Sports Tributes to Queen Elizabeth II

Image source: Unknown / Library and Archives Canada, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The longest-reigning British royal, Queen Elizabeth II died yesterday at the age of 96 in her home at Balmoral Castle. Since then people from all around the world have paid their tributes from world leaders to the most famous celebrities. The world of sports has also reacted to the sad news and showed its respect. Let’s see the most important sports tributes to Queen Elizabeth II. 

Queen Elizabeth II was one of the most important figures of recent history who reigned for more than 70 years. She was the head of 15 different states and the head of the Commonwealth which consists of 56 sovereign states. The Queen liked many things from arts to dogs, but she truly loved horse racing. She was a great rider herself and her racing horses won several competitions in the last few decades. Queen Elizabeth II opened two Olympic Games: the first in 1976 in Montreal, and the second in London in 2012. She gave the World Cup trophy to the captain of the winning English team, Bobby Moore in 1966. While she was also the patron of Wimbledon, though she didn’t really like tennis. The biggest athletes and sports organizations have paid tribute to her yesterday, you can find some of them below. 

Football players paid one of the first sports tributes to Queen Elizabeth II

Only minutes after the announcement of the Queen’s death, players and fans paid their tributes to her at the Zurich-Arsenal UEFA Europa League match yesterday evening. There was a minute of silence at the beginning of the second half after the sad news emerged. Just like at the beginning of later games between West Ham vs Steaua Bucharest and Manchester United vs Real Sociedad. All football games in Great Britain have been postponed this weekend to pay tribute to the Queen’s legacy. As we can read it online sportsbook news in the UK. 

Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, and David Beckham were among the first football players to remember the Queen. Along with the captain of the women’s football team, Leah Williamson, and Brazil legend Pele. Of course, representatives of other sports have also paid tribute like Roger Federer and Sir Mo Farah. The four-time Olympic champion received knighthood by the Queen in 2017 along with several other British athletes. Leaders of main sports organizations eg.  the World Athletics president, Sebastien Coe, and the president of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach also paid their tributes. Formula 1, the US Open, and NFL will all hold a minute’s silence on Friday as other samples of sports tributes to Queen Elizabeth II. 

Cancellation of sporting events this weekend

Of course, the Queen’s death has the biggest impact on Britain. As several sporting events have been canceled or postponed besides football games. Friday’s play at the ongoing BMW PGA Championship was called off. Just like a Test cricket between England and South Africa. Two Friday fixtures from the Rugby Union’s Premiership have been postponed, but fixtures in the Rugby League will go ahead. Unlike the Tour of Britain cycling race where the remaining three stages have been canceled. And the current leader, Gonzalo Serrano became the overall winner. 

Probably the British Horseracing Authority felt the biggest loss following the Queen’s death. As we mentioned, she was a big patron of the sport and the figurehead of Royal Ascot. It canceled Friday’s meetings as “we begin to grieve Her Majesty’s passing and remember her extraordinary life and contribution to our sport and our nation” – said the BHA’s statement. But the world’s oldest Classic race, the St Leger where the Queen won in 1977 will go ahead on Sunday instead of its original date on Saturday. The Great North Run will also take place this Sunday. Participants of the charity run will have a great opportunity to celebrate the life of the Queen who was also a patron of hundreds of different charities. 

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