ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, MARCH 21, 2021 16

People take pictures of the Olympic rings installed by the Olympic Museum in Tokyo, March 19. (AP) Sports Latest sports scores at — http://sports.arabtimesonline.com IOC President Bach calls it a diffi cult decision Spectators from abroad to be barred from Tokyo Oly TOKYO, March 20, (AP): Specta- tors from abroad will be barred from the Tokyo Olympics when they open in four months, the IOC and local or- ganizers said Saturday. The decision was announced after Magic end Nets winning streak an online meeting of the Internation- al Olympic Committee, the Japanese government, the Tokyo government, the International Paralympic Com- Kings sweep Celtics mittee, and local organizers. The move was expected and ru- ORLANDO, Florida, mored for several months. Offi cials said the risk was too great to admit March 20, (AP): Aaron ticket holders from overseas during Gordon scored a sea- a pandemic, an idea strongly op- son-best 38 points, Evan posed by the Japanese public. Japan has attributed about 8,800 deaths to Fournier added 31 and the COVID-19 and has controlled the Orlando Magic held off virus better than most countries. Brooklyn’s furious fourth- “In order to give clarity to ticket quarter rally to beat the holders living overseas and to enable them to adjust their travel plans at Nets 121-113 on Friday this stage, the parties on the Japanese night. side have come to the conclusion The Magic overcame Kyrie Ir- that they will not be able to enter into ving’s season-best 43 points to Japan at the time of the Olympic and end a nine-game losing streak and Paralympic Games,” the Tokyo or- stop Brooklyn’s winning streak at ganizing com- six games. The Nets also had their mittee said in a franchise-record, eight-game road statement. winning streak halted. About 1 Orlando led 103-84 at the end of the million tickets third quarter, but the Nets opened the are reported to fourth with a 16-1 run. However, the have been sold Nets would get no closer than 104-100 to fans from after Gordon and Fournier revived the outside Japan. Magic offense. Organizers Gordon tipped in an airball that have promised gave Orlando a 114-105 lead and his 3-pointer seconds sealed the victory. Seiko refunds, but this will be Two nights after rallying from 16 determined by so-called Authorized points down in a win in Indiana, the Ticket Resellers that handle sales Nets were trying to pull off their sec- ond-largest comeback in a win this outside Japan. These dealers charge season. However, the Nets couldn’t fees of up to 20% above the ticket overcome an off night by superstar price. It is not clear if the fees will guard James Harden and an Orlando be refunded. team that shot 51.2% from the floor and “We could wait until the very last drilled a season-best 21 3-pointers. moment to decide, except for the spectators,” said Seiko Hashimoto, the president of the organizing com- BASKETBALL mittee. “They have to secure accom- Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) competes for a rebound with Sacramento Kings guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) in the fi rst half of an NBA basketball modations and fl ights. So we have to Gordon was 14 of 20 and 7 of 8 on game, March 19, in Boston. (AP) decide early otherwise we will cause 3s to easily surpass his previous sea- a lot of inconvenience from them. I son high of 24 points. Nikola Vucevic know this is a very tough issue.” added 22 points, 14 rebounds and NBA Results/Standings Infantino awarded $1 million annual bonus IOC President eight assists for Orlando. called it a “diffi cult decision.” Pistons 113, Rockets 100 “We have to take decisions that In Houston, Frank Jackson had a season-high 23 points and Detroit WASHINGTON, March 20, (AP): may need sacrifi ce from everybody,” NBA results and standings on Friday. Revenue on track, reserves down he said. handed Houston its franchise-record Sacramento 107 Boston 96 19th straight loss. San Antonio 116 Cleveland 110 The fi nancial burden of lost ticket Winless since Feb. 4, Houston Orlando 121 Brooklyn 113 sales falls on Japan. The local organ- Detroit 113 Houston 100 struggled to find answers for Detroit’s Indiana 137 Miami 110 izing committee budget called from ball movement and Jackson’s shoot- Golden State 116 Memphis 103 in FIFA coronavirus-era accounts $800 million income from ticket Utah 115 Toronto 112 ing. Jackson was 5 of 5 from 3-point GENEVA, March 20, (AP): FIFA expects to hit its four-year tournaments, its annual congress scheduled in Ethiopia, and sales, the third largest income source range and 7 