The Queen Will Get An Unlikely Memorial At This Huge Sporting Event
Tributes to the late monarch streamed in from within the U.K. and elsewhere as news spread of Queen Elizabeth II's death at age 96. U.S. President Joe Biden and his wife, and U.S. first lady Jill Biden, paid their respects to the queen's passing in statement, calling her more than a monarch and adding that she defined an era (via CNBC). Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau remembered the queen in a tweet. "As we look back at her life and her reign that spanned so many decades, Canadians will always remember and cherish Her Majesty's wisdom, compassion, and warmth," he wrote.
Similar reaction from international heads of state such as the Bidens and Trudeau to the queen's death is perhaps unsurprising. As TMZ reports, though, a somewhat unexpected tribute will also be paid to the late British queen at a major American sporting event scheduled to take place on the same day that her death was announced.
The NFL will call for a moment of silence
According to ESPN, the opening game of the 2023 NFL football season between the Los Angeles Rams and the Buffalo Bills is set to take place in California on the same day that Queen Elizabeth II died. Though playing a thoroughly American game of football, the NFL announced it would pay respect to the late British Queen with a moment of silence before kickoff takes place, as TMZ goes on to note.
In response to the Queen's death, the official NFL U.K. tweeted, "Everyone at NFL UK is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Her Majesty The Queen, Elizabeth II. Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with The Royal Family. We join all those mourning the loss of Her Majesty." Other sports organizations that paid their respects to the late queen included the NHL, Premier League soccer, and Formula 1 racing, among others (per CBS Sports). On that note, BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth Club in England announced play would be suspended until further notice, according to TMZ.