posted Mar 13th, 2020 - The NSL News reported on January 10th that the 8-way competition at the Shamrock Showdown 2020 could become a historic event. The five best 8-way teams in the world (Russia - France - Airspeed XP8 - Qatar Falcons - Golden Knights) were ready to compete at Skydive City this month.

Bad luck in the run-up to the event began when Russia's Tanay team member and sponsor Andrey Barabash broke his leg, as the NSL News reported on February 11th. The Russian national 8-way team, FAI World Cup winner of 2019, continued with reduced training efforts, with alternate Alexey Minaev in the slot. However, Tanay 8 decided not to make the next trip to the United States without their original team member and the complete lineup.

Shortly later, the first cases of the corona virus were the beginning of a worldwide pandemic, which has currently changed the ways of life across the globe.

Travel restrictions and quarantine were the earliest measures in the attempts to control the spreading of the disease, followed by the most recent impact on any public events. It was apparently only a matter of time when there would be consequences for indoor and outdoor skydiving events, as well.

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Shamrock Showdown 2020			1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Total	Avg
Rank	8-way Open - NSL Power Rankings		TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	TBD	Total	Avg
1	Tanay 8	RU	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1	Aerodyne Cypres Hauts de France	FR	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
1	Airspeed XP8	US	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4	Qatar Falcons	QA	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-
4	Golden Knights	US	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-

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It took a while, and skydiving centers in the United States are still in operation. However, the next major international events, first the World Challenge, followed by the FAI Indoor World Cup, have now been canceled or postponed without new dates.

The French national teams, the Qatar delegation (Falcons in 8-way, Tigers in 4-way), Airspeed XP8 and Golden Knights were still ready to compete at the Shamrock Showdown in Zephyyrhills next weekend, as long as Skydive City is still in operation. In fact, all teams were already in the United States, getting ready for the first outdoor competition in the world meet year.

Airspeed XP8 and Golden Knights have their headquarters in North Carolina/Arizona and were planning to drive from Raeford to Zephyrhills next week. Qatar Tigers and Falcons are currently training at Skydive City, while the French teams were jumping from Twin Otters at Skydive DeLand.

The latest bad news came on Wednesday when French national coach Mathieu Bernier informed the NSL News that the French government and skydiving federation had ordered the French delegation to terminate the training camp and return to France immediately, shortly after the U.S. government had announced at 30-day travel ban for European visitors. Friday, March 13th, became the last training day for the French teams and competitors, and the NSL News hurried to catch the last action on U.S. soil before the first team members left the same day.

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The situation of the Qatar delegation at Skydive City is still unclear. Coaches Gary Smith (Tigers) and Jeremie Rollett (Falcons) informed the NSL News that the country's government is also considering the termination of the currently running training camp and order the teams to return home immediately.

The decision will be made this weekend, and there is still a slight chance that Falcons and Tigers will be permitted to complete the training camp and finish up with the Shamrock Showdown competition at Skydive City. Airspeed XP8 and Golden Knights would still make the trip to Florida if the Qatar teams can stay, and SDC Rhythm XP would have a worthy opponent, as well. Even the Russian 8-way team might join in a remote-meet during the team's current training camp in Dubai.

However, it is a fluid situation, and the hosts will try their best to accommodate whatever will be left of the Shamrock Showdown 2020.

The NSL News had at least an opportunity to record some footage of the French teams' last day at Skydive DeLand, with perfect spring weather and a very promising forecast for the next ten days...