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Canadian Football League to stage 14-game season starting in August

The Canadian Football League's championship game, the Grey Cup, is scheduled to take place Dec. 12. Photo courtesy of DoubleBlue/Wikimedia Commons
The Canadian Football League's championship game, the Grey Cup, is scheduled to take place Dec. 12. Photo courtesy of DoubleBlue/Wikimedia Commons

June 14 (UPI) -- The Canadian Football League will have a 14-game season this year after the league's board of governors voted unanimously in favor of an amended collective bargaining agreement.

The CFL, which didn't stage a season in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, plans to start its season on Aug. 5.

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"This is an exciting day for Canadian football and for Canada itself," CFL Commissioner Randy Ambrosie said in a statement Monday. "I want to thank our fans, players, coaches, and partners for their incredible support and patience as we've worked together toward this day. This is great news for everyone who loves our game and our country."

The league said in April that it was targeting Aug. 5 as a possible return date. At the time, the CFL said it would only move forward with a 2021 season if it could gain the necessary approvals from governments for its plans to keep players and coaches safe while allowing fans to attend games.

"We are on track to receive all of the necessary health and safety approvals, thanks to our tireless medical advisers and staff, and the dedicated government officials who have been working with them," Ambrosie said. "And while the outlook for fans in the stands varies from province to province, we are confident that process is also on the right track."

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The CFL said its complete 2021 schedule will be released Tuesday, with training camps set to begin July 10.

The league's championship game, the Grey Cup, also was pushed back three weeks to Dec. 12.

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