The COVID-19 pandemic has wiped out live sport all around the globe, but history will never be erased.
While you contemplate streaming yet another Netflix drama or rewatching another replay of your favourite sporting moments, here are some stories that were making news in years past on April 15.
1896
The first official Summer Olympic Games begin at Athens, Greece.
The United States won the gold medal count with 11, but silver and bronze were not awarded at the time, until the IOC retroactively assigned them a few years later.
1947
Jackie Robinson becomes the first African-American baseball player.
Robinson's famous No.42 shirt was retired across the entire league in 1997 and beginning in 2004, all players wear his number on April 15.
1961
Balmain and Norths play rugby league's first televised game.
Former international Ray Stehr called the action on Channel Nine, after the league's decision to allow half a match to be televised each weekend on a trial basis.
1989
Ninety-six Liverpool football supporters are crushed to death at Hillsborough Football Stadium in Sheffield, England.
The neutral venue was hosting the FA Cup semi-final between the 'Reds' and Nottingham Forest.
Shortly before kick-off, in an attempt to ease overcrowding outside the entrance turnstiles, the police match commander David Duckenfield ordered exit gate C opened, leading to an influx of even more supporters to the pens and overcrowding.
With 96 fatalities and 766 injuries, it remains the worst disaster in British sporting history.
2013
Two pressure-cooker bombs are detonated near the finish line of the Boston Marathon, killing three people and injuring 183.
The men’s and women’s races were won by Ethiopian Lelisa Desisa Benti and Kenyan Rita Jeptoo, and more than 5000 participants, who could not finish the race after it was suspended, were awarded medals.
2018
A golden day for New Zealand at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, with squash pair Joelle King and Amanda Landers-Murphy's triumph, and our sevens squads taking centrestage.
Firstly, the Black Ferns thrilled the country with a final-play, length-of-the-field Kelly Brazier try to break the heart of host nation Australia, then the men completed a 14-0 shutout of Fiji to claim gold.
Birthdays
1958 - Former NZ cricket player and coach John Bracewell
1980 - Former NRL, State of Origin and Kangaroos league player Willie Mason
1984 - Football Ferns defender Katie Bowen-Duncan
Deaths
2002 - American football player & US Supreme Court Justice Byron 'Whizzer' White, aged 84
Newshub's top story 12 months ago....
Damian McKenzie ruled out of Rugby World Cup
All Blacks utility back Damian McKenzie has been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup with an ACL injury.
The 23-year-old picked up the injury during the Chiefs' 33-19 Super Rugby win against the Blues on Saturday night.
The injury occurred early in the second half when attempting a tackle on first-five Otere Black.
Coach Steve Hansen confirmed the news at the All Blacks' foundation day in Wellington on Monday.
