The U.S. has offered more than a thousand professional athletes exemptions to proclamations barring their entry into the country, as the administration pushes for the return of professional sports, a person familiar with the matter told CNBC.
So far, the Department of Homeland Security has issued 1,703 exemptions, a person familiar with the situation told CNBC, requesting anonymity because the data is not yet public.
The DHS in May announced it would exempt foreign athletes from the limitations it is imposing on foreign travel into the country. President Donald Trump has spoken frequently of his desire for professional sports to return.
Leading the exemption count is Canada with 414 exemptions, 285 of which were for the National Hockey League.
In all, the NHL secured 506 athlete exemptions, the most of any sport. It was followed by Major League Baseball at 308, International Motor Sports Association at 207 and the Professional Golf Association at 198.
Major League Soccer received 176 exemptions, while the Ladies Professional Golf Association got 142.
The exemptions come as global tensions have heightened. The U.S. has clamped on other travel into the country and announced new rules for international students. The administration has continued tough talk on China, which Trump has frequently blamed for the spread of the disease.
U.S. & World
Delayed seasons, though, have threatened ticket revenue for powerful team-owners. They have also cut through the advertising sales at entertainment companies like Comcast’s NBCUniversal and Disney’s ESPN.
“Professional sporting events provide much needed economic benefits, but equally important, they provide community pride and national unity,” said Acting Secretary Chad Wolf when announcing the planned exemptions in May. “In today’s environment, Americans need their sports. It’s time to reopen the economy and it’s time we get our professional athletes back to work.”
But plans to bring back sports have been challenged, as athletes at Major League Baseball, the National Basketball Association and the National Football league have all tested positive for the virus.
The MLB had to push back training camps for a number of teams because of delayed testing results from a Utah laboratory running the diagnostics.
The NBA, which secured 33 exemptions, has said it still plans to resume its season at its Orlando campus this month, despite a recent increase in Covid-19 cases in Florida.
A total of 18 sports leagues were granted exemptions, including the Sports Car Club of America and the World Boxing Organization.
If any exempted athlete tests positive for coronavirus prior to arriving in the U.S., they will be denied entry until they test negative.
This story first appeared on CNBC.com
More from CNBC:
