fans were watching soccer games.

Today, however, the stadiums will all be shut. The interment of Princess Diana will mark a sports-free day in Britain even though Saturday traditionally is the nation's most popular day for soccer, cricket, rugby and racing.

Not a ball will be kicked and not a run scored anywhere in Britain while the racehorses will stay in their stables as the nation mourns the "people's princess.'' Diana, a tennis-loving, fitness fan died at age 36 last Sunday in a car crash in Paris.

In Bermuda, no sporting events have been cancelled apart -- from those involving seaman aboard the seven NATO vessels berthed here this weekend. But at field hockey, cricket and soccer matches, a minute's silence will be observed.

Bermuda Ladies Hockey Association players will gather at the centreline before today's season-opening matches at National Sports Club "to give them a chance to pay a little respect,'' a BLHA spokesperson said.

After enquiries from The Royal Gazette yesterday afternoon, the Bermuda Cricket Board of Control and the Bermuda Football Association also decided to hold a moment's silence prior to games today and tonight.

In England, all pro soccer games, a major cricket final and five horse racing cards have been cancelled or postponed, including, a World Cup soccer match between Scotland and Belarus. Sports events at semi-pro and amateur levels also were called off.

Briton Greg Rusedski will wear a black ribbon on his shirt when he faces Sweden's Jonas Bjorkman in the US Open semi-finals. And the Irish soccer team, many of whom were born in England of Irish parentage, will wear black armbands when they play a World Cup qualifier in Iceland today.