The increasing number of corona infections and the nationwide lockdown that begins on Monday also have a major impact on local sports in Salzburg. While all athletes who fall into the professional regime are still allowed to train and compete, the sports facilities remain closed to amateurs. It is also certain that all permitted sporting events will take place behind closed doors until mid-December.

After the karate association had canceled the Premier League tournament planned for the beginning of January 2022 during the week, the organizers of the indoor soccer classic Salzburg Bull followed suit on Friday. “Not an easy decision, but we have no other choice. I don’t think that. At the beginning of January events with several hundred spectators will be possible, we have decided to take this step,” explains Leopoldskron chairman and organizer Wolfgang Mayer, who is responsible for the 40th edition of the traditional indoor tournament had to be canceled in the preseason. “Postponing it doesn’t make sense, that’s why we will try again in 2023,” says Mayer, who absolutely wants to let the anniversary bull play in the Salzburgarena. “That is why we will continue to work in 2023.”

While the 2nd Futsal Bundesliga with newcomer Inter Klessheim continues in lockdown, the SFV indoor state championship is about to be canceled due to current developments. “It’s not fixed yet, but of course it doesn’t look good,” emphasizes hall speaker Erwin Neumayr, who speculates that “nothing will work in December, maybe the situation will ease in January, then some competitions could be held.”

Numerous sports associations have already canceled upcoming competitions: The state championship in table tennis (this weekend) has been postponed for an indefinite period, as has that of the Salzburg fencers and stick shooters (at the end of November each year). Those Salzburg clubs that play basketball (BBU Salzburg), volleyball (PSVBG Salzburg, UVV Seekirchen), handball (UHC Salzburg), ice hockey (Red Bull Salzburg, Salzburg Eagles, Zeller Eisbären), table tennis (UTTC Salzburg, TTC Kuchl) or Fistball (ASKÖ Seekirchen) fallen into the top-class sport regulation as a Bundesliga team, will be able to continue their season for the time being – but no longer announce spectators on site. This hits the Eisbullen particularly hard: In the next three weeks there will be five home games.

The lockdown also thwarted the plans of the wrestling series champion AC Wals: On Saturday against Hörbranz, up to 240 spectators can for the last time in the Walserfeldhalle. In the two final duels – the rematch is on December 11th in Wals – they fought for the title in front of empty ranks. “We could raise it big again, but there is nothing we can do about it,” says chairman Anton Marchl, who is hoping for a lot of viewers via livestream. “Last time we had 1,500 viewers per fight.”