The biggest news so far, unseating even the election, was the announcement that two companies had a vaccine in the works that, if approved, could be available within weeks. And that set off a nationwide chain reaction of optimism - and concern - in the sports, travel and hospitality industries. Could event owners require the vaccine? Would they?

First, the London Marathon showed it was possible to host a world-class competitive event amid the COVID landscape. Now, the Shanghai Marathon has taken that one step further, hosting a whopping 9,000 runners. Find out how they did it, what precautions were taken, how they were received - and what our take-away should be - in this article.

Want to kick 2020 to the curb in a big way? (Realistically, who doesn't?) There's a new volleyball brand in town looking for great places to call home. Hype Nation, LLC, launched just last month. Learn about the organization's strong sports tourism component, its focus on club volleyball and its readiness to work with destination partners nationwide.

"Pivot" is a word that has come into its own in 2020. And consequently, the organizers of events that can adapt to radically changed circumstances and still move forward (with success, no less) are nothing less than heroic. One of those is HV Gamer Con, a home-gown event that was honored in SDM's 2019 awards program. Learn how it adapted and what it did.

What will it take to bring fans back to the stands - and for them to be comfortable enough to stay there? According to one expert, being safe isn't enough but seeing physical evidence of cleaning and disinfection can make all the difference. Learn about measures facilities can take to eliminate pathogens and restore the roar to the stadium.

Mobile app use has seen a drastic increase during the COVID pandemic, as businesses across every industry look for ways to connect with their consumers and engage their employees. Sports events are no exception. Apps for registration, check-in and information are leading the way in helping athletes and their families stay safer during events.