A tournament expected to bring 2,500 wrestlers from 40 states to Denver this weekend will go on as scheduled, despite growing nationwide concerns about the spread of COVID-19 at such gatherings.

“I think it’s important to get out there that life can’t stop,” said Paul Andrews, president and CEO of the National Western Stock Show, which is hosting the wrestling tournament at the National Western Complex beginning Friday. “We’re in a state and a city where economics dictate people’s jobs, so if we stop going to restaurants, we stop going to events, it’s going to significantly impact the entire state.”

The Rocky Mountain Nationals wrestling tournament will run from Friday to Sunday at the complex. Event organizers did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday.

Andrews said the National Western Complex has cleaned its facility and said he thinks people who are sick will stay home, reducing the threat of infection at the complex.

“We clean and disinfect all door handles, doorknobs, anything the public comes in touch with, and we do that constantly,” he said, adding later, “It’s safe to say this complex is likely cleaner than anyone’s home.”

The decision comes as large public events are increasingly being canceled or delayed due to concerns that such events could facilitate the spread of the novel coronavirus, which on Wednesday was declared a global pandemic. Related Articles Colorado employers added nearly 37,000 jobs in August

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The NBA and NHL have suspended their seasons, the city of Denver canceled its St. Patrick’s Day parade, and a number of Colorado colleges and universities are moving classes online in light of the pandemic.

The wrestling tournament is one of at least two events that will go on as scheduled at the National Western Complex this weekend. The Tri-State Auto Exhibition is also planned for Saturday.

Andrews said some other events at the complex have been rescheduled at the request of the event organizers.