CHINA DAILY | HONG KONG EDITION Friday, May 29, 2020 | 19 SPORTS

TENNIS Serving up a socially distanced planning to welcome fans — but at the same time keep them apart — at renovated Roland Garros

PARIS — Roland Garros chiefs insisted on Wednesday the French Open, delayed until September due to the coronavirus pandemic, will have fans attending even if they still have to abide by social­distancing rules. The clay­court Grand Slam, which should now have been into its first week under its traditional schedule, was pushed back by four months because of the outbreak. However, tickets bought for the Paris event in its May­June slot were reimbursed rather than transferred, Renovation work is carried out prompting fears that the tourna­ on Court Philippe­Chatrier at ment, whose official Sept 20 start Roland Garros this week. REUTERS date could reportedly be pushed back to Sept 27, would be played behind closed doors. “In the autumn, we will play Roland Garros with an optimum spectator capacity which allows In the autumn, we fans to respect social distancing,” Jean­Francois Vilotte, the director­ will play Roland general of the French Federa­ Garros with an tion (FFT), said. A working group has already been optimum spectator created consisting of the ministries capacity which of sports and foreign affairs as well as Roland Garros officials and allows fans to respect health bodies. social distancing.” “The aim is that there will be spec­ tators but we will have the capacity Jean-Francois Vilotte, to organize Roland Garros whatever director­general of the the option decided, including Preparations are continuing to stage the French Open — with fans — in September. The Grand Slam is set to feature a renovated Court Phil­ behind closed doors.” ippe Chatrier (pictured on Wednesday), with the tournament’s main arena now equipped with a retractable roof. REUTERS For the players, “the prize money is very important” as is the eco­sys­ tem of tennis in for which not a “downgraded” version. ‘Roof baptized’ not start until the 2021 edition when at Wimbledon, at the Australian cost 55 million euros ($60.45 million), Roland Garros accounts for 80 per­ In other words, juniors, singles, Officials in Paris have played the tournament slips back into its Open and even at the US Open, was tested during torrential rains cent of revenue. doubles and wheelchair tennis down hosting a Grand Slam out­ usual May­June home. where the roofs hermetically seal that lashed Paris a few weeks ago. If fans are to be welcome at the events will still be staged. doors in a European autumn. The risk of rain is greater in the the stadiums to air­condition them.” “It was baptized,” said Vilotte. rescheduled tournament, then tick­ International tennis has been They point to Roland Garros hav­ autumn in Paris. The new roof on Chatrier has 11 “The roof was absolutely not affect­ ets would have to go on resale. suspended globally since mid­ ing eight floodlit courts, including However, Court metal and canvas sections, weighing ed by these rains and the water “We have set ourselves a deadline March while Wimbledon was can­ all three showpiece arenas — Phil­ now has a roof, bringing the tourna­ 350 tons each for a total area of drainage channels worked without (for resale) ... but you will not know celed for the first time since World ippe Chatrier, and ment into line with the other three 10,000 square meters. any of them overflowing.” it,” added Vilotte. War II. Simonne Mathieu. majors. It can cover the sport’s most Court Suzanne Lenglen will also “It will be an exceptional tourna­ The US Open in New York, due to “The point is not to schedule “From the start, the objective was famous clay court in 15 minutes, have a roof installed in time for the ment anyway,” he said, adding the start on Aug 24, is still under a cloud matches late at night but to finish to respect the outdoor nature of the while allowing air to pass through 2024 Olympic Games. organization was working on hold­ with organizers due to decide its fate the matches started,” said Vilotte, tournament,” said Vilotte. “It is not a the sides. ing a “postponed tournament” and in mid­June. pointing out that night sessions will closed court, contrary to what exists The efficiency of the roof, which AGENCE FRANCE­PRESSE

BASEBALL Japan stepping back to the plate with spectator­less return

By MURRAY GREIG gency for certain activities, paving June 14, and commissioner Atsushi The KBO said in a statement the baseman Chris Coghlan. The Pirates cut him, then brought [email protected] the way for NPB to play a 120­game Saito said the league schedule will suspension will take effect when Kang returned in 2016 and blast­ him back on a one­year deal worth season, down from 143. be built in a way that lowers the risk Kang signs a contract with a club. ed 21 homers for the Pirates before $3 million for the 2019 season. He Baseball is returning to Japan Fans will not be allowed in stadi­ of spreading the virus. Earlier this month the player sub­ his career took a dive after getting hit .169 with 10 homers in 65 games. next month. ums for at least the first two weeks, Several players from NPB have mitted a letter of apology and an arrested in Seoul in December 2016 The KBO said the latest disciplin­ Nippon Professional Baseball but league officials are hopeful gone on to enjoy success in Major inquiry about returning to the on charges of driving under the ary sanction was imposed because (NPB) announced on Friday it will crowds will be allowed by mid­ League Baseball in North America, league. influence of alcohol. Kang “undermined the league’s open its coronavirus­delayed cam­ summer. including Ichiro Suzuki, Masahiro The 33­year­old Kang signed with He had two previous DUI cases in image, disappointed fans and paign on June 19. Several proposals to compensate Tanaka, Yu Darvish and Shohei Pittsburgh in January 2015, becom­ 2009 and 2011, according to the caused public concern”. The season was slated to open on for the late start are being consid­ Ohtani. ing the first position player to jump KBO. Yonhap news agency said Kang March 20, but was put on hold due ered, including shortening the play­ Meanwhile, the Korean Baseball directly from the KBO to the majors. Kang received a two­year sus­ issued an apology through his to the COVID­19 pandemic. In early off rounds, eliminating interleague Organization (KBO) has suspended He made a splash as a rookie, fin­ pended sentence, spent the entire agent, asking for one more chance April, the Japanese government games, getting rid of the All­Star pioneering ex­Pittsburgh Pirates ishing third in NL rookie­of­the­ 2017 season on the restricted list to play baseball and saying he’d tak­ declared a national state of Series and capping games at nine infielder Kang Jung­ho for a year year voting after hitting 15 home after being unable to secure a visa en the game for granted. emergency. innings. and ordered him to perform 300 runs. His season ended abruptly back to the US and played in just “I was a fool not to see how pre­ Last week, the government advi­ NPB “preseason” games are hours of community service over a when he broke his leg after a colli­ three games at the end of the 2018 cious it was,’’ Kang said in the sory board lifted the state of emer­ expected to begin June 2 through series of drunk­driving incidents. sion with Chicago Cubs second season. statement.