SYDNEY: Organisers of the women's Olympic soccer qualifying tournament, which quickly relocated to Sydney after the deadly Coronavirus outbreak, were forced to switch matches due to quarantine restrictions imposed on Chinese players.More than 200 people in China have died of the influenza-like virus, with nearly 6,000 infected after it appeared late last year in Wuhan, central Hubei Province.On Thursday, the World Health Organization said the outbreak was a public health emergency.The Chinese women's team arrived in Australia on January 29 and quarantined in Brisbane even after February 5. According to the Chinese Football Association, neither of the players has been positive for the virus.They were originally scheduled to play their first match against Thailand on February 3, but the organizers said on Friday that they will now play their first match on February 6.The Australian Football Confederation said in a statement on Friday that an additional day is already scheduled for February 12, when China will play against Australia."As always, the health of all participants, from players and officials to fans and contractors, remains the first priority," said James Johnson, CEO of the Football Association."This new coordination allows us to organize these matches with this priority in mind, and we now hope to welcome all teams and organize a successful tournament."Many other international sporting events, including boxing championships and the qualification of the basketball for this year's Tokyo Olympics, have been cancelled, postponed or transferred from China. The four-team championship which includes China, Australia, Taiwan and Thailand was transferred from Wuhan, the epicenter of the virus outbreak, to Australia by the Asian Football Confederation.Read More: Schedule of Hockey Test Event in the Olympic
The World Athletics Indoor Championships is a biennial indoor track and field competition. It is organized by the World Athletics and had been inaugurated as the World Indoor Games in the year 1985 in Paris, France. It was subsequently renamed as the IAAF World Indoor Championships in the year 1987. The current name had been adopted along with the change in the name of the sports governing body in the year 2019.The 18th World Athletics Indoor Championships had earlier been scheduled to be held from 13th March to 15th March 2020 in Nanjing, China at the Cube gymnasium located in the Nanjing Youth Olympic Sports Park. The place has been built recently. Its Construction had started in 2017 and has been completed right in time for the event. The track and field and the swimming venues are located in the A Block of the park. To the east is the Yangtze River complex where catering, as well as the hotels, are present and all the security work for the event will be carried out.However, it is important to note that now the event has been postponed till March 2021. The reason behind this is the current 2019–20 coronavirus outbreak. This is going to be the first event that Nanjing is hosting. Cedar is the official mascot for the World Athletics Indoor Championships Nanjing 2021.The World Athletics Indoor Championships have been held every two years except one time when they were held consecutively in the years 2003 and 2004 to facilitate the need for these events to be held in the alternate years to the main World Athletics Championships (outdoors).The events held during the championship have been more or less the same since the start. The 4 x 400 m relay race for men and women had been added to the schedule in the year 1991 with the women's triple jump as an exhibition event.Nanjing had won the bidding process for the Championships. The Delegations from three candidate cities had shown their presentations to the Council, first Nanjing (CHN), followed by Belgrade (SRB) and Toru (POL).The organizers have said that they had received advice from their medical team that the spread of the Coronavirus is at a level that is alarming both within China and outside and it has been advised that no one should be allowed to go ahead with a major gathering that can be postponed for a while.Read More: T20 Womens World Cup: It could be Australia vs India at MCG on Womens Day
IPL 2020 UpdatesMumbai: With reactions continuing to the fate of the 13th edition of the Indian League (IPL) in the wake of Covid-19 and the potential threat it poses, there is still no clear answer to the big question: What is waiting for IPL 2020?Occupants of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry will arrive in Mumbai on Friday, one day before the IPL Board meeting here. They will discuss the latest announcement published by the Ministry of Sports on Thursday for all national sports federations and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry.The notice states that "there will be no public meeting at any sporting event (read: IPL in the current context) and it will run behind closed doors without spectators."In light of this notice, neither the BCCI nor the IPL GC will accelerate the announcement. The usual response is, "We'll wait and watch." In fact, no one has an answer to questions at this time. It takes less than 48 hours to cancel a match. Organizing one takes weeks of planning. If the Ministry of Sports proposes playing in empty seats, the clear message is that IPL is currently activated.TOI has analyzed possible solutions to the test and the possible implications of Covid-19 on IPL in the coming weeks.(A) Will it holds IPL 2020?Now: The league is on, and is scheduled to start on the specified date (29 March). There is no official notification to indicate otherwise.Moving forward: the tournament can be postponed, the format slightly modified to fit in a smaller window, or the tournament can be played at empty points (behind closed doors).(B) cancellation possibilities?At the moment: Very unlikely. Government notification allows BCCI to plan the tournament. BCCI is also busy working on Plan-B.Moving forward: Only a large spread of the virus in the coming weeks could force a cancellation. There are 17 days left to start the tournament. Every day is important.(C) Changing blank media or formatting ... how will it work?Now: The first option is to play on empty stands. Franchise holders and broadcasters must follow government notification. Thus, the tournament can be limited to specific locations.In the future: The second option is to change the layout, only if the scenario requires it. Eight teams can be divided into two groups (such as the 2011 version). The tournament can see less than 20 to 25 games, which will be completed within a month.(D) Will foreign players be allowed?At the present time: the Australian opening visa David Warner has been rejected. However, those who know it says it happened due to technical flaws in its application.In the future: Concessions must give their approval to process a visa, and this is the norm. If the government has no objection to the league being played behind closed doors, visa procedures will be expedited as "exceptional" cases.Putting the common questions aside, the league's workforce will lose sleep while seeing the massive workload in handling and logistics operations if changes are needed.They already have a lot on their page: from hotel and airline reservations to reprogramming places, adjusting sponsorship obligations, renegotiating with official rights holders, managing internal arrangements, event planning in a more convenient way to television and more.NOT WISE TO HOLD IPL: MEANew Delhi: MEA has left the decision to retain the IPL for regulators, although senior officials have said it would be wise to do so now. In response to reporters' questions, Damu Ravi, a senior official at Middle East Airlines, said: "I think it is up to the regulators to decide whether or not they want to go ahead. Our advice will not be to do that now, but if they want to go ahead." This is their decision, "but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs later clarified that the ministry had not yet requested any contribution to this matter.Participation of major foreign playersMumbai: If foreign players are excluded from the equation, there will not be much difference between IPL and Mushtaq T20 tournament, despite salaries. This is the reason why foreign players arrive will be the IPL key this year, regardless of the tournament being played behind closed doors or in a refurbished format in a shorter window.On Thursday afternoon, Australian visa application David Warner was rejected, raising concerns that under the government’s revised travel notice, visas will not be issued to people who arrive here on a business trip.However, this may not be the case. Sources told TOI on Thursday, "If the government agrees to operate the IPL, the visas will not be a problem. The process will be accelerated as necessary." The BCCi discovers the availability of these foreign players. TOI spoke to the franchises that said the league could not continue without these players, "whether the tournament is played in empty places, in the form of re-arranged or rescheduled."Read More: Coronavirus Pandemic Affects On Sports Events