of 10 overall. Denver 131 Chicago OT 127 Portland 125 Dallas 119 revenue target of $6.44 billion up to the 2022 World Cup in the annual awards ceremony in Milan. in the privately fi nance budget. Any Jerami Grant added 18 points, Josh Phoenix 113 Minnesota 101 Qatar despite the coronavirus pandemic. “Travel was reduced to the bare minimum, and a large- shortfall in the budget will have to Jackson had 15, and Isaiah Stewart 13. Eastern Conference be made up by Japanese government John Wall had 21 points and seven Atlantic Division Total spending of $1.04 billion in 2020 included $270 scale switch to online meetings and training produced sig- W L Pct GB million in grants to soccer bodies worldwide as part of a nifi cant cost savings,” the FIFA fi nancial report said. entities. assists for Houston. Philadelphia 28 13 .683 - Jazz 115, Raptors 112 COVID-19 relief plan, FIFA’s annual fi nancial report said Administration and governance spending of $169 million Brooklyn 28 14 .667 -1/2 on Friday. In Tampa, Fla., Donovan Mitchell New York 21 21 .500 7-1/2 was $42 million less than the planned budget for 2020. OLYMPICS Boston 20 21 .488 8 It also included a $10 million donation to the World The FIFA document showed Infantino got a base salary of scored eight of his 31 points in the Toronto 17 24 .415 11 final minute and a half to lead Utah Health Organization. 1.95 million Swiss francs, ($2.1 million) plus a bonus of just Overall, Japan is offi cially spend- Southeast Division FIFA again awarded its president Gianni Infantino a $1 over 1 million Swiss francs ($1.08 million). past Toronto. W L Pct GB ing $15.4 billion to organize the million annual bonus to raise his overall pre-tax pay above The package totaled 3 million Swiss francs ($3.2 million) Olympics. Several government au- Pascal Siakam’s 3-point shot at the Miami 22 20 .524 - final horn spun around and out for the 21 20 .512 -1/2 $3 million in 2020, matching his 2019 income. - the same as in 2019 - when some allowances were added. dits say the actual cost may be twice Charlotte 20 20 .500 1 The pandemic relief payments helped reduce FIFA’s re- FIFA secretary general Fatma Samoura got a 50,000 that much. All but $6.7 billion is Raptors. They have lost seven straight. Washington 15 25 .375 6 Joe Ingles added 19 points to help Orlando 14 27 .341 7-1/2 serves by $705 million in 2020. They stood at almost $1.9 Swiss francs ($54,000) raise in her bonus from 2019 for a public money. Central Division billion by the end of the year. Utah avoid losing on consecutive W L Pct GB About 4.45 million tickets were nights for the first time since Jan. 5-6. FIFA gets most of its money from the four-yearly men’s sold to Japan residents. Organiz- Milwaukee 26 14 .650 - World Cup, and said on Friday it already sealed 92% of its SOCCER Rudy Gobert had 15 points and 16 Indiana 18 22 .450 8 ers are expected next month to an- rebounds. Chicago 18 22 .450 8 income target from broadcasting rights. nounce the capacity at venues, which Siakam led Toronto with 27 points Cleveland 15 26 .366 11-1/2 Contracted income from all sources to the end of 2020 was pre-tax package of more than 1.6 million Swiss francs ($1.72 Detroit 12 29 .293 14-1/2 more than $5.1 billion, or 80% of revenue budgeted for the million). will be fi lled by local residents. and nine assists. With the return of Western Conference The ban on fans from abroad forward OG Anunoby from a six-game Southwest Division 2019-2022 fi nancial period, according to the FIFA document. The six continental presidents who sit on FIFA’s ruling comes just days before the Olym- absence due to health and safety proto- W L Pct GB Fewer sponsor slots for the 2022 World Cup have been council each received a net income of $300,000, plus some San Antonio 22 16 .579 - sold compared to the same stage before previous editions of expenses. Other council members each got $250,000 after tax. pic torch relay starts Thursday from cols, the Raptors played for the first Dallas 21 19 .525 2 Fukushima prefecture in northeast- time in months with their whole team. Memphis 18 20 .474 4 the tournament. The highest paid committee members were audit and ern Japan. It will last for 121 days, Kings 107, Celtics 96 New Orleans 17 24 .415 6-1/2 After a near-total shutdown of soccer worldwide last year, compliance chairman Tomaž Vesel and chief ethics inves- crisscross Japan with 10,000 run- In Boston, Richaun Holmes had 25 Houston 11 29 .275 12 FIFA advanced money due to its 211 national member fed- tigator Maria Claudia Rojas, who each got $246,000. Vesel Northwest Division erations and the six continental governing