• A fan cheers during the KBO league game between Doosan Bears and LG Twins in Seoul, South Korea, on Sunday. Authorities began bringing back spectators in professional sports games amid the coronavirus pandemic. AP
    A fan cheers during the KBO league game between Doosan Bears and LG Twins in Seoul, South Korea, on Sunday. Authorities began bringing back spectators in professional sports games amid the coronavirus pandemic. AP
  • Fans wearing face masks cheer during the KBO league game between Doosan Bears and LG Twins in Seoul on Sunday. AP
    Fans wearing face masks cheer during the KBO league game between Doosan Bears and LG Twins in Seoul on Sunday. AP
  • Fans take a selfie before the KBO league game between Doosan Bears and LG Twins in Seoul. AP
    Fans take a selfie before the KBO league game between Doosan Bears and LG Twins in Seoul. AP
  • Infielder Kim Yong-Eui f LG Twins bats in the top of eighth inning during the KBO League game against Doosan Bears at the Jamsil Stadium on Sunday. Getty
    Infielder Kim Yong-Eui f LG Twins bats in the top of eighth inning during the KBO League game against Doosan Bears at the Jamsil Stadium on Sunday. Getty
  • Infielder Kim Yong-Eui LG Twins slides into home base at the Jamsil Stadium on Sunday. Getty
    Infielder Kim Yong-Eui LG Twins slides into home base at the Jamsil Stadium on Sunday. Getty
  • Cheerleaders and fans of the KT Wiz root for their Korea Baseball Organisation club against the NC Dinos while wearing masks and maintaining distance at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, South Korea, on Sunday. EPA
    Cheerleaders and fans of the KT Wiz root for their Korea Baseball Organisation club against the NC Dinos while wearing masks and maintaining distance at KT Wiz Park in Suwon, South Korea, on Sunday. EPA
  • Fans line up Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, on Sunday. EPA
    Fans line up Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul, South Korea, on Sunday. EPA
  • Fans of the Doosan Bears cheer at the Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. EPA
    Fans of the Doosan Bears cheer at the Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. EPA
  • Fans enter the Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. EPA
    Fans enter the Jamsil Baseball Stadium in Seoul. EPA
  • A fan has his temperature checked before entering Jamsil Baseball Stadium for the match between the Doosan Bears and the LG Twins. EPA
    A fan has his temperature checked before entering Jamsil Baseball Stadium for the match between the Doosan Bears and the LG Twins. EPA
  • South Korean baseball has started accepting fans to stadiums, restricted to 10 per cent of the venue capacity. Getty
    South Korean baseball has started accepting fans to stadiums, restricted to 10 per cent of the venue capacity. Getty
  • Fans during the match between Doosan Bears and LG Twins at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. AFP
    Fans during the match between Doosan Bears and LG Twins at Jamsil Stadium in Seoul. AFP
  • Baseball fans cheer as they observe social distancing during the KBO league baseball game between Seoul-based Doosan Bears and LG Twins at Jamsil stadium. AFP
    Baseball fans cheer as they observe social distancing during the KBO league baseball game between Seoul-based Doosan Bears and LG Twins at Jamsil stadium. AFP
  • Baseball fans sit in the stands as they observe social distancing at Jamsil stadium in Seoul. AFP
    Baseball fans sit in the stands as they observe social distancing at Jamsil stadium in Seoul. AFP

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Masked spectators and cheerleaders mark return of baseball fans to venues in South Korea - in pictures

Authorities restrict attendance to 10 per cent of venue capacity

The National

July 26, 2020

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Masked fans and cheerleaders brought some much needed noise and atmosphere to baseball stadiums in South Korea on Sunday as authorities started allowing spectators to return to professional sports amid the coronavirus pandemic.

South Korea’s 2020 baseball season started in early May without fans in the stands. Seats at baseball venues were then filled with banners, dolls and pictures of fans.

On Sunday, the Korean Baseball Organisation allowed a limited number of fans, or 10 per cent of the stadium capacity, to watch games live. They entered stadiums after their temperatures were checked. During the games, they were required to wear masks and sit at least a seat apart while being banned from having food or beverages.

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