Most people watch ESPN for things like football and baseball. Not me, I watch it for the Scripps National Spelling Bee and Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest. Sadly, one of them was canceled because of the Coronavirus pandemic.
The spelling bee has been officially smushed for the first time since World War II. The spellers, who made it to the Nationals, will be recognized for making it as far as they did. They just won’t have the chance to compete to be the #1 speller in the United States. The news is even sadder for kids who are going into the 9th grade because they will not be able to compete again next year in the challenge.
Paige Kimble, executive director of the Scripps National Spelling Bee released the below statement:
Our thoughts immediately go to our spellers and their families. The students have dedicated time and effort to their passion for learning. They should be proud of all they have accomplished by winning spelling bees at the classroom, school and regional level. Nevertheless, our first priority has to be the health and well-being of our spellers and their families and the hundreds of staff and spectators that come together for Bee Week.
Our hearts go out to the spellers who won’t get their final shot at winning because of the pandemic and the difficult decisions it is prompting us to make. They are now part of a widely expanding group of children and adults who are missing out on opportunities due to the coronavirus.
My hearts go out to all of those spellers who won’t be spelling their hearts out. I hope they keep practicing for their parents. If their parents read this, then they will be spelling two words ar me. The first word begins with an F and the second word is Y-O-U.