A list of sports events affected by the viral outbreak, as the PGA Tour cancelling remainder of Players Championship and all tournaments for 3 weeks becomes the latest addition. ARCHERYISSF International Solidarity Championships in Dhaka, Bangladesh from Feb. 22-28 postponed. World Cup in Shanghai from May 4-10 canceled.ATHLETICS World indoor championships in Nanjing from March 13-15 postponed to March 2021. World half-marathon championships in Gdynia, Poland on March 29 postponed to Oct. 17. Hong Kong Marathon on Feb. 9 canceled. Asian indoor championships in Hangzhou from Feb. 12-13 canceled. Asian cross-country championships in Hong Kong on March 29 postponed. Tokyo Marathon on March 1, restricted to elite runners. Paris Half Marathon on March 1 postponed to Sept. 6. Nagoya Women's Marathon on March 8, restricted to elite runners. Rome Half Marathon on March 8 canceled. New Taipei City Marathon in Taiwan on March 15 canceled. Suzhou Half Marathon in China on March 15 canceled. Barcelona Marathon on March 15 postponed to Oct. 25. New York Half Marathon on March 15 canceled. Seoul Marathon on March 22 canceled. Chongqing International Marathon in China on March 22 canceled. Wuxi Marathon in China on March 22 canceled. Mersin Marathon in Turkey on March 22 postponed. Lisbon Half Marathon on March 22 postponed to Sept. 6. Prague Half Marathon on March 28 postponed. Rome Marathon on March 29 canceled. Madrid Half Marathon on March 29 postponed. Paris Marathon on April 5 postponed to Oct. 18. Milan Marathon in Italy on April 5 postponed. Daegu International Marathon in South Korea on April 5 canceled. Rotterdam Marathon in the Netherlands on April 5 postponed. Kyiv Half Marathon in Ukraine on April 5 postponed. Berlin Half Marathon on April 5 canceled. Wuhan Marathon in China on April 12 canceled. Pyongyang Marathon in North Korea on April 12 canceled. Yangzhou Jianzhen International Half Marathon in China on April 12 postponed. Vienna City Marathon on April 19 canceled. Hamburg Marathon on April 19 postponed. Dongying International Marathon in China on April 26 canceled. Florida Invitational meeting in Miramar on May 9 canceled.AUTO RACING 1 Formula One: Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 15 canceled. Formula One: Bahrain Grand Prix in Sakhir on March 22, no spectators. Formula One: Chinese Grand Prix in Shanghai on April 19 postponed. Formula E: Sanya E-Prix in Japan on March 21 canceled. Formula E: Rome E-Prix on April 4 postponed. Formula E: Jakarta E-Prix on June 6 canceled. 12 Hours of Sebring in Florida on March 21-22 postponed to November. NASCAR: Atlanta 500 on March 15; Miami 400 on March 22, no spectators. BADMINTON China Masters in Hainan from Feb. 25-March 1 postponed. Asian team championships in Manila from Feb. 11-16: China and Hong Kong withdrew. German Open in Mulheim from March 3-8 canceled. Portuguese International Championships in Caldas da Rainha from March 5-8 canceled. Polish Open in Krakow from March 26-29 postponed. Vietnam International Challenge in Hanoi postponed from March 24-29 to June 2-7. Asia championships moved from Wuhan, China to Manila on April 21-26. BASEBALL MLB: Preseason from March 12 canceled. Regular season due to start on March 26, postponed. Nippon Professional Baseball in Japan: Preseason from Feb. 26-March 15, no spectators. Regular season due to start on March 20, postponed. KBO League in South Korea: Preseason from March 14-24 canceled. Regular season due to start on March 28, postponed. Americas Olympic qualifying tournament in Arizona from March 22-26 postponed. Final Olympic qualifying tournament in Taichung and Dou Liu, Taiwan from April 1-5 postponed to June 17-21. BASKETBALL NBA from March 11 suspended. Women's Olympic qualifying tournament moved from Foshan, China, to Belgrade, Serbia, from Feb. 6-9. 3x3 Olympic qualifying tournament in Bengaluru, India from March 18-22 postponed. Asia Cup qualifiers postponed: Philippines vs. Thailand on Feb. 20; Japan vs. China on Feb. 21; China vs. Malaysia on Feb. 24. Matches scheduled for Hong Kong moved to opponents' homes. South Korean Basketball League: All games from Feb. 25, no spectators. From Feb. 29, suspended. Serie A in Italy: Games on March 7, no spectators. From March 8-13, postponed. EuroLeague: Milan vs. Real Madrid in Milan on March 3; Valencia vs. Milan in Valencia on March 5. Competition from March 12 suspended. EuroLeague Women: Famila Schio vs. Sopron on Feb. 26; Reyer vs. Riga on Feb. 26; USK Praha vs. Famila Schio on March 11; Ekaterinburg vs. Montpellier on March 11, canceled. Competition from March 13 suspended. EuroCup: Brescia vs. Reyer on March 3, Monaco vs. UNICS Kazan on March 4, Darussafaka vs. Bologna on March 5, no spectators. Competition from March 12 suspended. EuroCup Women: Castors Braine vs. Valencia on March 12; Reyer vs. Girona on March 12, canceled. Dynamo Kursk vs. Avenida on March 12 canceled. Competition from March 13 suspended. 3x3 Asia Cup in Changsa, China from March 13-17 postponed to Sept. 9-13. Basketball Africa League due to start on March 13 delayed. BIATHLON Olympic test event in Zhangjiakou, China from Feb. 27-March 2 canceled. World Cup in Nove Mesto, Czech Republic from March 5-8, no spectators. BOXING Asia-Oceania Olympic qualifier moved from Wuhan, China, to Amman, Jordan, from March 3-11. Americas Olympic qualifier in Buenos Aires, Argentina from March 26-April 3 suspended. World Cup in Cologne, Germany from June 17-20 canceled. CANOE-KAYAK Asian canoe slalom championships in Pattaya, Thailand on March 22 postponed to April. Asian Olympic canoe sprint qualifying tournament in Pattaya, Thailand on March 26 postponed to April. SPORT CLIMBING Asian Championships in Chongqing, China from April 25-May 3 to be relocated. Olympic test event in Tokyo on March 6, no athletes and spectators. World Cup in Wujiang, China from April 18-19 canceled. World Cup in Chongqing, China on April 22 canceled. CRICKET India-South Africa 2nd ODI in Lucknow on March 15, 3rd ODI in Kolkata on March 18, no spectators. Australia-New Zealand ODIs in Sydney on March 13 and 15, 3rd ODI in Hobart on March 20, no spectators. Indian Premier League, due to start on March 29, no spectators. Pakistan Super League: Matches in Karachi from March 13, no spectators. Australia Women's tour of South Africa, due to start on March 22, postponed. Men's Cricket World Cup Challenge League A between Canada, Denmark, Malaysia, Qatar, Singapore and Vanuatu in Malaysia from March 16-26 postponed. Everest Premier League in Nepal, due to start on March 14, postponed. Women's ODI Quadrangular between Thailand, Ireland, Netherlands and Zimbabwe in Chiang Mai, Thailand from April 3-11 canceled. CYCLING Tour of Hainan in China from Feb. 23-March 1 postponed. UAE Tour cancelled on Feb. 27 after 5 of 7 stages. Strade Bianche in Siena, Italy on March 7 canceled. Paris-Nice from March 8-15: Mitchelton-Scott, Ineos, Astana, UAE Team Emirates, CCC, Movistar, Jumbo-Visma teams withdrew. From Stage 2 of 8, no spectators. GP Larciano in Pistoia, Italy on March 8 canceled. Tirreno-Adriatico in Italy from March 11-17 canceled. Ronde van Drenthe (women) in the Netherlands on March 15: Mitchelton-Scott, Movistar, Rally Cycling teams withdrew. Volta ao Alentejo in Portugal from March 18-22 canceled. Milan-San Remo on March 21 canceled. Mountain Bike World Cup in Lousa, Portugal on March 21-22 canceled. Trofeo Alfredo Binda (women) in Cittiglio, Italy on March 22 postponed to June 2. Tour de Normandie in France from March 23-27 canceled. Volta a Catalunya in Spain from March 23-29 canceled. Settimana Coppi e Bartali in Italy from March 25-29 canceled. Giro di Sicilia in Italy from April 1-4 canceled. Tour de Bretagne in France from April 25-May 1 canceled. Tour of Chongming Island (women) in China from May 7-9 postponed. Tour of Zhoushan Island in China from May 12-14 postponed. Tour of Taiyuan in China on May 31 postponed. Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California from Oct. 1-4 postponed. EQUESTRIAN Hong Kong showjumping leg of Longines Masters Series from Feb. 14-16 canceled. FENCING Anaheim Grand Prix in California on March 13-15 postponed. Men's Saber World Cup in Budapest, Hungary on March 20-22 postponed. Men's Epee World Cup in Buenos Aires, Argentina on March 20-22 postponed. Sint-Niklaas Women's Saber World Cup: March 20-22 Tashkent Women's Epee World Cup: March 20-22 Junior and Cadet World Championships (Salt Lake City, Utah): April 3-11 African Zonal Olympic Qualifier (Cairo, Egypt): April 15 Asian Zonal Olympic Qualifier (Seoul, Korea), April 15-16 European Zonal Olympic Qualifier (Madrid, Spain), April 18-19 American Zonal Olympic Qualifier (Panama City, Panama), April 18-19 FIELD HOCKEY Hockey Pro League women's matches between China and Belgium on Feb. 8-9 and Australia on March 14-15 postponed. Australia's Hockey Pro League matches in Spain, Germany and Netherlands from March 14-29 postponed. New Zealand's Hockey Pro League matches in Germany on March 19 and the Netherlands on March 29 postponed. India women's tour of China from March 14-25 canceled. Ireland women's tour of Malaysia in March-April canceled. GOLF US PGA Tour Players Championship in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida, from March 13, canceled after 1st day and PGA Tour for next 3 weeks. US LPGA Tour Honda LPGA Thailand in Pattaya from Feb. 20-23 canceled. HSBC Women's World Championship in Singapore from Feb. 27-March 1 canceled. Blue Bay LPGA on Hainan Island from March 5-8 canceled. Founders Cup in Phoenix from March 19-22 canceled. Kia Classic in Carlsbad, California from March 26-29 canceled. ANA Inspiration in Rancho Mirage, California from April 2-5 canceled. European Tour Kenya Open in Nairobi from March 12-15 canceled. Indian Open in New Delhi from March 19-22 postponed. Maybank Championship in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from April 16-19 postponed. China Open in Shenzhen from April 23-26 postponed. Czech Masters in Prague on Aug. 20-23 canceled. Japan LPGA Tour Daikin Orchid Ladies in Okinawa from March 5-8 canceled. Meiji Yasuda Life Women's Yokohama Tire Tournament in Konan from March 13-15 canceled. Asian Tour Royal Cup in Pattaya, Thailand from March 12-15 postponed. Bangabandhu Cup in Dhaka, Bangladesh from March 25-28 postponed. GYMNASTICS Artistic World Cup in Melbourne, Australia, from Feb. 20-23: China team withdrew. All-Around World Cup in Milwaukee on March 7: Russia team withdrew. Artistic World Cup in Doha, Qatar on March 18-21 postponed to June 3-6. All-Around World Cup in Stuttgart, Germany on March 20-22 canceled. Rhythmic World Cup in Pesaro, Italy on April 3-5 postponed to June 5-7. All-Around World Cup in Tokyo on April 4-5: Russia team withdrew. Artistic Jesolo Cup in Italy on April 4-5 canceled. Trampoline World Cup in Brescia, Italy on April 24-25 postponed to June 19-20. HANDBALL Olympic women's qualifying tournament in Montenegro from March 20-22: China withdrew. Hong Kong declined invitation to attend. HORSE RACING Japan Racing Association: All races from Feb. 27 no spectators. Dubai World Cup on March 28, no spectators ICE HOCKEY NHL from March 12 suspended. Women's world championship in Nova Scotia, Canada from March 31-April 10 canceled. Women's world championship Division I Group A in Angers, France from April 12-18 canceled. Women's world championship Division I Group B in Katowice, Poland from March 28-April 3 canceled. Women's world championship Division II Group A in Jaca, Spain from March 29-April 3 canceled. Men's world championship Division IV in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan from May 3-5 canceled. NCAA Division 1 men's championship in the United States from March 11, no spectators. Women's Challenge Cup of Asia in Manila, Philippines from Feb. 23-28 canceled. Women's Challenge Cup of Asia Division I in Manila, Philippines from Feb. 23-28 canceled. National League and Swiss League in Switzerland suspended from March 2-15. Chinese clubs in Supreme Hockey League playing home games in Russia. US-Based Professional Women's Hockey Players Association tour of Japan from March 4-7 canceled. JUDO Paris Grand Slam on Feb. 8-9: China team withdrew. Dusseldorf Grand Slam in Germany on Feb. 21-23: China team withdrew. Rabat Grand Prix in Morocco on March 6-8 canceled. Swiss Open in Winterthur on March 7-8 canceled. Ekaterinburg Grand Slam in Russia on March 13-15 canceled. Santiago Panamerican Open in Chile from March 14-15 canceled. Lima Panamerican Open in Peru from March 21-22 canceled. Tbilisi Grand Prix in Georgia from March 27-29 canceled. Antalya Grand Prix in Turkey from April 3-5 canceled. MODERN PENTATHLON World championships moved from Xiamen to Cancun, Mexico, from May 25-31. World laser run championships moved from Xiamen in May to Weiden, Germany, in August. MOTORCYCLING MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix in Doha on March 8 canceled. Thailand Grand Prix in Buriram on March 22 postponed to Oct. 4. Aragon Grand Prix in Spain moved from Oct. 4 to Sept. 27. Americas Grand Prix in Austin, Texas on April 5 postponed to Nov. 15. Argentina Grand Prix in Termas de Rio Hondo on April 19 postponed to Nov. 22. Valencia Grand Prix in Spain on Nov. 15 moved to Nov. 29. World Superbikes Qatar Round in Lusail on March 15 postponed. Spanish Round in Cadiz on March 29 postponed to Oct. 25. French Round in Magny-Cours on Sept. 27 postponed to Oct. 4. ROWING World Cup I in Sabuadia, Italy from April 10-12 canceled. Asia and Oceania Olympic qualifying regatta in Chungju, South Korea from April 27-30 canceled. European Olympic qualifying regatta in Varese, Italy from April 27-29 canceled. World Cup II in Varese, Italy from May 1-3 canceled. RUGBY LEAGUE Super League: Catalans vs. Leeds in Perpignan on March 14, no spectators. RUGBY UNION Six Nations: Ireland vs. Italy in Dublin on March 7; Italy vs. England in Rome on March 14; France vs. Ireland in Paris on March 14, postponed. Women's Six Nations: Italy vs. Scotland in Legnano on Feb. 23; Scotland vs. France in Glasgow on March 7; Ireland vs. Italy in Dublin on March 8; Italy vs. England in Padua on March 15; Wales vs. Scotland in Cardiff on March 15; France vs. Ireland in Villeneuve-d'Ascq on March 15, postponed. European Rugby Championship: Georgia vs. Russia on March 14; Romania vs. Belgium on March 14; Switzerland vs. Netherlands on March 14; Spain vs. Portugal on March 15, postponed. Euopean Rugby Women's Championship: Spain vs. Russia on April 5; Spain vs. Netherlands on April 11, postponed. Pro14: Zebre vs. Ospreys on Feb. 29; Treviso vs. Ulster on Feb. 29, postponed. Competition from March 12 suspended. Super Rugby: Sunwolves vs. ACT Brumbies on March 8 moved from Osaka, Japan to Canberra, Australia. Sunwolves vs. Crusaders on March 14 moved from Tokyo to Brisbane, Australia. Japan's Top League: Matches from Feb. 29 postponed. From March 14 suspended. Hong Kong Sevens moved from April 3-5 to Oct. 16-18. Singapore Sevens moved from April 11-12 to Oct. 10-11. Asia women's championship in Hong Kong from March 14-22 postponed to May 8-16. Olympic test event (Asia Sevens Invitational) in Tokyo from April 25-26 canceled. SAILING Clipper Round the World Race moved sixth leg stopover in Qingdao, China to Subic Bay, Philippines from March 11-21. Asian Nacra 17 Championship in Shanghai from March 1-6 moved to Genoa, Italy, from April 12-19. Asian 49erFX Championship in Hainan, China from March 20-29 moved to Genoa, Italy, from April 12-19. SHOOTING World Cup in New Delhi from March 15-26 postponed to May 5-12 and June 2-9. Olympic test event in Tokyo from April 16-26 canceled. SKATING Short track speed skating world championships in Seoul from March 13-15 postponed. Figure skating world championships in Montreal from March 16-22 canceled. SKIING Alpine World Cup Finals in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy from March 18-22 canceled. Alpine World Cup in Yanqing, China from Feb. 15-16 canceled. Nordic World Cup in Oslo, Norway from March 6-8, no spectators. Engadin Skimarathon in