ARAB TIMES, FRIDAY-SATURDAY, JULY 16-17, 2021 SPORTS 15

Games going ahead during pandemic despite persistent opposition IOC’s Bach brings attention to Hiroshima – some unwanted

TOKYO, July 15, (AP): Many resi- dents of Hiroshima welcome attention from abroad, which IOC President Thomas Bach will bring when he visits on Friday. The western Japanese city has been in the forefront of the world Ogunbowale shines, helps WNBA peace movement and a campaigner for the abolition of nuclear weapons. But Bach will also bring political baggage - as will his vice president John Coates when he visits Nagasaki the same day - that is largely unwel- come in two cities viewed as sacred by many Japanese. All-Stars defeat US Olympic team Bach and Coates are using the backdrop of the cities, hit with atomic bombs by the United States in 1945, to promote the fi rst day of the so-called Olym- pic Truce, a tradition from ancient Greece that was revived by a United Nations resolu- tion in 1993. They will also be signaling the Bach start of the To- kyo Olympics in one week. The Games are going ahead during the pandemic despite persistent opposition in Japan from the general public and the medical community. “Many Japanese believe that that Team WNBA’s Arike Ogunbowale IOC strictly forced Japan to have the holds up the MVP trophy after Team Olympics this year,” Yasushi Asako, WNBA defeated United States in a a political scientist at Waseda Univer- WNBA All-Star game, on sity, wrote in an email to The Associ- July 14, in Las Vegas. (AP) ated Press. “Many Japanese believe that it is their (IOC’s) fault for having such an international event during the pandemic, and there is a high possibil- ity that the pandemic becomes more severe after the Olympics.” OLYMPICS

Some of those fears were reinforced on Thursday when Tokyo reported 1,308 new COVID-19 cases, up from 896 a week ago. It was the 26th straight day of cases being higher than a week previous. Thursday’s cases were the highest reported since Jan. 21. Japan has at- tributed 15,000 deaths to COVID-19, good by world standards but worse than many Asian neighbors. Bach will be welcomed on Friday by Hiroshima Governor Hidehiko Yu- Team WNBA’s Kahleah Copper shoots around United States’ Chelsea Gray during the fi rst half of a WNBA All-Star basketball game, on July 14, in Las Vegas. (Bottom right) Allie Quigley of the zaki and is expected to place a wreath holds up a trophy after winning the 3-point contest during halftime of a WNBA All-Star basketball game. (AP) at the Peace Memorial Park, visit the Peace Memorial Museum and view the Atomic Bomb Dome. Quigley wins 3rd 3-point shootout ‘We have solid determination to face changing world’ He will not be welcome by every- one. Shuichi Adachi, a former Hiroshi- LAS VEGAS, July 15, In ordinary times, the visits - largely (AP): Arike Ogunbowale 2022 Winter Oly on track despite pandemic ma bar association head, submitted a photo ops - would draw little attention strong statement this week to Yuzaki were it not for the pandemic and the put on a show against the and Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui ZHANGJIAKOU, China, July 15, Olympics. Depending on the poll and U.S. national team, hand- opposing Bach’s visit. It was written on FINA suspends 2 Russian swimmers (AP): With the postponed Summer behalf of 11 anti-Olympic and pacifi st how the question is phrased, a majority ing the Olympic squad a Olympics set to open in Tokyo next groups. of Japanese oppose holding the Olym- week, Beijing has made moves to show pics. rare loss. its preparations for the Winter Games “President Bach using the image The game’s MVP scored 26 of ‘a peaceful world without nuclear Bach defended the visit in a briefi ng 2 runners ‘dropped’ from Kenya are well on track for February despite weapons’ only to justify holding of the on Wednesday, saying it was focused points to help the WNBA All-Star the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pan- Olympics by force under the pandemic only on marking the fi rst day of the team beat the U.S. Olympic team demic. is a blasphemy to atomic bombing sur- Olympic Truce. He termed it an IOC 93-85. Olympic team over doping tests Journalists taken on a tour of snow vivors,” the group said in a statement. offer of peace “and nothing else.” Ogunbowale downplayed that she event venues in the outlying city of “An act like this does nothing but do “This is the message we are going was trying to make a statement for not NAIROBI, Kenya, July 15, (AP): months of a major championship. Zhangjiakou this week were shown the harm to the global nuclear weapons to send in the city of peace - of Hiro- making the team headed to Tokyo next Kenya was forced to drop two run- The tests have to be at least three locations for ski jumping, snowboard- ban movement.” shima,” Bach said. “This will have week. ners from its Olympic team just weeks apart. Those rules are ing and Nordic events. They also noted the poor timing. The nothing to do with politics. We will not “I think that shows that out of 144 over a week before the Tokyo enforced on Kenya because the While China has largely eliminated date - Friday, July 16 - marks exactly politicize this visit in any way.” players everybody’s good,” she said. Games because they haven’t taken country is considered high risk by local transmission of the coronavirus, 76 years since the Trinity