ARAB TIMES, SUNDAY, JULY 18, 2021 SPORTS 15

SKorea removes banners at Olympic village after IOC ruling Japan’s Olympic security balancing act leaves few satisfi ed TOKYO, July 17, (AP): Struggling The government and the Games’ businesses forced to temporarily shut organizers “are treating visitors as if down around Olympics venues. Olym- they are potential criminals,” Chizuko pic visitors ordered to install invasive Ueno, a professor emeritus of sociol- apps and allow GPS tracking. Minders ogy at the University of Tokyo, said on staking out hotels to keep participants YouTube. from coming into contact with ordinary There’s also lingering resentment Japanese or visiting restaurants to sam- over a widespread sentiment that Ja- ple the sushi. pan is facing this balancing act because Japan’s massive security apparatus the International Olympic Committee has raised complaints that the nation, needs to have the Games happen, re- during the weeks of the Games, will gardless of the state of the virus, to get look more like authoritarian North Ko- the billions of dollars in media revenue rea or China than one of the world’s critical to its survival. most powerful, vibrant democracies. “The Olympics are held as an IOC The worry for many here, however, business. Not only the Japanese peo- isn’t too much Big Brother. It’s that ple, but others around the world, were all the increased precautions won’t be turned off by the Olympics after all of nearly enough to stop the estimated us saw the true nature of the Olympics 85,000 athletes, offi cials, journalists and the IOC through the pandemic,” and other workers coming into Japan mountaineer Ken Noguchi told the from introducing fast-spreading coro- online edition of the Nikkan Gendai navirus variants to a largely unvac- newspaper. cinated population already struggling Senior sports editors at major inter- with mounting cases. national media companies, meanwhile, “It’s all based on the honor system, have asked organizers to “reconsider and it’s causing concern that media some measures that go beyond what is people and other participants may go necessary to keep participants and resi- out of their hotels to eat in Ginza,” dents safe,” saying they “show a disre- Takeshi Saiki, an opposition lawmak- gard for the personal privacy and tech- er, said of what he called Japan’s lax nological security of our colleagues.” Japan has fared better during the pan- demic than many nations, but the Olym- OLYMPICS pians will be arriving only a few months after a coronavirus spike had some Japa- nese hospitals nearing collapse as ICUs border controls. So far, the majority of fi lled with the sick. While the surge has Olympic athletes and other participants tempered, cases are rising enough for the have been exempted from typical quar- declaration of yet another state of emer- antine requirements. gency in Tokyo. There have been regular breakdowns One of the highest-profi le secu- England’s Liam Livingstone bats during the fi rst international match between England and Pakistan at Trent Bridge in Nottingham, on in security as the sheer enormity of try- rity problems came last month when a July 16. Pakistan win by 31 runs. (AP) ing to police so many visitors becomes Ugandan team member arriving in Ja- clearer - and the opening ceremony pan tested positive for what turned out looms. The Japanese press is fi lled with to be the more contagious delta variant. reports of Olympic-related people test- He was quarantined at the airport, but ing positive for the coronavirus. Photos the rest of the nine-person team was and social media posts show foreign- allowed to travel more than 500 kil- ers linked to the Games breaking mask ometers (300 miles) on a chartered bus South Africa beat Ireland rules and drinking in public, smoking to their pre-Olympics camp, where a in airports - even, if the bios are accu- second Ugandan tested positive, forc- rate, posting on dating apps. ing the team and seven city offi cials “There are big holes in the bub- and drivers who had close contact with bles,” said Ayaka Shiomura, another them to self-isolate. opposition lawmaker, speaking of the Meanwhile, South Korea’s Olympic so-called “bubbles” that are supposed committee said Saturday it removed to separate the Olympics’ participants banners at the Olympic athletes’ vil- in 3rd ODI to draw series from the rest of the country. lage in Tokyo that referred to a 16th- The pandemic has tested democra- century war between Korea and Japan cies around the world as they try to after the International Olympic Com- Malan and De Kock post centuries strike a balance between the need to mittee ruled they were provocative. protect basic rights and the national im- In agreeing to take down the banners, perative to control a disease that thrives the South Koreans said they received a DUBLIN, July 17, (AP): The left-hander fi nished on 120 from when people gather in large numbers. promise from the IOC that the display- Janneman