Switzerland on March 8 canceled. Snowboard World Cup in Livigno, Italy on March 10 canceled. Ski Jumping World Cup in Trondheim, Norway on March 11-12, no spectators. Alpine World Cup in Are, Sweden on March 12-14, canceled. Ski Jumping World Cup in Nizhny Tagil, Russia on March 13-15, no spectators. Ski Jumping World Cup in Vikersund, Norway on March 13-15, no spectators. Snowboard World Cup in Winterberg, Germany on March 14-15 canceled. Alpine World Cup in Kranjska Gora, Slovenia from March 14-15, canceled. Alpine Europa Cup Finals in Saalbach and Reiteralm, Austria from March 16-22 canceled. World ski flying championships in Planica, Slovenia from March 17-22, no spectators. Ski jumping World Cup in Chaikovsky, Russia on March 18-20, no spectators. Junior ski cross and snowboard cross world championships in Saint-Lary, France from March 19-25 canceled. Snowboard World Cup in Spindleruv Mlýn, Czech Republic on March 20-21 canceled. SNOOKER China Open in Beijing from March 30-April 5 postponed. SOCCER Asian Champions League: Matches involving Chinese clubs Guangzhou Evergrande, Shanghai Shenhua and Shanghai SIPG postponed to April-May. Beijing FC allowed to play from Feb. 18. Matches involving South Korean clubs Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Suwon Samsung Bluewings and FC Seoul to be played with no spectators from March 3. Matches involving Iranian clubs Esteghlal, Persepolis, Shahr Khodro, Sepahan on March 2-3 postponed. All West Zone group matches from March 2 postponed. East Zone matches postponed to May 19-20 (Match Day 3), May 26-27, (Match Day 4), June 16-17 (Match Day 5), and June 23-24 (Match Day 6). Round of 16 postponed to Aug. 11-12 and 25-26, quarterfinals to Sept. 15-16 and 29-30, and the semifinals to Oct. 20-21 and 27-28. Champions League: Manchester City vs. Real Madrid on March 17; Juventus vs. Lyon on March 17, postponed. Valencia vs. Atalanta on March 10; Paris Saint-Germain vs. Borussia Dortmund on March 11; Barcelona vs. Napoli on March 18; Bayern Munich vs. Chelsea on March 18, no spectators. Europa League: Inter Milan vs. Getafe on March 12; Sevilla vs. Roma on March 12, Basel vs. Eintracht Frankfurt on March 19, postponed. Inter Milan vs. Ludogorets on Feb. 27; Olympiakos vs. Wolverhampton on March 12; LASK vs. Manchester United on March 12; Wolfsburg vs. Shakhtar Donetsk on March 12; Eintracht Frankfurt vs. Basel on March 12; Getafe vs. Inter Milan on March 19; Roma vs. Sevilla on March 19, Copenhagen vs. Istanbul Basaksehir on March 19; Bayer Leverkusen vs. Rangers on March 19, no spectators. South America World Cup qualifying from March 23-31 postponed. Asia World Cup qualifying: China vs. Maldives on March 26 and vs. Guam on March 31 moved to Buriram, Thailand, no spectators. Matches from March 23-April 9 postponed: China vs. Maldives, Philippines vs. Guam, Maldives vs. Syria, Guam vs. China, China vs. Philippines, Guam vs. Syria, China vs. Syria, Philippines vs. Maldives, Australia vs. Kuwait, Nepal vs. Taiwan, Kuwait vs. Jordan, Nepal vs. Australia, Australia vs. Taiwan, Nepal vs. Jordan, Taiwan vs. Kuwait, Australia vs. Jordan, Iran vs. Hong Kong, Bahrain vs. Cambodia, Hong Kong vs. Iraq, Cambodia vs. Iran, Iran vs. Bahrain, Iraq vs. Cambodia, Iran vs. Iraq, Bahrain vs. Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia vs. Yemen, Palestine vs. Singapore, Yemen vs. Uzbekistan, Singapore vs. Saudi Arabia, Saudi Arabia vs. Palestine, Uzbekistan vs. Singapore, Saudi Arabia vs. Uzbekistan, Palestine vs. Yemen, Bangladesh vs. Afghanistan, India vs. Qatar, Afghanistan vs. Oman, Qatar vs. Bangladesh, Bangladesh vs. India, Oman vs. Qatar, Bangladesh vs. Oman, India vs. Afghanistan, Japan vs. Myanmar, Tajikistan vs. Mongolia, Myanmar vs. Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia vs. Japan, Japan vs. Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan vs. Mongolia, Japan vs. Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan vs. Myanmar, United Arab Emirates vs. Malaysia, Thailand vs. Indonesia, Malaysia vs. Vietnam, Indonesia vs. United Arab Emirates, United Arab Emirates vs. Thailand, Vietnam vs. Indonesia, Thailand vs. Malaysia, United Arab Emirates vs. Vietnam, South Korea vs. Turkmenistan, North Korea vs. Sri Lanka, Turkmenistan vs. Lebanon, Sri Lanka vs. South Korea, South Korea vs. North Korea, Lebanon vs. Sri Lanka, South Korea vs. Lebanon, North Korea vs. Turkmenistan. Euro 2020 qualifying playoffs: Slovakia vs. Ireland in Bratislava on March 26, no spectators. Women's Euro 2021 qualifying: Montenegro vs. Ireland in Budva on March 11, no spectators. Asian women's Olympic qualifying Group B tournament relocated from Wuhan to Sydney from Feb. 3-13. China vs. South Korea playoffs on March 6 and 11 postponed to April 9 and 14, and postponed to June 1-10; China home game in Sydney. Vietnam vs. Australia in C?m Ph? on March 11, no spectators. English Premier League: Manchester City vs. Arsenal on March 11; Brighton vs. Arsenal on March 14, postponed. La Liga and Segunda Division matches from March 10, no spectators. La Liga from March 12 suspended. Copa del Rey final: Real Sociedad vs. Athletic Bilbao in Seville on April 18 postponed. Serie A, B, C, D and Women's Serie A matches in Lombardy and Veneto regions postponed from Feb. 22. Serie A: 6 matches on Feb. 29-March 2 postponed. All matches from March 4, no spectators. Italian Cup semifinals: Juventus vs. AC Milan on March 4, Napoli vs. Inter Milan on March 5, postponed. Final moved from May 13 to May 20. Bundesliga from March 11, no spectators. French league: Strasbourg vs. Paris Saint-Germain on March 7, postponed. All matches in Ligue 1 and 2 from March 13, no spectators. French League Cup final: Paris Saint-Germain vs. Lyon in Paris on April 4 postponed. Algarve Cup final in Portugal on March 11: Italy vs. Germany canceled. Chinese Super League, due to start on Feb. 22, delayed. Iran Pro League: All matches from Feb. 24, no spectators; season suspended from March 4-April 2. J League in Japan: All matches from Feb. 25 postponed. K League in South Korea, due to start on Feb. 29, delayed. Swiss Super League and Challenge League from Feb. 28-March 23 postponed. V League in Vietnam from March 7, no spectators. First League and Second League in Bulgaria from March 8, no spectators. Romania, all league matches from March 9, no spectators. Primeira Liga in Portugal from March 10, no spectators. Ekstraklasa in Poland from March 10, no spectators. Austrian Bundesliga and 2nd Liga from March 10 postponed. Premier League in Egypt from March 10, no spectators. Denmark, all leagues from March 11 suspended. Eredivisie in the Netherlands from March 12 suspended. First Division A in Belgium from March 12. no spectators. Belgian Cup final: Club Brugge vs. Antwerp in Brussels on March 22 postponed. Major League Soccer in United States from March 12 suspended. AFC Cup: All group stage and playoff matches in east zone delayed to April 7. Asian men's futsal championship in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, from Feb. 26-March 8 postponed to Aug. 5-16. Qatar Airways International in Doha with Belgium, Croatia, Portugal, Switzerland from March 26-30 canceled. Men's friendlies: Netherlands vs. United States on March 26; Japan vs. South Africa on March 27; Wales vs. United States on March 30, canceled. France vs. Ukraine on March 27; France vs. Finland on March 31, no spectators. Women's friendlies: France vs. North Macedonia on April 10, no spectators. SUMO Spring Tournament in Osaka, Japan from March 8-22, no spectators. SWIMMING Asian water polo championships in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan, from Feb. 12-16 canceled. Diving Grand Prix in Madrid from Feb. 14-16: China team withdrew. Diving world series event in Beijing from March 7-9 canceled. Italy Olympic trials in Riccione from March 17-21 canceled. South America championships in Buenos Aires, Argentina from March 25-29 canceled. Nordic Tour: Bergen Festival in Norway from March 28-30 canceled. China Olympic trials in Qingdao from March 28-April 4 moved to May 10-16. African championships in Durban, South Africa from April 17-22 postponed. TABLE TENNIS World team championships in Busan, South Korea, postponed from May 22-29 to June 21-28. Japan Open in Kitakyushu on April 21-26 postponed. South Korea Open in Busan on June 16-21 suspended. Australian Open in Geelong on June 23-28 suspended. TAEKWONDO