The Arnold Sports Festival will be postponed to a later date this year because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Columbus' annual sports competition and fitness expo normally happens downtown every March. Spokesman Brent LaLonde says the festival will be rescheduled for the fall because of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Last year, the Arnold Sports Expo became the first major event in Ohio – and one of the first in the country – to be impacted by the then-new COVID-19 pandemic. City and state officials considered cancelling the entire festival, but ultimately allowed competitions to occur with few spectators.
The Arnold usually attracts more than 200,000 attendees from dozens of countries around the world, and has an estimated $50 million impact on the local economy.
Organizers hope to have an official date for the 2021 competitions next week.