nuclear test Reports out of Hiroshima say the “We wanted to get Team USA ready the required number of out-of-com- the World Anti-Doping Agency after it has maintained strict quarantine reg- took place in New Mexico that led to security will be similar to what was in for Tokyo. They are representing all petition doping tests, an official said a large number of doping cases in ulations. Organizers have not the nuclear attacks on Hiroshima and place for President Barack Obama’s of us.” on Thursday. recent years. announced what rules will be in place Nagasaki just weeks later. visit in 2016. It wasn’t a typical All-Star Game, That has given 1,500-meter world Another runner, United States- for athletes, officials and coaches at the A separate group has also launched The offi cial cost of the Tokyo Olym- with the teams playing hard on both champion Timothy Cheruiyot a last- based 400-meter hurdler Moitalel 2022 Winter Olympics, or if fans will an online petition opposing Bach’s vis- pics is $15.4 billion, though a govern- ends of the court for the entire game minute place on the squad. Mpoke Naadokila, was also taken be allowed. it. The petition, which has garnered al- ment audit suggests it is much more. from the start. Usually there isn’t much Kenya also hasn’t decided if off the team because he hasn’t met most 70,000 signatures, is addressed to The IOC has a large fi nancial stake defense played until late in the fourth steeplechase world and Olympic the doping test requirements. champion Conseslus Kipruto will be q q q the government of Japan, the Japanese in the Olympics going ahead since al- quarter. OLYMPICS “It was really competitive,” said on the team and able defend his Two Russian swimmers set to Olympic Committee, and the mayor most 75% of its income is from selling title in Tokyo. compete at the Tokyo Olympics and governor of Hiroshima. broadcast rights. 12-time All-Star . “Defi nitely Jia Maoting, general manager of the Kipruto dropped out of the race at were provisionally suspended for company overseeing construction of not a typical All-Star game. Usually the national trials last month after anti-doping violations by world gov- talk to players about trying to put on a the venues, told reporters that the “pan- two laps and is out of shape, while erning body FINA. demic situation is uncertain, we cannot good show and having a good time and he is also facing a criminal case in Alexandr Kudashev and hopefully the fans enjoy it. This, right guess how it will develop.” Kenya having Veronika Popova Andrusenko “We have solid determination to from the tip, felt different. It had an in- been charged were suspended based on evi- tensity about it you could tell.” last year with dence supplied by the World Anti- face the changing world,” Jia added. The WNBA team led 75-73 mid- statutory rape. Doping Agency, according to FINA. “We built good venues in any case and way through the fourth quarter before He is released It said the evidence came from then we wait and expect a good result.” Ogunbowale had a four-point play to on bail. China has also faced calls for a boy- extend the advantage to six. The Olym- Kenyan cott of the games from foreign politi- pic squad closed within 83-78 before team officials OLYMPICS cians and human rights groups over the Ogunbowale hit another 3-pointer and will meet to country’s detention of more than 1 posed for the crowd, which included make a late WADA’s examination of materials million members of the Uyghur and many current and former WNBA play- decision on recovered from the former Moscow other Muslim ethnic groups in the ers and team owners. Kipruto’s inclu- Anti-Doping Laboratory, including northwestern region of Xinjiang. The Olympic team cut its defi cit to sion. the lab’s management information Beijing says it provided voluntary 91-85 and had a chance to get closer, Cheruiyot is Cheruiyot system. job training and anti-radicalization but Courtney Williams blocked A’ja now a strong Kudashev and Andrusenko were classes and has denounced boycott Wilson’s shot with 1:15 left and they contender for gold in the 1,500 in set to compete for the non-federa- calls as a politicization of sports based Tokyo after setting the world-lead- tion Russians. The Russian federa- on false evidence. ing time this year and winning back- tion is barred from competing as a The Chinese capital hosted the 2008 BASKETBALL to-back Diamond League titles in country in Tokyo because of ongo- Summer Olympics and is the first city Stockholm and Monaco this month. ing doping issues found by WADA. to be given rights to host the Winter Protesters stage a rally against the visit by IOC President Thomas Bach, in He wasn’t initially on the Kenya Andrusenko competed for Russia could get no closer. Games as well. front of the Atomic Bomb Dome in Hiroshima, western Japan, on July 15. (AP) team after finishing fourth at the tri- in the 2012 and 2016 Olympics in Chen Rongqin, an official with the The Olympic team is a heavy fa- als. several events. The 30-year-old vorite to win a seventh straight gold planning committee’s construction Cheruiyot will replace 18-year- swimmer also competed in the department, said work was largely medal at the Tokyo Games. No team old Kamar Etiang, who surprised to International Swimming League in they’ll meet has nearly as much tal- completed apart from construction on Ogwumike, Williams