Asian Olympic qualifying tournament on April 10-11 moved from Wuxi, China to Amman, Jordan. TENNIS ATP-WTA: BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California from March 11-22 canceled. ATP-WTA: Miami Open from March 24-April 5 canceled. WTA: Zapopan Open in Guadalajara, Mexico from March 16-21 canceled. ATP: US Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston, Texas from April 6-12 canceled. ATP: Grand Prix Hassan II in Marrakech, Morocco from April 6-12 canceled. WTA: Charleston Open in South Carolina from April 6-12, canceled. WTA: Copa Colsanitas in Bogota, Colombia from April 6-12 canceled. ATP: Monte Carlo Masters from April 12-19 canceled. ATP: Hungarian Open in Budapest from April 20-26 canceled. WTA: Xi'an Open in China from April 13-19 canceled. ATP: Barcelona Open from April 20-26 canceled. ATP: Hungarian Open in Budapest from April 20-26 canceled. WTA: Kunming Open in Anning, China from April 27-May 3 canceled. ITF events from March 12 suspended. Davis Cup: China forfeited World Group I playoff vs. Romania in Piatra Neamt on March 6-7. Davis Cup: Japan vs. Ecuador qualifier in Miki on March 6-7, no spectators. Davis Cup: Italy vs. South Korea in Cagliari on March 6-7, no spectators. Fed Cup Finals in Budapest, Hungary from April 14-19 (with France, Australia, United States, Czech Republic, Russia, Belarus, Spain, Germany, Hungary, Belgium, Slovakia, Switzerland) postponed. Fed Cup playoffs on April 17-18 (Poland vs. Brazil, Mexico vs. Britain, Serbia vs. Canada, Latvia vs. India, Japan vs. Ukraine, Romania vs. Italy, Argentina vs. Kazakhstan, Netherlands vs. China), postponed: Fed Cup Asia-Oceania Group I tournament moved from Dongguan, China to Dubai, United Arab Emirates from March 3-7. ATP Challenger Tour Bergamo Challenger final in Italy on Feb. 23 canceled. Qujing Challenger in China from March 2-8 canceled. Nur-Sultan Challenger 1 in Kazakhstan on March 12, Day 4 of 7, canceled. Potchefstroom Challenger in South Africa on March 12, Day 3 of 6, canceled. Zhuhai Challenger in China from March 9-15 canceled. Arizona Challenger in Phoenix from March 16-22 canceled. Shenzhen Challenger in China from March 16-22 canceled. Olimpia Challenger in Brazil from March 17-22 canceled. Madrid Challenger from March 23-29 postponed to October. Zhangjiagang Challenger in China from March 23-29 canceled. Lille Challenger in France from March 23-29 canceled. Machala Challenger in Ecuador from March 23-29 canceled. St. Brieuc Challenger in France from March 29-April 5 canceled. Taipei Challenger in Taiwan from March 30-April 5 postponed. Marbella Challenger in Spain from March 30-April 5 canceled. Nanchang Challenger in China from April 6-12 canceled. Florianopolis Challenger in Brazil from April 6-12 canceled. San Luis Challenger in Mexico from April 6-12 canceled. Murcia Challenger in Spain from April 6-12 canceled. Sarasota Challenger in Florida from April 13-19 canceled. Changsha Challenger in China from April 13-19 canceled. Tunis Challenger in Tunisia from April 13-19 canceled. Yokohama Challenger in Japan from April 13-19 canceled. Alicante Challenger in Spain from April 13-19 canceled. Anning Challenger in China from April 20-26 canceled. Manzanillo Challenger in Mexico from April 20-26 canceled. Tallahassee Challenger in Florida from April 20-26 canceled. Matsuyama Challenger in Japan from April 20-26 canceled. Francavilla Challenger in Italy from April 20-26 canceled. Split Challenger in Croatia from April 20-26 canceled. Seoul Challenger in South Korea from April 27-May 3 postponed to August. Busan Challenger in South Korea from May 4-10 postponed to August. Gwangju Challenger in South Korea from May 11-17 postponed to August. Samarkand Challenger in Uzbekistan from May 11-17 canceled. TRIATHLON Abu Dhabi world series event on March 7 postponed. World Cup in Sarasota-Bradenton, Florida on March 22 postponed. Olympic mixed relay qualifier moved from Chengdu, China on May 9 to Valencia, Spain on May 1. World Cup in Chengdu, China on May 10 postponed. World Cup in Arzachena, Italy on May 30 postponed to October. Asian Cup in Tainan, Taiwan on March 8, in Beihai, China on April 5, and Dexing, China on April 11 postponed. VOLLEYBALL Beach volleyball World Cup in Yangzhou, China from April 22-26 postponed. WATER POLO Olympic women's qualifying tournament in Trieste, Italy from March 8-15 postponed. WEIGHTLIFTING Asian championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan from April 16-25 postponed. Originally moved from Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan. East Asian championships in Seoul from Feb. 26-March 3 postponed. Junior world championships in Bucharest, Romania from March 14-24 canceled. African championships in Vacoas, Mauritius from April 13-20 canceled. European championships in Moscow from April 13-21 postponed to June 13-21. WRESTLING Asian championships in New Delhi from Feb. 20-23: China, North Korea, Turkmenistan teams withdrew. Asian Olympic qualifying event from March 27-29 moved from Xi'an, China to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Kyrgyzstan withdrew as host on Feb. 29. OTHERS Italy declares all sports events without spectators from March 4; suspends all sports from March 9. Iran suspends all sports events from Feb. 24 for 10 days; suspends all sports indefinitely from March 5. Greece declares all sports events without spectators from March 8-22. Bulgaria declares all sports events without spectators from March 8. Slovakia suspends all sports events from March 10. Tokyo Olympic training of volunteers in Japan postponed from February to May. Tokyo Olympic flame lighting dress rehearsal in Olympia, Greece on March 11; flame lighting on March 12, no spectators. Chinese Anti-Doping Agency suspended testing from Feb. 3-21. Winter X Games events in Chongli, China from Feb. 21-23 postponed. Singapore athlete of the year awards on Feb. 26 postponed. International Boxing Association's European Continental Forum in Assisi, Italy on Feb. 29 canceled. International Boxing Association's African Continental Forum in Casablanca, Morocco from March 13-15 postponed. World Chess Federation's presidential council meeting moved from China to United Arab Emirates on Feb. 28-29. World University cross-country championships in Marrakech, Morocco on March 7 postponed. NCAA in the United States, all sports from March 12 canceled. International Weightlifting Federation Congress in Bucharest, Romania on March 13 canceled. World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport in Monte Carlo from March 12-14 postponed to Feb. 11-13, 2021. World Anti-Doping Agency Symposium in Lausanne, Switzerland on March 17-18 canceled. FIFA Council meeting in Asuncion, Paraguay, on March 20 moved to Zurich in June-July. Association of Southeast Asian Nations Para Games in the Philippines from March 20-28 postponed. Hong Kong sports stars awards on March 24 postponed. XTERRA Asia-Pacific Championships (offroad triathlon, duathlon) in Taiwan from March 28-29 canceled. Gulf Cooperation Council Games in Kuwait from April 3-14 postponed. International Equestrian Federation Sports Forum in Lausanne, Switzerland on April 6-7 moved to online. Asian Football Confederation Congress in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on April 16 postponed. SportAccord summit in Beijing moved to Lausanne, Switzerland, on April 19-24. FIFA Congress in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on June 5 postponed to Sept. 18 International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation Congress on June 20 moved from Shanghai to Antwerp, Belgium. Singapore bans spectators at National School Games from January-August. University Athletic Association of the Philippines postponed all sports eventsArticle Source: Internet ( Other Websites ) Read More: Other Sports Events
