This year's European Para Dance Sport Championships in Genoa have been cancelled ©World Para Dance Sport

This year's European Para Dance Sport Championships in Genoa have been cancelled, organisers have confirmed.

The Italian city was named as host in August with competition scheduled for between December 17 and 21.

Officials pledged to monitor the coronavirus crisis at the time, however, and have now conceded that going ahead will not be possible.

A new range of measures have been introduced by the Italian Government in response to a rising number of COVID-19 cases, including restrictions on sporting events.

Italy has never hosted the European Championships before, although Rome hosted the World Championships in 2015.

Twenty countries and 150 dancers took part at last year's European Championships in Lomianki in Poland.

Italy has never hosted the European Championships before but Rome staged the World Championships in 2015 ©World Para Dance Sport
Italy has never hosted the European Championships before but Rome staged the World Championships in 2015 ©World Para Dance Sport

"We are really sorry that the European Championships have been cancelled," said Camila Rodrigues, World Para Dance Sport's manager.

"The Local Organising Committee (LOC) has done a fantastic job to put an event together in an unprecedented year, but we had already established 30 October as a deadline to know if the competition would be able to go ahead or not.

"The LOC and World Para Dance Sport have been continuously monitoring the situation regarding the COVID-19 pandemic as we will always put the health and well-being of all involved in our competitions as the number one priority. 

"We look forward to working with the LOC again in the future as we share a common passion for our sport."