Malan posted 91 balls after being rested for the fi rst Few places, however, have faced ing of the Japanese “rising sun” fl ag a career-best 177 Verstappen wins historic sprint two matches. higher stakes than Tokyo will during will be banned at stadiums and other Malan’s haul in his seventh ODI in- July and August - or closer global scru- Olympic venues. The fl ag, portraying and also qualifying, takes British GP pole cluded 16 fours and six sixes. tiny. The government, well aware of a red sun with 16 rays extending out- made a century to help “It was a privilege to bat with QDK,” repeated domestic surveys that show ward, is resented by many people in South Africa beat Ireland SILVERSTONE, England, July said Malan, the man of the series. strong opposition to the Games, argues South Korea and other parts of Asia 17, (AP): Max Verstappen out- Rassie van der Dussen added 30 that its security and monitoring meas- who see it as a symbol of Japan’s war- by 70 runs as their one-day dragged Lewis Hamilton at from 28 balls. ures are crucial as it tries to pull off an time past. The South Korean banners, the start of Formula One’s ex- international series ended perimental fi rst sprint qualify- tweeted the Olympics during a once-in-a-century which drew protests from some Japa- in a draw. ing race to take the pole for the Proteas were “wearing black armbands pandemic. nese far-right groups, had been hung at South Africa fi nished on 346-4 British Grand Prix and spoil the today in solidarity with those affected But as the restrictions are tested by the balconies of South Korean athletes’ homecoming of the seven-time by the recent events in South Africa increasing numbers of visitors, offi - rooms and collectively spelled out a after winning the toss and opting to bat fi rst on an unusually sunny champion. and the devastation caused by the third cials have been blamed for doing too message that read: “I still have the sup- Hamilton initially seemed fi ne wave of the COVID-19 virus.” much, and too little. port of 50 million Korean people.” day in Dublin, as with the defeat and showed en- Ireland needed a record chase to thusiasm for the format and the achieve a milestone series win, but the fan energy at packed Silver- pressure from Malan’s and de Kock’s CRICKET stone. mighty stand was too much. Openers (11) and captain Andy Balbirnie (7) went quickly, followed cautioned fans to “remember the MOTOR RACING Red Bull driver Max Verstappen by Andy McBrine (9). sunscreen” at The Village. of the Netherlands poses after With its main batsmen gone, Ireland fi nishing fi rst in the Sprint Quali- played to save face and got it from The Proteas could only draw the For him, Hamilton said in the fying of the British Formula One three-match series after losing Tues- trolley the inaugural sprint race Curtis Campher, who made 54, and Grand Prix, at the Silverstone Singh. His 100 not out from 91 balls day and seeing the fi rst match washed format was “way more enjoy- circuit, in Silverstone, England, out due to rain - more typical of Irish able. We should do more like on July 17. (AP) was the highest ODI score by an Irish weather. Ireland’s 43-run victory was that, or a version of it in the fu- No. 8 batsman. Andile Phehlukwayo took 3-56 off its fi rst ever over South Africa. ture.” and Red Bull. Hamilton said From 92-6, Ireland tailender Simi He’d changed his tune by the 10 overs for South Africa. Tabraiz Singh energized the chase by making a post-race news conference, and there he didn’t like the format Shamsi also took three . Spin- career-best century, but the hosts were Hamilton sullenly accepted that - which, also, cost him another ner Keshav Maharaj (2-51) claimed all out for 276 in the 48th over. Singh he’d lost again to Verstappen point in the standings. openers Stirling and Balbirnie, who was stranded on 100 not out. posted a century in Tuesday’s historic Malan’s 177 from 169 balls was a win. Fast bowler Lizaad Williams career best in ODIs and the fourth high- The pair shared an opening stand of Ireland fi nally made a breakthrough needed just one to take his est score by a South Africa batsman in 225 runs with de Kock reaching a cen- in the 37th over when de Kock was maiden ODI , McBrine. They Foreign visitors wait in the holding area to take a COVID-19 test at the ODIs, one run short of de Kock’s tally tury fi rst, getting there from 83 balls caught in the deep by Mark Adair, who start a three-match Twenty20 series on Narita International Airport on July 10, in Narita, near Tokyo. (AP) against Australia in September 2016. for his 16th in ODIs. stood on his tiptoes at the boundary. Monday. Brazilian weightlifter Reis out of Tokyo Olympics for doping Cambage withdraws from team US Olympian Steveson chases gold, pro wrestling dreams Australia stun US women ST. LOUIS, July 17, (AP): Gable Ste- veson loves to put on a show -- during and after his biggest matches. in pre-Olympic exhibition Moments after he won at the U.S. LAS