New York:Athletic reported on Tuesday that the Brooklyn Nets' Kevin Durant test results were positive for coronavirus, less than a week after the outbreak worldwide led to the suspension of the NBA season."Everybody be careful, take care and quarantine. We will get past this," said all 10 NBA Durant ten stars.Nets had said earlier Tuesday that four of their players were isolated and under the care of team doctors after they had been diagnosed with Coronavirus, but did not identify the individuals.Durant signed with Nets last summer but was neglected due to Achilles' injury sustained during the NBA Finals last season when he played for the Golden State Warriors.The team said: "The organization is currently informing anyone who was aware of contacting players, including new opponents, and is working closely with local and state health authorities to report.""All players and members of the Nets Travel Group are required to remain isolated, closely monitor their health and maintain ongoing contact with the team's medical staff."Three of the players were asymptomatic, while one showed symptoms of the rapidly spreading virus just days after Utah Jazz announced that two of its players had confirmed their infection with the Coronavirus.Nets played their last game against the Lakers in Los Angeles on March 10. A day later, the league suspended its season until further notice, as the coronavirus epidemic struck major sporting events around the world.Read More: Coronavirus Pandemic Affects On Sports Events
ATP, WTA SeasonsThe announcement temporarily closes the men's and women's European season, one day after the French Open was postponed to September.The ATP and WTA announced the extension of their seasons until June 7 due to the coronavirus epidemic, the tour operators announced on Wednesday. "The professional tennis season is now suspended until June 7, 2020, including the ATP Challenger Tour and the ITF World Tennis Tour," said the ATP and World Tennis Association in a joint statement. Currently, tournaments scheduled for June 8, 2020 and beyond are still planning to move forward according to the published schedule. "The announcement temporarily closes the men's and women's European season, one day after the French Open was postponed to September.It also delays the resumption of the tennis season, as the two rounds have already been closed, as the ATP originally suspended the proceedings last week until April 27 and the WTA announced non-play until May 2 on Monday."In these difficult times, it is more important than ever that our sport meets to provide the greatest possible degree of certainty to all those affected by these delays," said ITF president David Haggerty."We are aware of the huge impact this will have, but ultimately, the health and safety of players, officials and spectators must be our primary concern."Events affected by the closure include ATP / WTA tournaments combined in Madrid and Rome, WTA events in Strasbourg and Rabat and ATP events in Munich, Estoril, Geneva, and Lyon.Read more: Coronavirus Pandemic Affects On Sports Events
Formula One races in Bahrain, Vietnam, China, Netherlands, and Spain have also been shelved but F1 organisers are hoping to shoehorn them into a breathless finale after the coronavirus passesIt was supposed to be the world record in 22 races, but with the postponement or cancellation of seven major races, Formula One in 2020 became a shorter, more compact and economically challenging race for the title.The season's opening in Australia has been removed and the magnificent Riviera masterpiece at F1 in Monaco.Races have also been frozen in Bahrain, Vietnam, China, the Netherlands and Spain, but regulators are still hoping to put an end to them as soon as the risk of coronavirus subsides.The season that should have started in Melbourne on March 14 will not start until Azerbaijan on June 7 at the earliest."It is very difficult to recalibrate because it is not known when everything will be operational," Alfa Romeo F1 team manager told AFP."It is imperative that we have a global vision. England is not very affected at the moment, but it may be when Italy is less affected," he added, referring to the two countries hosting most of the world championship teams.There are still 15 races in the calendar before the final race in Abu Dhabi on November 29.Last weekend, Ross Brown, the sporting director of the F1 team, said he was optimistic about the "17-18 race " championship.However, this was when only Australia, Bahrain, Vietnam and China were eliminated.On Thursday, the Dutch Grand Prix, which was due to return to the calendar for the first time since 1985 on May 3, was postponed, and the Spanish event, scheduled for May 10, was postponed.The Monaco GP race, an annual show since 1955 and scheduled for May 24 this year, has been completely canceled.UNCHARTERED territory"We are in an unknown area. I am very optimistic that we can have a good professional championship ranging from 17 to 18 or more," Brown told Sky Sports."I think we can put pressure on them. But it depends on when the season starts." There is room for action.The traditional three-week summer shutdown was canceled in August to replace a 21-day break in March and April, with the race season down.The tournament is now a hectic six-month race instead of a nine-month marathon.To save the schedule, there are two races chosen at the end of the week itself."This is possible," Brown said, as he watched the three weeks between Hungary's Hungarian race on August 2 and the spa in Belgium on August 30."One thing we've been talking about is two-day weekends too, so if we had a triple head on two-week weekends, that might be an option," F1 tried three races in a row in 2018, but support was tepid from sweating The difference from staff fatigue."I think what we need from teams this year is flexibility, and I think they should be given some time to do these things," Brown added."Because we are in very unusual circumstances and we have to make sure we have a season that provides a good financial opportunity for the teams.""We will definitely get off to a smooth start. I'm sure the teams will be flexible to allow us to adapt these things." More than ever, bank balances and income will be essential in 2020 as teams and regulators face the effects of a shorter and more crowded season."The costs are not necessarily much lower if you run 18 races instead of 22," Vasier said."In addition, our income will be less: we will run fewer races, and we will have fewer commercial rights."Read More: Coronavirus Pandemic Affects On Sports Events
LaLiga Virtual Stand: Madrid, June 8 (IANS), LaLiga has announced that they will use virtualization of stands simulation for television broadcasts alongside the fan voices of FIFA video game in the remaining eleven days of the 2019/20 season.The season will return to work on June 11 with a local derby between Sevilla and Real Betis and there will be matches for the next seven days after a break of more than two months due to the COVID-19 epidemic.Spain's national broadcasters will offer their viewers the "natural" broadcast option for games that are played behind closed doors without fans, but the international audience will only receive enhanced streams with additional audio and graphics.The stands will be virtual and will always provide you with a wide picture of seating enthusiasts in the local club colors. To develop this digital experience, LaLiga teamed up with the Norwegian company VIZRT, which also works with other European leagues.In the moments when the game stops, this fan image can be transformed into a canvas that matches the color of the local team and will carry institutional messages among other things.LaLiga said in a statement that the virtual voice was obtained through cooperation with EA SPORTS FIFA in a project called SOund of the Stands.Through this, the official audio library of LaLiga EA Sponsor, which was recorded in real stadiums, was used and digitally adapted so that it could be implemented in real-time during the match. It will adapt to the flow of the game because when certain situations occur, such as a goal or a foul, creating what is known as atmospheric sound. ""We have made these broadcasting changes so fans can enjoy the LaLiga," said league president Javier Tebas. "We are working with global partners to provide a great experience to the viewers. We are in an exceptional situation, but it was important for us to be able to adapt and provide attractive and direct broadcasts to our fans."Barcelona led the LaLiga race, after collecting 58 points in 27 games. Clasico competitors Real Madrid occupy second place with 56 points, while Sevilla complete the top 3 with 47 points.The league (LaLiga) is following in the footsteps of the Bundesliga, which has become the first European league to resume its season. Meanwhile, the Premier League has also announced June 17 a date for return.Img source: LaLiga, goalArticle source: IANSAlso Read: Premier League allows 5 substitutes when season restarts
These are some of the major rules in Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) prepared by the Indian Cricket board which will be sent to IPL franchise soon for the T20 Championship expected in the UAE from September to November.There will be no fans in the stadium, at least initially, commentators will be six feet apart, the least crowded shelters, no more than 15 players in the locker room, post-match prize shows for social distancing rules, and four COVID tests in two weeks for all players.These are some of the major rules in Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) prepared by the Indian Cricket Board which will be sent to IPL franchise soon for the T20 Championship expected in the UAE from September to November.While awaiting government approval to transfer IPL-13 to the United Arab Emirates, the Emirates Cricket Council confirmed its interest in hosting the event after receiving a request from BCCI.Speaking to a news agency, an official at the BCCI said that not only players in the field, including their wives and friends (WAGs), and franchises, should follow the rules of "bio-bubble" would be determined."Once they enter the bio-bubble, no one can break it and join it again," the official said."The BCCI will not decide whether WAGs and family members can travel with the players, we leave it to franchises. The official said, but we have established a protocol in which not everyone, including the team's bus drivers, can leave the bio-bubble. The standard operating procedures for the franchises will be issued as soon as we meet." With the next week. If you have a complaint, you can return to the meeting and we will discuss it."SOP also states that each player will undergo four Covid tests within two weeks before the tournament starts. Two tests will be performed in India before departure and two during quarantine in the UAE.The SOP was prepared according to the rules laid down by the Cricket board of England and Wales for a series of tests against the West Indies.In the past, players representing India joined IPL teams separately, but this relaxation was not allowed this time. They will have to enter a bio-bubble with the rest of their team members.With most perks with teams of 20 or more players, along with a large number of support staff, some key SOP guidelines relate to housing. Teams will not be allowed to change hotels once they are appointed.BCCI has already asked concession holders to sort out the hotel's logistics and arrangements, although the council will help get discounts during reservations. It is known that only negative sellers enter hotels, changing rooms, and other designated areas.The BBCI will also provide standard operating procedures to broadcasters and officials.Given that the Covid curve is expected to crush the UAE by then, the official said there is a possibility that fans could watch the live event from the stands since September. But BCCI does not risk. "We don't want to take a risk. At least during the first part of the tournament, the matches will be played behind closed doors," the official said.According to Gulf News, the United Arab Emirates announced 375 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the number of state cases to 59,921, with 53,202 cases recovered.Also Read: BCCI shares detailed plan for IPL 2020 in UAE
We are only three weeks away from the Australian Open 2021 and his craze has reached its climax. Fans are eagerly waiting for their stars to return to the field as soon as possible, having had to give up tennis for most of 2020. The tournament will take place from February 8, 2021, to February 21, 2021, in Melbourne, Australia.Although Roger Federer has withdrawn from the tournament, there are several other major players who will capture the attention of the fans. Defending champion Novak Djokovic and world number two Rafael Nadal will start as the first and second seed. US Open 2020 winner Dominic Tim, Daniel Medvedev, and Stephanos Tsitsipas will be other players to watch at Grand Slam.When it comes to the WTA tournaments, world number one Ashley Barty will return to the Grand Slam tournament. Naomi Osaka and defending champion Sofia Kenin are other strong contenders for the title. Nevertheless, all eyes will be on the 2020 French Open winner Ija Soyatek and Arena Sabalenka, who record a colossal winning streak.As is often the case, one of the most anticipated questions is: Can Serena Williams lift her 24th Grand Slam title in Melbourne this year?Where can fans enjoy the live-action of the Australian Open 2021?Nine Network is the official broadcasting organization for Grand Slam in Australia after claiming the rights in 2020 for five years. Fans in Australia will be able to watch the action live on Nine Network.In Europe, Eurosport is the exclusive Grand Slam live announcer. Apart from that, SRG (Swiss Broadcasting Corporation) will broadcast the championship in Switzerland, NOS (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting) in the Netherlands, and RTS (Radio Serbia TV) in Serbia.The tennis channel, ESPN 2 and ESPN 3 will broadcast the matches live in the USA.In China, the national CCTV station together with Shanghai TV and Beijing TV will present the event live for the fans. In India, fans will receive live updates on the Sony SIX network, while in Japan, the Australian Open 2021 will be broadcast live on NHK and the pay-TV network WOWOW.Fans all over the world will be able to watch the competition of their favorite players live.Also Read: Australian Open 2021 to Issue Hefty Fine for Protocols Breach
Following the schedule, the Australian Open 2021 will begin on February 8, 2021. However, clouds of uncertainty still hang around the Grand Slam.The coronavirus epidemic is not over yet and it could become a major obstacle for the elderly. The effect is that the pandemic has the potential to cancel the Grand Slam.Two crew members tested positive before the Australian Open 2021Two crew members onboard tennis trips have recently tested positive for COVID-19. This is a major concern as there is a possibility that they may have infected other passengers.According to some reports, management required about 50 players to remain under strict quarantine until further orders. This is also very annoying for players as they will not be able to train outside until the following instructions arrive.In such a scenario, it's really hard for Tennis Australia to organize the event as scheduled. However, Craig Tiley, Tennis Australia's CEO, has more to say about it.Although two crew members have contracted the virus, Tilly said management will stick to the planned date without any delay or cancellation. He noted that it was unfortunate that two people had tested positive, but he also revealed that there were 643 other tests that came back negative.“Ticket sales have gone well, we have two weeks of great tennis and we definitely intend to continue with those appointments. So far, we have had 643 negative tests and two, unfortunately, they have been positive,” Tilly said.From Tiley's words, it looks absolutely certain that the Australian Open 2021 will take place in its regular schedule. However, there are still three weeks left before Grand Slam. Even though Tiley appears assertive in her position, she will have to change something in her plans if more positive situations arise in the future.As of now, the Australian Open 2021 is underway and will be held from February 8, 2021, to February 21, 2021. It will be the first major tournament of the year, so fans are very excited about it. . They definitely hope it won't be canceled so they can see their favorite stars live soon.Also Read: Novak Djokovic is rejuvenating with his family before the Australian Open 2021
