^

Sports and COVID-19

January 14, 2023 | 1:51pm
+ Follow Story
Sports and COVID-19
January 14, 2023

Novak Djokovic declares on Saturday that he "likes his chances" of winning a record-extending 10th Australian Open crown, despite lingering injury worries.

After missing last year's tournament when he was deported over his Covid vaccination stance, the Serbian star is back at Melbourne Park and in sizzling form.

He ended the 2022 season by winning the ATP Finals and began the new year with his 92nd career title at the Adelaide International. — AFP

December 27, 2022

The tennis officials say former world number one Novak Djokovic arrived in Australia on Tuesday almost one year after he was deported for refusing to be vaccinated against COVID-19.

The nine-time Australian Open champion was initially banned from the country for three years after losing a high-stakes legal battle in January over his vaccine status. 

Australia has since lifted its requirement for visitors to show proof of vaccination against Covid. -- AFP

November 6, 2022

About 30,000 runners, some wearing face masks, took part on Sunday in a chilly and smoggy first Beijing Marathon since 2019 after Covid cancelled previous races.

It was the first major sporting event in the Chinese capital since the Winter Olympics in February.

China continues to adhere to a strict zero-Covid policy, with harsh lockdowns, quarantines and testing regimens imposed after even the smallest outbreaks.

As a result, only people living in Beijing were allowed to take part in the race, unlike previous editions, which had attracted foreign runners.

Some runners kept their face masks on for the race, which Anubaike Kuwan from Xinjiang won in two hours, 14 minutes and 34 seconds.

The marathon was meant to resume last year but was cancelled again to avoid any outbreaks of Covid ahead of the Beijing Olympics. -- AFP

October 18, 2022

Visiting FIFA president Gianni Infantino pledges to help "reform and transform" Indonesian football, two weeks after the country suffered one of the worst disasters in the sport's history.

Infantino met President Joko Widodo in the capital Jakarta, a year before the Under-20 World Cup is due to be held in the Southeast Asian nation.

"We will reform and transform football in this country", Infantino says, flanked by Widodo. — AFP

September 24, 2022

A tearful Roger Federer ends his historic career with defeat alongside long-time rival Rafael Nadal in a doubles match at the Laver Cup in the early hours of Saturday.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion, 41, and Nadal, playing for Team Europe, went down 6-4, 6-7 (2/7), 9-11 against Team World's Frances Tiafoe and Jack Sock. — AFP

September 16, 2022

Serena Williams welcomes Roger Federer to the tennis "retirement club", saying she has always admired and looked up to the Swiss legend.

Federer, a 20-time Grand Slam champion, said Thursday he would retire after playing next week in London at the Laver Cup.

Among those sending congratulations to the 41-year-old icon for his tremendous career was 23-time Grand Slam winner Williams, who says she was "evolving" away from tennis, with last week's US Open expected to be her final tournament. — AFP

September 3, 2022

Serena Williams suffers a likely career-ending defeat when she was knocked out of the US Open on Friday by Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic. 

The 23-time Grand Slam title winner, and six-time champion in New York, lost her third round clash 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-1.

Williams, who turns 41 in three weeks' time, had said she remained "vague" over her retirement plans but without a major title since 2017, her 27-year-career is now almost certainly over. — AFP

August 25, 2022

Badminton is finally emerging from a pandemic that was "threatening the sport", world federation chief Thomas Lund tells AFP, but China's zero-Covid policy means it may face further damaging disruption.

Badminton World Federation secretary general Lund says the coronavirus pandemic made 2020 and 2021 "a disaster" for the game, forcing tournament cancellations worldwide and slashing finances to the bone.

The situation is gradually returning to normal and in June the BWF announced an expanded calendar for the next four years that adds four more tournaments to the world tour.

July 17, 2022

Seven members of Japan's team at the World Athletics Championships, including two marathon runners, have tested positive for Covid-19, organisers said Saturday.

A joint statement from World Athletics, the Japan Association of Athletics Federations and local organisers said the outbreak had hit endurance athletes and staff at the championships in Oregon.

Two marathon runners, four support staff and the head coach of the team had returned positive tests.

The identities of the individuals involved were not disclosed.

The statement said the seven individuals had already been isolated and will remain in isolation for five days.

"Steps are being taken to prevent the spread of COVID-19 both within the Japanese delegation as well as amongst all the teams present for the Championships," the statement said. 

"All athletes have been fully vaccinated as a requirement for participation in these Championships."

As a precaution, all remaining members of the Japanese delegation would be required not to share common spaces with other delegations. — AFP

July 15, 2022

The 2025 World Athletics Championships will return to Tokyo, the sport's global governing body announces.

The World Athletics Council confirms that Tokyo would stage the championships for the second time after beating out competition from Kenya, Poland and Singapore.

It means Tokyo's Olympic Stadium will get the chance to host a major athletics event in a packed venue, four years after staging the pandemic-delayed Olympic games in an empty arena. — AFP

July 14, 2022

The Philippines will host the 2033 Southeast Asian Games, Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino says.

July 8, 2022

Rafael Nadal will withdraw from Wimbledon after failing to recover from an abdominal injury, British media report.

The Spaniard has called a news conference at 7:20 pm (1820 GMT), where he is expected to confirm his withdrawal.

Scheduled semi-final opponent Nick Kyrgios will receive a walkover into Sunday's final. — AFP

June 3, 2022

Nonito Donaire says there was "a fire burning inside" him as he prepares to face Naoya Inoue next week in a hotly anticipated sequel to their 2019 boxing classic.

The Filipino veteran lost a unanimous points decision to Japan's unbeaten Inoue when they went toe to toe in Saitama, north of Tokyo, in a fight hailed as one of the best of the year.

The pair are ready to do battle again in a world bantamweight unification bout Tuesday at the same venue, with Inoue's WBA and IBF titles and Donaire's WBC belt all on the line. — AFP

May 27, 2022

The Golden State Warriors advance to the NBA Finals for the sixth time in eight seasons by defeating Dallas 120-110.

The Warriors, chasing a fourth title in eight campaigns, won the best-of-seven Western Conference finals 4-1 and secured a place in June's title showdown against either the Boston Celtics or Miami Heat. — AFP

May 19, 2022

The NBA cracks down on the rowdy behavior of the Dallas bench, fining the Mavs' $50,000 for violating "team bench decorum" rules in their series-clinching victory over the Phoenix Suns.

It's the second such fine levied against the Mavs in two weeks, and doubled the $25,000 penalty meted out on May 6.

NBA president of league operations Byron Spruell says the  amount of the fine reflected the team's "prior infractions" during the playoffs. — AFP

May 7, 2022

NBA says the Dallas Mavericks organization was fined $25,000 for violating league rules regarding team bench decorum in a playoff loss Wednesday at Phoenix.

The league says that on multiple occasions, several Mavericks players and a member of the coaching staff stood away from the Dallas bench and were on court or encroaching upon the playing area while the game was ongoing.

The violations came during Phoenix's 129-109 victory over the Mavs, which gave the Suns a 2-0 lead in their best-of-seven Western Conference second round playoff series. — AFP

May 6, 2022

The Asian Games due to take place in the Chinese city of Hangzhou in September have been postponed indefinitely because of Covid-19, organisers said on Friday.

The Games were scheduled to be held from September 10 to 25 but have now been delayed as China tries to stamp out a large resurgence in infections in several parts of the country.

Hangzhou lies less than 200 kilometres (120 miles) from the country's biggest city Shanghai, which has endured a weeks-long lockdown as part of the ruling Communist Party's zero-tolerance approach to the virus.

The Olympic Council of Asia said in a statement that the decision to postpone "was taken by all the stakeholders after carefully considering the pandemic situation and the size of the Games". — AFP

March 30, 2022

NBA basketball returns to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV for the first time in nearly 18 months, after China blacklisted it following a team official's support for Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement.

National broadcaster CCTV streams the clash between the Los Angeles Clippers and Utah Jazz, to a mixed reception from Chinese basketball fans.

China, the NBA's largest overseas market by far, suspended broadcasts on CCTV after the Houston Rockets' then-general manager Daryl Morey tweeted in support of Hong Kong democracy protesters in 2019. — AFP

March 1, 2022

US Olympic chiefs throw their support behind International Olympic Committee calls for Russian athletes to be barred from international competition following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee say in a statement they backed the IOC's demands for Russian athletes to be suspended, and urge the ban to include the Winter Paralympic Games in Beijing this week.

"The US Olympic and Paralympic Committee and the USOPC Athletes Advisory Council join the IOC and the global Olympic community in calling for a complete ban on international sport participation, effective immediately and inclusive of the Paralympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 for Russian and Belarusian athletes and officials," the USOPC statement says. — AFP

March 1, 2022

The top-ranked Ukranian woman tennis player Elina Svitolina says she would refuse to play Russian and Belarusian tennis players in tournaments.

She also criticizes the governing bodies of tennis, shortly after two of her compatriots, Marta Kostyuk and Lesia Tsurenko aimed a swing at the WTA when they criticized the organization for not taking a position on the Russian invasion of their country.

