prioritize the health and safety of everyone involved including players, officials, ball boys and girls, stewards, sponsors and partners, suppliers and contractors, media, guests and all other staff," the company said in a news release.
Naomi Osaka won the tournament in 2019, the last time it was held.
The announcement came as officials in Japan declared a state of emergency restricting travel in Tokyo and also announced there would be no spectators at the Olympic Games, set to begin July 23.