The IGBO Mid-Year 2021 Los Angeles Executive Committee is saddened to inform you of our decision to withdraw our offer to host the IGBO Mid-Year 2021 tournament. The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has severely restricted our ability to fundraise and plan the event, however, the recent bankruptcy declaration by the operator of the Queen Mary (the host hotel) makes it all but impossible for us to meet our obligations. The committee considered other options such that we might continue to hold the event this year, however, due to large amounts of our funds being caught up in the bankruptcy proceedings and because of the uncertainty of when California will fully reopen, we didn’t feel this was a viable path.
We are continuing to work with the Operator of the Queen Mary with the idea of holding a Mid-Year event at a future date where we have a very good chance of recouping our funds. Our hope is that we can work with the IGBO Board and General Membership to approve that plan and hold the event in November 2023. In the meantime, we will continue to communicate news as we receive it and hope for better times for all.