bodies. also chairs the compensation panel which oversees pay for ners, and is to end on July 23 at the points, 11 rebounds, three blocked W L Pct GB opening ceremony at the National shots and two steals and Sacramento Utah 30 11 .732 - Hundreds of millions of dollars more was made available senior management. swept the season series with Boston Denver 25 16 .610 5 in grants and loans for specifi c projects. FIFA is one of the most transparent international sports Stadium in Tokyo. Portland 25 16 .610 5 FIFA made savings by the forced cancellations of youth bodies in publishing what it pays senior offi cials. The relay will be a test for the for the first time since 2007. Oklahoma City 17 24 .415 13 Olympics and Paralympics, which De’Aaron Fox scored 29 points, Minnesota 10 32 .238 20-1/2 Buddy Hield had 22 and Harrison Pacifi c Division will involve 15,400 athletes enter- W L Pct GB ing Japan. They will be tested before Barnes added 15 points and 13 LA Lakers 28 13 .683 - leaving home, tested upon arrival in rebounds for Sacramento. The Kings Phoenix 27 13 .675 -1/2 have won consecutive games for the LA Clippers 26 16 .619 2-1/2 Japan, and tested frequently while first time since Feb. 6-7. Golden State 22 20 .524 6-1/2 Sacramento 17 24 .415 11 they reside in a secure “bubble” in Jaylen Brown had 19 points and 11 the Athletes Village alongside To- rebounds for Boston. The Celtics lost kyo Bay. for the fourth time in five games to his tailbone Wednesday night against Athletes will not be required to be again fall below .500. Houston, and James Wiseman and Eric vaccinated to enter Japan, but many Spurs 116, Cavaliers 110 Paschall were unavailable under the will be. In Cleveland, Keldon Johnson had NBA’s health and safety protocol. In the midst of Saturday’s meeting, 23 points and career-high 21 rebounds, Nuggets 131, Bulls 127, OT Bach and others were given a remind- Dejounte Murray added 22 points and In Denver, Jamal Murray scored 34 er about earthquake-prone northeast- San Antonio beat Cleveland. points, including a tying 3-pointer in ern Japan - and Japan in general. Tim Duncan was the last Spurs play- the final second of regulation and a A strong earthquake shook Tokyo er with a 20-point, 20-rebound game in crucial jumper in the final seconds of and triggered a tsunami warning as 2013 and had their last 11-offensive overtime, lifting Denver past Chicago. Bach and others made introductory re- board performance in 2010. Nikola Jokic had 34 points, 15 marks before the virtual meeting. The DeMar DeRozan had 20 points and rebounds and nine assists in helping strength was put a 7.0 by the US Geo- seven assists in his return to the Spurs the Nuggets to their eighth win in nine logical Survey and the location was after missing four games for the funer- games. Michael Porter Jr. added 19 in northeastern Japan, an area hit by a al of his father. points. Warriors 116, Grizzlies 103 Pacers 137, Heat 110 huge earthquake and tsunami in 2011. In Memphis, Tenn., Andrew In Miami, Malcolm Brogdon scored “I think the screen is shaking. Wiggins scored a season-high 40 27 points on 10-of-12 shooting to help Have you noticed the screen is shak- points, Jordan Poole added 25 starting Indiana beat Miami. ing,” , Japan’s in place of injured Stephen Curry, and Domantas Sabonas had 13 points Olympic minister, said as she made short-handed Golden State beat and 15 rebounds, and T.J. McConnell her presentation from Tokyo talking Memphis to open a two-game set. had 16 points and 15 assists. Doug remotely to Bach visible on a screen Damion Lee had 21 points, also a McDermott and Justin Holiday added in Switzerland. “We’re actually season best, and the arriors won their 17 points each. The Pacers shot 20 of in the midst of an earthquake right third in the last four games despite miss- 36 on 3-pointers and Brogdon tied a Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jarrett Culver (23) fouls Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) during the second now.” ing several key players. Curry bruised season high with seven. half of an NBA basketball game, March 19, in Phoenix. Phoenix won 113-101. (AP)

THE FIRST ENGLISH LANGUAGE DAILY IN FREE KUWAIT Published by: Arab Times Publishing House

Editor-in-Chief Editorial Office: Telephone: 24813566 & 24849144 Advertising: Tel: 55633481 Annual Subscriptions: Airport Road, Shuwaikh Fax: 24818267 Fax: 24911307 Individuals KD 45/- Companies and Offi cial Tel: 24849144 AHMED AL JARALLAH Departments KD 75 Airmail charges extra for Fax: 24839487 P.O. Box 2270, 13023 Safat, Kuwait E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] overseas