Svitolina, ranked 15th in the world, is the top seed in the WTA tournament in Monterrey where she is drawn to play Russian Anastasia Potapova in her first match. — AFP

February 18, 2022

Novak Djokovic says he was ready to "play better than ever" on the eve of his return to tennis, a month after being deported from Australia over COVID-19 vaccination issues.

The 34-year old admits that the fiasco might have left a mark, but that he is aiming for glory again.

"I can't say that things will be the same when I return to the court .. but there is an additional reason to play better than ever," he tells Serbian public broadcaster RTS. — AFP

February 10, 2022

NBA says Charlotte Hornets swingman Kelly Oubre Jr. was fined $15,000 for violating league rules prohibiting profane language being directed toward the spectator stands.

The incident took place with 4:22 remaining in the second quarter of Charlotte's 116-101 home loss to the Toronto Raptors on Monday.

Oubre had 17 points on 7-of-17 shooting from the floor with six rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot and one steal over 38 minutes off the bench. — AFP

February 1, 2022

The swimming world championships scheduled to take place in the Japanese city of Fukuoka this year have been postponed until July 2023 because of Covid-19 risks, organisers said on Tuesday.

Swimming's governing body FINA said the world championships after that, in the Qatari capital Doha, will as a result be delayed until January 2024.

"Given the current pandemic situation and the measures currently in place in Japan, FINA and key stakeholders of the Fukuoka 2022 Organising Committee have agreed to reschedule the 19th FINA World Championships to 14-30 July 2023," FINA President Husain Al-Musallam said in a statement.

"These decisions have been taken in the best interests of everyone involved," he added. — AFP

January 29, 2022

NBA announces that Orlando Magic guard Cole Anthony was fined for directing profane and derogatory remarks toward a game official.

The incident took place at the end of the Magic's 111-102 home loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old American guard, selected 15th overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, had 19 points, 11 assists, six rebounds, two steals and a blocked shot in the defeat. — AFP

January 28, 2022

A Winter Olympics overshadowed by diplomatic boycotts and concerns about human rights, Covid and the safety of Peng Shuai begins next Friday in a vast "bubble" in the Chinese capital Beijing.

Warnings about air pollution, government snooping and the environmental impact of a Games which relies almost entirely on man-made snow add to the mix.

Adopting the catchphrase "Together for a shared future" for the Games, China, its ruling Communist Party and the International Olympic Committee hope all those worries will be forgotten once the action gets going on February 4.

China has been keen to stress that Beijing will take its place in Olympic history, becoming the first city to host both a Summer and Winter Games, and saying the Games will be "safe and splendid".

If the 2008 Games were the country's coming-out party, the Winter Olympics will take place in a China under President Xi Jinping which is increasingly belligerent on the global stage and boasting the world's second-largest economy. -- AFP

January 25, 2022

Fans at the Australian Open can wear "Where is Peng Shuai?" shirts as long as they are peaceful, tournament chief Craig Tiley tells AFP after a backlash over the Grand Slam's controversial stance.

"Yes, as long as they are not coming as a mob to be disruptive but are peaceful," he says about wearing shirts in support of the Chinese player.

January 22, 2022

The NBA fines the New York Knicks $25,000 for failing to make Julius Randle available to the media after the Knicks' 102-91 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans.

The league's statement says the Knicks were fined "for violating league rules governing media interview access."

Randle scored just four points in Thursday's defeat. He was just one of the Knicks starters to struggle, with teammates Evan Fourier and Kemba Walker combining for 11 points. — AFP

January 21, 2022

The NBA fines Brooklyn assistant coach David Vanterpool $10,000 for deflecting a Washington Wizards pass in the fourth quarter of the Nets' 119-118 victory.

The Nets were also fined $25,000 by the league for the bizarre infraction, which was not caught by officials during the close finish to the game.

The Nets were leading 109-103 with 5:42 remaining in the game when Washington's Spencer Dinwiddie attempted a pass to teammate Kyle Kuzma, who was in front of the Nets bench. — AFP

January 18, 2022

Australian Open organizers say they "deeply regret" the impact that the Novak Djokovic deportation saga had on other players and admitted there were "lessons to learn".

The unvaccinated men's world number one flew out of Melbourne on Sunday after he failed in a last-gasp court bid to stay and play in the opening Grand Slam of the year, where he was targeting a record 21st major title.

His dramatic departure followed a protracted, high-stakes legal battle between the 34-year-old and Australian authorities that cast a dark shadow over the tournament. — AFP

January 17, 2022

Novak Djokovic landed in Dubai on Monday after being deported from Australia having lost a high-stakes legal battle over his coronavirus vaccination status, an AFP journalist who travelled on the same plane reported.

The tennis star walked off the aircraft carrying two bags and wearing a mask, having landed at Dubai International Airport at 5:32 am local time (0132 GMT).

The world number one was supposed to be the headline act in the opening night session of the Australian Open on Monday, but the unvaccinated Serbian is not defending his title after a court threw out his bid to stay in the country. — AFP

January 16, 2022

Novak Djokovic's fate now lies in the hands of three Australian Federal Court justices, after his last-gasp appeal against deportation adjourned Sunday pending a verdict that is expected later in the day.

The tennis star's lawyers told an emergency hearing that the government's effort to deport him on the eve of the Australian Open was "irrational" and "unreasonable", but they faced pointed questions from the panel of justices who will now decide his case. — AFP

January 15, 2022

Rafael Nadal takes a swipe at rival Novak Djokovic as the world number fights deportation from Australia, saying: "The Australian Open is much more important than any player."

Ahead of the start of the Grand Slam on Monday, Nadal tells reporters at Melbourne Park: "Australian Open will be a great Australian Open with or without him." — AFP

January 15, 2022

Novak Djokovic was again detained in Australia Saturday, after authorities ripped up his visa for a second time and declared the unvaccinated tennis superstar a threat to the public.

Court documents showed the 34-year-old Serbian was currently being detained at an address in Melbourne, as his appeal against deportation is heard.

In a separate court filing Australian authorities argued Djokovic's continued presence in the country "may foster anti-vaccination sentiment" and called for his removal. — AFP

January 8, 2022

Novak Djokovic's lawyers say that the tennis superstar was held for eight hours on arrival in Australia, mostly 'incommunicado', three days into his detention in a Melbourne facility.

"This occurred after he was in immigration clearance -- for the most part incommunicado --for about eight hours, until just before 8:00 am on 06 January 2022," his lawyers say in a federal court submission seeking to overturn the cancellation of his visa. — AFP

January 7, 2022

Novak Djokovic's fans rallied in the rain Friday to protest the tennis superstar's shock detention in Australia, a development that reverberated globally and sparked an angry reaction from Serbia.

About 50 protesters — a mix of tennis fans, anti-vaccine demonstrators and immigrant rights activists — congregated on Orthodox Christmas Day at a detention facility in Melbourne.

"We come out to support him just because it's our Christmas and obviously he's going through a lot," said fan Sash Aleksic on the sodden street outside the building. 

"There would obviously be a lot more people here if people did not have family obligations today."

The former Park Hotel, now officially known as an "alternative place of detention", holds about 32 refugees and asylum seekers trapped in Australia's hardline immigration system. — AFP

January 6, 2022

PATAFA says it has taken the high road and will defer its recommendations including the expulsion of Filipino pole vaulter EJ Obiena.

January 6, 2022

Australia says it had cancelled the entry visa of Novak Djokovic, opening the way to his detention and deportation in a dramatic reversal for the tennis world number one.

The Serb had landed in Melbourne the previous evening, after celebrating on social media that he had a medical exemption to play in the tournament without proof he was fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The vaccine exemption, granted by the Australian Open organisers after his application had been cleared by two medical panels, sparked fury among Australians who have endured COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions for two years.

But the nine-time Australian Open champion never got past border control. — AFP

December 31, 2021

The NBA's cancellation of marquee matchup between Golden State and Denver because of the Nuggets' lack of available players sparked a sharp response from Warriors star Draymond Green.

The game in Denver, one of four on Thursday's schedule, was called off hours before tipoff after a spate of Covid-19 cases left the Nuggets without the requisite eight players.

Green, who would not have been available for Golden State because of Covid concerns, took issue with the 11th postponement of the season, saying the league's insistence on pressing ahead with the season but cancelling games piecemeal was unfair. — AFP

December 30, 2021

The NHL said Wednesday they had modified their Covid-19 quarantine rules, allowing vaccinated players who test positive to return to action in as little as five days.

The league and the players union agreed to the change, which comes in the wake of revised recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States and is similar to changes made by both the NFL and NBA.

In the NHL, the reduced isolation period for players or staff who test positive applies to the fully vaccinated. — AFP

December 29, 2021

Brooklyn Nets stars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving along with teammate LaMarcus Aldridge have been cleared to return after being sidelined by Covid, the NBA team says.

Eastern Conference leaders Brooklyn swept the Lakers and Clippers in Los Angeles without any of the trio, James Harden returning from Covid protocols to lead the Nets.

"Confidence is through the roof," Harden said after scoring 39 points in Monday's win over the Clippers. "Now just you add KD, and Ky, and LaMarcus and Joe Harris, and that's four of our best players, four of our top players that are out." — AFP

December 28, 2021

ESPN reports that the NBA has reduced quarantine time from 10 days to six for vaccinated players and coaches who come into contact with COVID-19 or contract the disease but are asymptomatic.

Teams were informed in a league memo obtained by ESPN about the move, which came the same day the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reduced the isolation time for those with asymptomatic Covid-19 from 10 days to five.

The quicker return time for players to active status was agreed to by the league and the players union. It comes after the NBA has postponed nine games because at least one team could not field the minimum eight players due to Covid-19 absences. — AFP

December 23, 2021

The NBA announces the postponement of two games because teams hit by COVID-19 could not field the league minimum of eight players to compete.

The league called-off Toronto's game at Chicago because the Raptors could not produce eight healthy players and also Brooklyn's  match Thursday at Portland.

In all, the NBA has postponed nine contests due to COVID-19 issues, with NBA commissioner Adam Silver saying no pause in the season is planned and teams would have to learn to live with the virus. — AFP

December 17, 2021

The NBA has boosted its COVID-19 measures after a surge in cases saw 52 players go into health protocols this month.

The National Basketball Association's new measures will include more testing and mask wearing for players and staff, American sports broadcaster ESPN reported on Thursday night.

The increased daily testing will begin December 26 and last two weeks.  — AFP

December 10, 2021

The Chinese Super League will be played behind closed doors because of the pandemic when it resumes after a four-month break.

Matches in China's top flight restart on Sunday after a hiatus so that the national side could concentrate on World Cup qualifiers.

But after fans were permitted at some games earlier this year, they won't be allowed "in order to protect the health of the public", the CSL said in a statement.

It comes with the Beijing Winter Olympics less than two months away.

The CSL will determine at a later date whether games can be opened back up to the public, based on the COVID situation at the time.

Teams will square off in two cities — Suzhou and Guangzhou — with the championship decided early next month. — AFP

November 17, 2021

The NBA will stage preseason games in the United Arab Emirates next year for the first time, the league says in a statement.

The league says two exhibition games will take place in Abu Dhabi in October 2022, with teams involved to be confirmed at a later date.

"Hosting NBA and NBA 2K League games and events in Abu Dhabi builds on our commitment to growing basketball around the world," NBA deputy commissioner and chief operating officer Mark Tatum says in a statement. — AFP

November 16, 2021

The Philippine Sports Commission says national athletes can now use government facilities such as the Rizal Memorial Complex in Manila and PhilSports Complex in Pasig starting Jan. 10, 2021. — The STAR/Joey Villar

October 31, 2021

Barbora Krejcikova and Belinda Bencic are the only top 10 players featuring in the maiden Billie Jean King Cup final tournament due to start amid tight Covid restrictions in Prague on Monday.

The season-ending team tournament will be held on indoor hard courts at the O2 Arena in the Czech capital, with the final scheduled for November 6.

As the host city, Prague has replaced Budapest which was due to stage the rebranded Fed Cup in April 2020 before it was twice postponed over the Covid-19 pandemic.

The finals of the competition will be played in a tournament format for the first time since 2001.

The twelve teams are divided into four groups of three teams with the winners qualifying for Friday's semi-finals. — AFP

October 24, 2021

The Wuhan Marathon, which had been due to take place Sunday, has been postponed at short notice as worries increase over a coronavirus resurgence in China ahead of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

China reported 26 new domestic Covid-19 cases on Sunday, in an outbreak that has become latest test of the country's zero-tolerance approach with just over 100 days until the start of the Games.

Authorities have been racing to contain virus infections via mass testing of residents and targeted lockdowns.

But with the rise in cases, organisers of the Wuhan Marathon said in a statement released late last week that they would postpone Sunday's event in the central Chinese city "to prevent the risk of epidemic spread".

The event was expected to have 26,000 participants, taking part in races including a full marathon and half marathon, in the city where coronavirus was first identified towards the end of 2019, state media reported. — AFP

September 4, 2021

The PBA has postponed the game between the San Miguel Beermen and the Alaska Aces slated Saturday in accordance to health and safety protocols.

The Phoenix Super LPG vs NLEX game thus moves to take the 4:35 p.m. slot. — Luisa Morales

July 19, 2021

Recent Olympics have been wracked by controversy, cost blowouts and coronavirus chaos but the residents of Brisbane, strongly tipped to host the 2032 Games, look ready to welcome the event with open arms.

The sun-drenched Australian city appears all but certain to be anointed 2032 hosts on Wednesday when the International Olympic Committee holds a vote in Tokyo ahead of the delayed 2020 Games.

In other cities, a bid to host an event of such magnitude might prompt demonstrations, or at the very least vigorous public debate. Yet residents of Brisbane have greeted the news with enthusiasm.

"The city is gorgeous, the people are beautiful. And it would be lovely to get something like this happening in the city," Marium Ammar, who moved to Brisbane from Pakistan seven years ago, told AFP. — AFP

June 29, 2021

Russia's Saint Petersburg posted record COVID-19 deaths Monday as it prepares to host a Euro 2020 quarter-final despite the spread of the Delta variant, which is fuelling infection surges around the world and causing a headache for major sporting events.

While wealthy countries have started bringing down infections through rapid vaccination drives, outbreaks are still raging from Bangladesh to South America with the spread of the Delta variant, which was first detected in India.

The strain, now in 85 countries, is the most contagious of any COVID-19 variant so far identified, the World Health Organization says.

The surge has caused alarm for the Euro 2020 football tournament taking place in numerous locations throughout Europe. — AFP

June 21, 2021

Chile's football federation admitted on Sunday that it broke Copa America health bubble rules by bringing a local hairdresser into their Brazilian hotel.

On Friday, ahead of Chile's 1-0 victory over Bolivia in Cuiaba, senior players Arturo Vidal and Gary Medel published photographs on social media of them receiving haircuts from a local barber, seemingly in their hotel rooms.

Chile's federation said in a statement published on social media that it "acknowledges the delegation's breach of the health bubble with the unauthorized entry of a hairdresser who, although testing negative (for COVID-19), should not have been in contact with the players."

The federation said the players involved would be fined. — AFP

June 14, 2021

The Copa America that almost never was opened Sunday in Brazil, overshadowed by the desperate search for a last-minute host, sponsor withdrawals and Covid-19 -- including outbreaks on three teams.

After more than a year of bad news that culminated in the last-minute scrapping of original co-hosts Argentina and Colombia, the South American championships finally kicked off with Brazil defeating a coronavirus-decimated Venezuela 3-0 in an empty Mane Garrincha stadium in Brasilia.

But the inaugural match, which started with a minute of silence for victims of Covid-19, does not mean a respite from controversy, or from the virus.

Officials confirmed a day before kickoff that eight Venezuelan players and four coaches had tested positive for Covid-19, forcing the country to call up 15 emergency replacements to face the defending champions. — AFP

June 1, 2021

South America's largest football tournament, the Copa America, was shifted Monday from Argentina, battling a coronavirus surge, to even harder-hit Brazil, bracing for a third pandemic wave.

With two weeks to kick-off, South America's football federation tweeted Monday that "The CONMEBOL Copa America 2021 will be played in Brazil!" and the June 13-July 10 date maintained.

The move was met with consternation in many quarters.

Brazil is one of the countries in the world worst affected by the coronavirus outbreak, with the second-highest death toll of over 460,000 so far among its 212 million people, and more than 16.5 million cases. — AFP

January 29, 2021

The NBA makes adjustments to its game schedule, rescheduling four games as it continues to adapt in light of the coronavirus pandemic.

With 22 games postponed already this season -- 21 of them this month -- the league said on Wednesday it would begin tweaking its schedule so that teams with multiple postponements could catch up. — AFP

January 12, 2021

Two more NBA games were postponed by the league due to COVID-19 and contract tracing issues, bringing the total to four in the virus-shortened 2020-21 season.

The New Orleans Pelicans game at Dallas on Monday and the Boston Celtics game Tuesday at Chicago were both delayed over unspecified health and safety protocol issues. — AFP

December 31, 2020

No new NBA players from among 495 tested since last Thursday have returned positive COVID-19 results, the league announces.

Any players returning a confirmed positive result would be isolated until they are cleared to return to team activities under COVID-19 safety guidelines agreed upon by the NBA and the National Basketball Players Association. — AFP

December 26, 2020

FIFA postpones next year's U-20 World Cup in Indonesia and U-17 tournament in Peru until 2023 due to coronavirus.

"The Covid-19 pandemic continues to present challenges for the hosting of international sporting events and to have a restrictive effect on international travel, explains football's governing body in a statement on its website.

"The global situation has failed to normalise to a sufficient level to address the challenges associated with hosting both tournaments, including the feasibility of the relevant qualification pathways."

December 20, 2020

World champion Ryo Kiyuna, one of the favourites to win men's kata gold when karate makes its Olympic debut at the Tokyo Games, has COVID-19, the Japan Karatedo Federation says.

Kiyuna won a record ninth consecutive Japan national championship last Sunday in Tokyo before returning to his native Okinawa Prefecture the following day and contracting the virus on Tuesday or later, the federation and local reports say.

"As of Saturday, there are no reports of fever and other symptoms reported by 30 competitors — excluding Kiyuna — who participated the All Japan competition on Sunday, December 13," the federation says on its website, adding it was checking the health of other members and coaches. —  AFP

December 18, 2020

eSports has been named as a full medal event for the 2022 Asian Games, in a major step towards the mainstream for a sport that has long harboured Olympic ambitions.

eSports and breakdancing were both included on the programme for the Games in Hangzhou, China, at the Olympic Council of Asia's general assembly in Muscat this week.

"I hope that electronic sports will add value to the Asian Games –- and I am sure it will in the future, during the Asian Games 2022 and even beyond that," the OCA's Asian Games director, Haider Farman, says in a statement.

November 29, 2020

NBA players begin daily COVID-19 tests this weekend ahead of next month's start of the 2020-21 season under health and safety procedures outlined by the league to clubs.

The guide unveiled Saturday details protocols regarding the upcoming campaign, set to start December 22 with pre-season contests opening December 11 and training camps launching next week.

Last season was completed in a bubble at Orlando after being halted in March by the COVID-19 pandemic. This season will see 72 games per club which are to be staged at empty home arenas. — AFP

November 28, 2020

The defending champion Los Angeles Lakers will open the NBA pre-season schedule against the Los Angeles Clippers as part of a 49-game exhibition slate announced Friday.

The league booked tuneup games from December 11-19 ahead of the planned December 22 start of the 2020-21 campaign to be played at team arenas.

Each club will have at least two pre-season contests, one at home and one on the road, and no more than four. — AFP

November 24, 2020

Premier League clubs can look forward to welcoming back spectators in highly limited numbers next month for the first time since March, following an announcement by the British government.

Up to 4,000 people can return to outdoor sports stadiums in parts of England classified as at low risk from coronavirus from December 2, the government says, permitting the resumption of attendance at football, rugby and racecourses among other sports. — AFP

November 1, 2020

The South Korean team beat Suning, the surprise finalists from China, 3-1 to claim one of the most prestigious titles in eSports.

There were 3.2 million applications for tickets to see the decider of the month-long tournament in a football arena that holds about 35,000 people.

However, spectators were limited to 6,300 because of social distancing and those lucky enough to secure a seat had to wear a face mask to prevent coronavirus infections. — AFP

October 31, 2020

The NBA announces it has extended the deadline for opting out of the CBA, as both the owners and the players union work through key issues regarding a return to play for the 2020-21 season.

The two sides agreed to push back the deadline by one week until November 6, and talks will continue in the interim regarding the numerous issues that have to be decided before next season begins.

The move was expected and it is the fourth extension of the opt-out deadline since the coronavirus pandemic started in March. — AFP 

October 25, 2020

A PBA player tests positive for COVID-19. Earlier this week, an official also tested positive, but confirmatory tests turned out negative. The player who tested positive for the virus is now in isolation.

The PBA will not be holding its first game scheduled today (Blackwater Elite vs Rain or Shine), but Manila Clasico between Ginebra and Magnolia is said to push through. — Philstar.com/Luisa Morales

October 21, 2020

PBA announces that a referee from the 350-strong bubble delegation has been considered a suspect case for COVID-19 in Clark, Pampanga.

He has already been isolated and immediately brought to a quarantine facility in Capas, Tarlac. — The STAR/John Bryan Ulanday

October 10, 2020

China's state broadcaster ends a year-long blackout of NBA games on Saturday, citing "goodwill" from the US basketball competition following a row over Hong Kong pro-democracy protests.

CCTV aired Game 5 of the NBA Finals series, where Miami Heat narrowly beat LeBron James' LA Lakers 111-108 to keep their title hopes alive.

CCTV suspended NBA broadcasts last October after Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey tweeted "Fight for freedom, stand with Hong Kong", referring to protests Beijing called separatist and seditious. — AFP

October 6, 2020

Asia's biggest mixed martial arts promotion, One Championship, pledges to implement strict bio-safety measures this week for its first major international event following a months-long coronavirus shutdown.

The Singapore-based organization, which promotes cards across Asia in mixed martial arts, Muay Thai and kickboxing, was unable to stage fights for almost four months because of the pandemic. 

They resumed in China in June but Friday's "Reign of Dynasties" in Singapore will be the outfit's first international event since the restart. — AFP

October 3, 2020

NBA commissioner Adam Silver says he thinks it's unlikely the league will pause a delayed 2021 season to allow player to compete in a postponed Tokyo Olympics.

"We'll consider it," Silver says in a courtside interview with NBA TV before the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat clashed in game two of the NBA Finals in the league's quarantine bubble in Orlando, Florida.

"I think it's unlikely at the end of the day that if we start late that we would stop for the Olympics." — AFP

September 25, 2020

A maximum of only 1,000 spectators will be allowed each day at Roland Garros after the French government insists on tougher restrictions to counter the resurgence of the coronavirus.