Rafael Nadal is currently preparing for the 2021 season by participating in the ATP Cup, and the Spaniard was expected to oversee the pitch in his first match against Australian Alex de Minor, but the 34-year-old withdrew from the match due to a back injury. There is more bad news in this regard.Rafael Nadal will not play his second game against Stefanos TsitsipasFans were very disappointed in Rafael Nadal's absence against Alex de Minor. We will have to wait another day to get close, but the Spanish team is now facing more negativity as the tournament progresses.Spain comfortably overtook Australia in their first match, but once again struggled with a squad shortage as they faced a promising Greek side led by Stefanos Tsitsipas. The main event in this confrontation was the showdown between Tsitsipas and Rafael Nadal, but the match appears to be off the table.A back injury has been worrying Rafael Nadal for some time and preventing him from playing professional matches. It has been confirmed that Rafael Nadal will not play against Greece and that is a problem.Roberto Bautista Agut replaced Rafael Nadal against Australia, and it is expected that he will also face the challenge from Tsitsipas.While Spain has their support, tennis fans will be disappointed that the second-ranked player in the world is no longer in good shape ahead of the Australian Open 2021.“I'm not good enough to play tomorrow” - Rafael NadalThis is not the perfect start for Rafael Nadal until 2021. He had two good matches in the group stage of the ATP Cup 2021 but had to answer them from the bench.The Spaniard should not be disappointed with this back injury, it is just the beginning of a new season. There is still a lot to come, but the 34-year-old declared his inability to participate in the ATP Cup with a disappointing message. "I'm not good enough to play tomorrow," Rafael Nadal said.However, if Spain can defeat Greece, Rafael Nadal can return and help his country in the ATP Cup semi-finals. It all depends on how Spain plays against Greece in their next match.Also Read: Tennis in 2019 Rafael Nadal on top as new faces make mark in women's game
TOKYO: For competitors contending at the Tokyo Games, the Olympic Village will be practically all they see, with exacting Covid rules keeping them from leaving the compound but to prepare and contend. Their visit to the town will likewise be more limited than expected: contenders can just a brief time before their occasion and should leave within 48 hours of winning or losing. This is what a normal day may look like at Tokyo 2020's waterside small scale city: Also Read: Wimbledon 2021 Novak Djokovic Wins Twentieth Grand Slam With Sixth Wimbledon TriumphThe town is worked to rest up to 18,000 Olympians, mentors and authorities. They should awaken invigorated, regardless of Tokyo's 4:40 am dawn, on account of thick dark out draperies. As in numerous Japanese homes, space is restricted, nonetheless - single rooms measure only nine square meters (100 square feet), and copies 12 square meters. The beds and segment dividers are produced using strong recyclable cardboard, to be cleaned up after the Games when the 21 pinnacles are transformed into extravagant homes. Maybe not all that great if your neighbour wheezes, in any case... Time for a day by day Covid test - a prerequisite for everybody remaining in the town. They will regulate the spit antigen tests themselves and afterwards submit them for handling. A positive outcome and a second sure on a more exact PCR test mean an excursion to the fever facility, a little prefab structure in the focal point of the town. At the centre, a third test decides whether you are out of the Games and need to disconnect or go to the clinic. Neglecting to wear a veil can be simple, particularly promptly toward the beginning of the day - however, they are obligatory in the town, aside from when dozing and eating.Read More: Lionel Messi Led Argentina Beat Brazil To Win Copa America End 28 Year Long WaitImage Credit: Twitter
England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB), CEO, Tom Harrison, has safeguarded the board's choice to not force severe bio-bubble rules for the forthcoming five-match Test series against India, beginning from August 4 in Nottingham. We're in an alternate situation to a year prior or even a half year prior truly concerning how we adapt to Covid. We're sincerely attempting to figure out how we live with it and establish safe conditions for individuals instead of bio-secure conditions," Harrison was cited as saying by Cricbuzz. "There's an immense distinction between the two. Players are simply tired of bio-security and bubbles and that language we have gotten so used to utilizing. It's negatively affected psychological well-being for players, time away from families. We are simply not ready to work that sort of climate going ahead," he added. With concerns previously mounting about the practicality of the Test series among England and India, in the midst of the Covid-19 cases inside the India camp. India's wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant and four additional individuals from the Indian unforeseen in England have been compelled to isolate for 10 days in London. One of the care staff as preparing partner/net bowler Dayanand Guarani tried Covid-19 positive on July 14. Aside from Guarani, those in isolate incorporate the bowling trainer Bharat Arun, wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha and hold opener Abhimanyu Easwaran, who was recognized as his nearby contacts. Also Read: ICC Announced New Points System For Next World Test Championship CycleA BCCI discharge on Thursday evening said that Pant has not been remaining at the group lodging, which recommends he is probably not going to have influenced some other India players, and that he is "headed to recuperation". Gasp will actually want to join the remainder of the India crew in the wake of returning two negative RT-PCR tests. A similar guideline applies for the four other people who are at present in isolation. The remainder of the Indian crew is headed to Durham, they will reach in the evening in the wake of reassembling in London following 20-dawn.Also Read: Olympics PM Narendra Modi Collaborates With Tokyo Bound Indian Competitors Certain They Will Make The Nation ProudGasp, Saha and Easwaran are set to miss the group's 3-day practice game against a County Championship XI beginning July 20. The match will be played away from plain view and 90 overs will be played every day. Durham Cricket will communicate the game on its Youtube channel.23-year-old Rishabh Pant has been in isolate for as far back as 8 days in the wake of testing positive on July 8. He got the infection in the wake of going to England's Euro 2020 round of 16 matches against Germany on June 30. The Indian cricket board affirmed that Pant is asymptomatic.
The pandemic-deferred Tokyo 2020 Olympics is set to get in progress from Friday in what the top of the World Health Organization said was required as 'a festival of expectation'. Rising Covid-19 cases in having a city of Tokyo has projected a shadow over the world's biggest game, which is occurring generally without observers. Japan this month concluded that members would contend in void settings to limit wellbeing chances. Indian competitors in the Olympic town are battling a double conflict, and are feeling the squeeze. First is the pressing factor of moving toward games that start in two days and the second is that of Covid-19. Each competitor, including the shooting crew individuals, the tennis crew, and the hockey group are completely centred around remaining safe and are unbendingly following all bio-secure and cleanliness conventions encouraged to them. Also Read: Tokyo 2020: World No 1 Novak Djokovic Affirms He Will Contend At OlympicsNobody needs to hazard anything since five years of exertion will go to no end if something occurs. On the off chance that a solitary competitor gets contaminated, the whole group can be placed in disengagement and it has effectively occurred with the South African football crew, where numerous players are currently in disconnectOlympics and Japanese authorities have produced on with the games exhibition despite resistance in the country to facilitate more than 11,000 competitors and the staff and media that accompany them in the midst of rising Coronavirus contaminations. Highlighting the scaled back Games because of the pandemic, Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will just meet with under 20 country pioneers uninvolved in the Olympics, down from upwards of 120 initially booked. Japanese homegrown media report that administration counsellor Shigeru Omi said Tokyo day by day Covid-19 diseases may spike to a record level of 3,000 in the primary seven day stretch of August. That would cause a very high danger of tension on the all-around extended clinical framework.Also Read: Shikhar Dhawan Finishes 10,000 Runs In International Cricket As Opener
