Sports
Sports officials respond swiftly to Abe's virus emergency declaration
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's emergency declaration on Tuesday night prompted sports organizations to draft contingencies and undertake scenario planning as they prepare for the unexpected in the ever-evolving coronavirus crisis. As the spread of the coronavirus accelerates across Japan, the sports landscape has been altered significantly, from playing games… Read
A path forward: NBA, NHL and MLB tinker with restart options
While the world wrestles with the coronavirus pandemic, the three biggest U.S.-based sports leagues currently affected by the crisis are trying to figure out if, how and where games can be safely played again this year. The NBA, NHL and Major League Baseball have some similar constraints: Public and player… Read
New Zealand suspends rugby indefinitely due to COVID-19
The suspension of club and community rugby in New Zealand has been extended indefinitely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with the sport's resumption now contingent on health ministry guidance, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) said on Wednesday. All matches, training and face-to-face education courses in New Zealand were initially suspended until… Read
Leitch fears Japan failing to build on World Cup heroics
Japan's fairytale run to the Rugby World Cup quarterfinals was a highlight of last year's tournament but with the afterglow all but gone, captain Michael Leitch fears not enough is being done to secure the Brave Blossoms a place at the game's top table. Almost six months after Japan's emotional… Read
Testing gap due to coronavirus a 'gift' to cheats: race walker Bosworth
Reduced drug testing during the COVID-19 pandemic is like a "gift" for those unscrupulous athletes who will go to any lengths to win and make money, British race walker Tom Bosworth has told The Times newspaper. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said last month that the pandemic had created challenges… Read
UFC close to securing private island for fights: White
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) President Dana White has said the mixed martial arts promotion is close to securing a "private island" to stage bouts for international fighters during the COVID-19 pandemic. The flu-like virus has infected 1.27 million people globally and caused over 70,000 deaths and brought the sports world… Read
Russia flatly denies U.S. allegation of World Cup bid bribes
Russian officials on Tuesday flatly denied bribing a FIFA voter with millions of dollars to support the country's winning 2018 World Cup bid, after American prosecutors revealed new details about the alleged payments. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia had no part in bribing FIFA executive committee members to win… Read
English soccer warned of $1 bil pandemic losses, clubs closing
English soccer faced warnings on Tuesday that losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic could exceed $1 billion and clubs could go out of business. The financial alarm was sounded by the heads of the English Football Association and Premier League as well-paid players in the top flight resist calls to… Read
Pandemic forces postponement of Canadian F1 Grand Prix
The June 14 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal joined a growing list of Formula One races postponed due to the new coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, with the 2020 season yet to get on the starting grid. The race is the ninth to be affected by the virus, with the March… Read
MLB, union discuss playing all games in Arizona
Putting all 30 teams in the Phoenix area and playing in empty ballparks was among the ideas discussed Monday by Major League Baseball and the players’ association. The sides held a telephone call to talk about paths forward for a season delayed by the new coronavirus pandemic, people familiar with… Read