Organisers of the French Open, which gets underway four months later than planned in Paris on Sunday, had hoped for a maximum of 5,000.

That figure had already been reduced from 20,000 and then 11,500.

September 24, 2020

Olympic boss Thomas Bach says that the Tokyo Games could take place next year even without a coronavirus vaccine, pointing to the success of the Tour de France.

Striking an optimistic note at a meeting with Tokyo 2020 organisers, he vows to make the postponed event a triumph despite the uncertainties of the pandemic.

"We can see that sport is coming back slowly but surely, and that a number of big sport events have been successfully organised recently, including matches in different Japanese leagues," he says via videolink. — AFP

September 10, 2020

A coronavirus outbreak at a sumo stable in Tokyo has infected 19 people, the governing body says, adding that a tournament will go ahead this week as planned.

The Japan Sumo Association says one wrestler and 18 trainees at the Tamanoi stable have tested positive for the virus, with 12 of those infected sent to hospital.

The cases follow the death in May of a 28-year-old sumo after contracting coronavirus, the sport's first COVID-19 fatality. — AFP

September 9, 2020

David Beckham's eSports company hopes to raise £20 million by listing its shares on the London Stock Exchange as it bids to become a leading force in the booming industry.

Guild Esports plans to set up and field dedicated teams to compete in four online games -- Fortnite, CS:Go, Rocket League and FIFA.

Guild, whose founding shareholders include former England and Manchester United star Beckham, said it was aiming to create a training and scouting infrastructure modelled on Premier League talent academies. — AFP

August 25, 2020

Sprint legend Usain Bolt says he is self-quarantining after undergoing a COVID-19 test amid reports he was positive for the deadly coronavirus.

In a video posted on Twitter, the Jamaican says he had experienced no symptoms, but he urges friends he had been in contact with to take precautions.

"This weekend, like everybody else, I checked social media and saw social media say that I'm confirmed of COVID-19," Bolt says.

July 15, 2020

Tiger Woods admits that concern over the coronavirus delayed his return to the PGA Tour as he prepares to play his first event since February at this week's Memorial Tournament in Ohio.

The former world number one has not played since appearing in the Genesis Invitational in Los Angeles in February but will tee off at Muirfield on Thursday chasing a sixth victory in the Jack Nicklaus-hosted event.

The 44-year-old 15-time major winner says he had contemplated returning to the tour earlier but had wanted to see how the first few events of the post-coronavirus shutdown fared before coming back. — AFP

July 14, 2020

The NBA says two players have tested positive for coronavirus since teams began arriving in Orlando, Florida for the resumption of the league later this month.

An NBA statement says out of 322 players tested at the NBA Campus at Disney World since July 7, two returned positive tests.

However the league says neither player had cleared quarantine, which would have allowed them to fully enter the NBA's protective "bubble." — AFP

July 4, 2020

The NBA's Miami Heat have halted workouts at their practice facility at AmericanAirlines Arena after a second player tested positive for coronavirus, the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel reports.

The newspaper reports that the team will continue to test players on an every-other-day basis at the arena before departing on July 8 for Orlando, where the NBA is to resume play in a quarantine setting.

However, the Heat will no longer conduct individual training sessions for players at the facility. — AFP

June 27, 2020

NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says the league remains "very comfortable" with its decision to restart the season in Florida as the state battled a dramatic surge in coronavirus cases. 

In a conference call with reporters held after the league confirmed details of its July 30 restart, Silver says the league would be ready to halt play if there was a signficant outbreak amongst NBA players and personnel inside the league's "bubble" at Disney World in Orlando. — AFP

June 24, 2020

Australian tennis star Nick Kyrgios takes aim at Novak Djokovic's "stupidity" after the world number one contracted coronavirus at an exhibition tennis tournament in the Balkans.

The final leg of the Adria Tour in Bosnia has been cancelled and Djokovic on Tuesday apologized for hosting the bungled event, admitting he and organisers "were wrong" to push ahead during the pandemic.

Djokovic, who was not showing any symptoms, joined fellow players Grigor Dimitrov, Borna Coric and Viktor Troicki in testing positive for COVID-19 during the second leg of the event, where social distancing was minimal and players embraced over the net. — AFP

How are sports bodies responding to the coronavirus pandemic? Follow this page for updates. Photo from AFP

Philstar
Facebook
  • Latest
  • Trending
Latest
Are you sure you want to log out?
X
Login

Philstar.com is one of the most vibrant, opinionated, discerning communities of readers on cyberspace. With your meaningful insights, help shape the stories that can shape the country. Sign up now!

Get Updated:

Signup for the News Round now

FORGOT PASSWORD?
SIGN IN
or sign in with