VEGAS, July 17, (AP): Australia ble-like environment. Cambage posted a Olympic trials at 125 kilograms to handed the U.S. women their second statement on social media late Thursday qualify for the Tokyo Games, he was straight loss in pre-Olympic exhibi- night saying the prospect of having no taking down the strap on his singlet tions, getting 17 points from Ezi friends, no family, no fans and no sup- when he heard the crowd chanting. port system outside the women’s basket- “Backfl ip! Backfl ip!” Magbegor to win 70-67. Steveson had celebrated wins with The Americans, who got together as ball squad was “honestly terrifying.” backfl ips before -- quite a feat for a a team for the first time earlier this Even without Cambage, the Australians man who weighs about 275 pounds. week, were beaten by a team of put forth a stellar effort. The Opals were And though he was drained after WNBA All-Stars on Wednesday night. down 13 at the half before rallying qualifying for his fi rst Olympics, he Breanna Stewart’s three-point play against the No. 1 team in the world that couldn’t help himself. The man who tied the game at 66 with 2:59 left has a 49-game winning streak in the aspires to be a World Wrestling En- before Magbegor hit a layup and Olympics. tertainment superstar like his mentor, Marianna Tolo made a reverse layup Australia took a 59-58 advantage Brock Lesnar, had to deliver. with 2 minutes remaining to give early in the fourth Australia a 70-66 advantage. - its first lead The U.S. missed seven straight since the second shots before Brittney Griner was quarter. The OLYMPICS Opals increased the lead to 66-62 Steveson, 21, hopes to transfer that BASKETBALL with 3:25 left swagger into becoming one of wres- before the tling’s youngest U.S. Olympic gold Americans tied it. medalists. He wants that stage to help fouled with 17 seconds left. She made Australia led launch a career in WWE. Eventually, one of two free throws. 25-24 early in the he hopes to cross over into movies like After a timeout, the U.S. committed second quarter former WWE star Dwayne ‘The Rock’ four consecutive fouls to try and get Magbegor before the U.S. Johnson. Australia to the foul line. After the closed the period Steveson’s stardom was seemingly fourth foul, Australia turned the ball with a 17-3 run. Stewart had eight planned. His mother named him Ga- In this March 18, 2021 fi le photo, Minnesota’s Gable Steveson, (top), takes on Air Force’s Wyatt Hendrickson dur- over with 10.9 seconds left, but points during the spurt. ble Dan -- after wrestling icon Dan ing their 285-pound match in the second round of the NCAA wrestling championships in St. Louis. (AP) Stewart’s 3-pointer before the buzzer The Americans led 41-28 at the half Gable. Gable was a two-time national was off the mark. She scored 17 points before Australia got back into the champion wrestler at Iowa State and an Hodge Trophy winner as the nation’s his opponents. The committee said in a statement to lead the U.S, which finished 2 of 18 game behind solid outside shooting to Olympic gold medalist in 1972. best college wrestler after a 17-0 sea- that 31-year-old Reis did not travel as from 3-point range. trail 56-51 heading into the fourth Steveson, who is from Apple Val- son. Then he won the Olympic trials. Also: expected last week after testing posi- The loss comes on the heels of the quarter. The U.S. will be trying to win ley, Minnesota, said Gable’s name was Now, he could add to his resume in RIO DE JANEIRO: Brazil’s Olympic tive for a growth hormone. U.S. men dropping exhibitions against a seventh consecutive gold medal at known around the area. Tokyo. Committee said Friday that heavy- “The athlete is excluded of the del- Nigeria and Australia this week. the Tokyo Games. Steveson has handled the pressure But for all the showmanship, Ste- weight weightlifter Fernando Reis egation that will compete at the Tokyo The Opals’ victory came hours after The Americans were missing Diana that comes with having that name in veson is most special on the mat. He has been suspended for doping and Olympic Games,” the Brazilian com- star center Liz Cambage withdrew from Taurasi, who suffered a hip injury in the sport. He followed in Lesnar’s has the expected power of a big man, will not compete at the Tokyo Olym- mittee said. “We reinforce our com- the team, citing mental and physical practice a few weeks ago and missed footsteps by winning a national cham- but possesses unusual quickness and pics. He was one of the favorites for mitment with clean sports as we keep health concerns. She had been worried the final three games before the pionship as a heavyweight for the Uni- agility for a someone his size, allowing a medal in the 105-kilogram cat- several educational initiatives to fi ght about the experience at the Tokyo Olympic break for the Phoenix versity of Minnesota. He was the Dan him to wrestle differently than most of egory. against doping.” Games, with players isolated in a bub- Mercury.