26^th October 2020 – On behalf of Katie Ribeiro, General Manager of the Boccia International Sports Federation.

Dear Members,

We trust that this message finds you safe and well.

The BISFed Board has been monitoring the global situation regarding the Covid-19 pandemic very carefully since February. As we explained during the recent conference calls with our Members, the BISFed Board would meet in October to review the possibility of organising international boccia competitions during 2021.

In the light of continued uncertainty as to whether the virus can be or is being controlled around the world, and with the safety of boccia athletes as our primary concern, the Board has decided that the first three events scheduled for 2021 will be cancelled. The events which have been cancelled are:

• BISFed 2021 Nantes Boccia Regional Open 23 February to 2 March (cancelled)
• BISFed 2021 Cuenca Boccia Regional Open 21 march to 27 march (cancelled)
• BISFed 2021 Zagreb Boccia Regional Open March 21 to March 28 (cancelled)

Planning for all the remaining sanctioned boccia events in 2021 (including the Paralympic Games) is continuing. The Board will meet again in early December to review formally whether BISFed-sanctioned international competitions can resume safely from April 2021. If there is any further news before December, we will of course communicate with our Members.

It is disappointing to have to take these difficult decisions but we trust our Members will understand.