petitions to finish second at the trials in a per- 2019. temporary facilities that can’t be built ent as the WNBA All-Star team they sonal-best time. Kudashev would have been com- faced. Still, like the U.S. men’s Olym- too early. But Etiang hasn’t met doping peting in his first Olympics. The “We still need to build some more play for Nigeria ‘denied’ by FIBA pic team which lost consecutive exhi- regulations that require Kenyan 25-year-old swimmer was a gold bition games to Nigeria and Australia, athletes to take at least three out- medalist at the 2019 World facilities and houses in the next few LAS VEGAS, July 15, (AP): Nneka Ogwumike and Elizabeth Williams an American loss is rare. of-competition tests within 10 University Games. months, and those are our major work Ogwumike and Elizabeth Williams had been given consent by USA Bas- The U.S. squad has won 49 consec- now,” Chen said. have been notifi ed by FIBA that their ketball to play for Nigeria. Usually The National Ski Jumping Center utive Olympic contests dating to 1992. lead of more than a few points in the won the title in 2017 and 2018 got a was one of the major venues for the petitions to play for Nigeria in the players that compete for the U.S. in Brittney Griner scored 17 points and fi rst half. The WNBA All-Stars led 44- hug from her wife and Chicago Sky tour, highlighted with an evening light upcoming Olympics were denied be- major FIBA events after they turn 17 had 15 to lead the show. It is has been nicknamed Snow cause they played for the U.S. for too Olympic team, which had been 3-0 in 43 at the half. teammate Courtney Vandersloot after are not allowed to start playing for an- Early in the second half, Candace the victory. Ruyi, after an ancient ski slope-shaped long, said two people familiar with the previous games against WNBA select other country. Parker, who was left off the 2016 Quigley said that it would be the jade ornament symbolizing good for- situation. FIBA’s regulations do allow the squads. tune. As well as its two ski jumping Both teams were missing a player. Olympic team after winning two gold last time she competed in the contest, The people spoke to The Associated organization’s secretary general to au- medals with the U.S., stole the ball which drew boos from the fans. tracks, it has a football pitch at its base. Press Wednes- thorize a player to compete for their Diana Taurasi suffered a hip injury in Zhangjiakou is about 200 kilometers practice a few weeks ago and missed from Brittney Griner and scored an The WNBA will donate $10,000 to day night on country of origin if it will help grow easy layup that gave the WNBA All- the Patrick Quigley Memorial Scholar- (125 miles) to the west of Beijing in condition of basketball in the country. the fi nal three games before the Olym- Hebei province, connected by highway pic break for the Mercury. She was Stars a 53-48 lead - their biggest of the ship Fund in honor of her dad. anonymity be- game to that point. Sami Whitcomb and and a high-speed rail line. warming up before the game, but It is due to host ski jumping, snow- cause no offi - didn’t play. The game was tied at 66 after three shot well, but couldn’t advance to the cial announce- BASKETBALL boarding, freestyle skiing, cross-country also was in uniform quarters. fi nals. skiing, and Nordic combined and biath- ment had been but didn’t play. She is on Australia’s “The All-Star Game has a label The WNBA honored the 1996 U.S. made. ESPN Ogwumike, who was hoping to play lon competitions during the Games. Olympic team and the Opals played where it’s a lot of offense and no de- Olympic team that started off the run The 2020 Summer Games were last fi rst reported in the Olympics with her sisters Chiney Nigeria in an exhibition contest on fense,” Stewart said. “This was a game of six consecutive gold medals that the and Erica, competed for the U.S. in the year postponed for 12 months because the denials. Tuesday. They play the U.S. on Fri- of All-Stars.” Americans have won. The current U.S. of the pandemic. The Nigerian 2018 World Cup where the Americans day. Allie Quigley won the 3-point Olympic team presented their prede- There’ll be heavy restrictions on all Federation has Ogwumike beat Nigeria in the quarterfi nals. The U.S. Olympic team jumped shootout for a third time, beating cessors with fl owers, while the 1996 participants at the Games, which open already fi led an Nneka Ogwumike had hoped to out to an 11-4 lead and Team WNBA 6-foot-6 Jonquel Jones in the fi nal. team gave personal notes of encour- July 23. And with Tokyo in a state of appeal to FIBA and both players are make the U.S. roster for Tokyo, but coaches Lisa Leslie and Tina Thomp- Quigley hit nine of her fi nal 10 shots, agement to the current squad. emergency and rising numbers of looking into taking the denials to the was left off the team when it was an- son called a quick timeout - another including all fi ve from the wing on her The U.S. has exhibition games later COVID-19 cases in the city, there’ll be Court of Arbitration in Sport, the peo- nounced. She had been dealing with a rarity in an All-Star Game. After that “money ball” rack. Each of those was this week against Australia and Nige- no fans allowed at most of the Olympic ple said. knee injury suffered early last month. early burst, neither team could build a worth two points. Quigley, who also ria. venues.