After the recent horrific terror attack at the Ariana Grande concert in Manchester, the UK's terror alert has been increased to "critical". As a result of this, the Chelsea victory parade due to take place on Sunday has been cancelled.
Chelsea Champions
After a stunning season which has seen the Blues romp home as champions, a clear 7 points ahead of London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, they must have felt they had earned the right to parade the Premier League trophy along the Kings Road and New Kings Road in West London this weekend. That right has been taken away by the sickening and horrific bombing at the MEN Arena in Manchester.
In a gesture which shows how sport can unify, Chelsea FC have been in discussions with the Metropolitan Police and Hammersmith and Fulham Council and the decision to cancel their parade has been taken, with the feeling that it would be inappropriate to divert police resources in light of the senseless attack which left 22 people dead.
The FA Cup Final
Chelsea, of course, are also due to battle out theFA Cup Final on Saturday against another rival London team in Arsenal. Arsene Wenger's Gunners have also agreed that they will not be staging a victory parade if they overcome their rivals on Saturday. Arsenal had also planned to stage a viewing of the final to be held at The Emirates Stadium for fans unable to get tickets, but this too has been cancelled.
All players have agreed that they will wear black armbands for the match in remembrance of those victims who lost their lives in the tragedy and Chelsea FC will be making a donation to the victim support fund.
Sport pays tribute
Several sporting events taking place around the tragedy will show their respect for those who lost their lives; Manchester United and Ajax players before the final of the Europa League in Stockholm will hold a minute's silence and wear black armbands and at the one-day cricket international at Headingley between England and South Africa both teams held a minute's silence.
This weekend Formula 1 will hold a minute's silence before the Monaco Grand Prix and all British based teams have agreed to sport #Manchester on their cars.
Decisions are still yet to be made about whether forthcoming sporting events will go ahead, perhaps most poignantly the Great Manchester Run, which features Europe's largest 10k run and half marathon due to be held next Sunday.
Whatever the decisions are and however they affect the world of sport there can be no doubt whatsoever that the great city of Manchester has shown enormous character and strength of spirit in the wake of this event and has shown terrorists that it, and we, will not be beaten.
