COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — World Lacrosse and the Limerick 2020 Organizing Committee are confirming today that the Men's U19 World Championship, originally scheduled for July 9-18, 2020 in Limerick, Ireland, will not be held in 2020.

The potential health risks and uncertainty posed by the global pandemic brought about by the COVID-19 virus are simply too great to proceed with the event as originally scheduled.

World Lacrosse has initiated a consultation process with all 20 member-National Governing Bodies that had planned to participate in the event to assess a full range of options for the Championship. In addition, later this week, World Lacrosse will host two virtual "town hall meetings" for representatives from its member-National Governing Bodies and Continental Federations to obtain further feedback and recommendations regarding the Men's U19 World Championship and other international lacrosse activities.

World Lacrosse and the Limerick 2020 Organizing Committee will have an announcement in April addressing future plans for the Men's U19 World Championship.

In addition, the World Lacrosse General Assembly, originally scheduled for late July, will not be held in Limerick this year. World Lacrosse is currently exploring alternatives for the annual meeting of its membership, but there will be a General Assembly in 2020.

Importantly, World Lacrosse would like to thank its National Governing Bodies and Continental Federations for their continued input and support, and the wider international lacrosse family for following the advice of public health authorities and doing our part, as a sport, to help combat the global pandemic.