The recent winter weather has put another damper on Historic Triangle sporting events, this time with the cancellation of the Olympic Development Program (ODP) Friendlies Soccer Tournament.
In a news release Wednesday, the Greater Williamsburg Chamber & Tourism Alliance announced the decision, which was handed down by the James City County Parks and Recreation Department, citing potential damage that could be done to the fields if crews tried to remove the layers of snow and ice.
The event was scheduled to take place over three days, starting Friday, and would have featured about 150 out-of-state teams, said Bobby O’Brien, the technical director for the host Virginia Legacy Soccer Club.
“We support the Parks and Recreation’s decision to cancel the tournament,” said Karen Riordan, the president and CEO of the Alliance. “We are disappointed about the cancellation because we appreciate the economic impact it has on the area this time of year. However, keeping the fields in good condition is important as well for future tournaments coming here in the spring and summer.”
