Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has returned to working from home after testing positive last week, the club confirmed. “We’re pleased to say that Mikel is feeling much better. He’s FRIDAY, MARCH 20, 2020 in good spirits.” beIN SPORTS to Olympics could be delayed, broadcast greatest tournaments, best admits athletics chief Coe leagues this week TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA THIS week, beIN SPORTS will broadcast a thrilling thematic sporting schedule of the best historic com- petitions and programmes across its channels in 24 countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). While live sport has temporarily stopped across the world following coronavirus outbreak, beIN SPORTS has delved into its deep archives to keep viewers and fans at home entertained and on the edge of their seats. Starting on Saturday 21 March, beIN SPORTS HD1 will showcase 2018 FIFA World Cup matches: re-living exciting fixtures from Russia which led France to lift their second FIFA World Cup trophy and Croatia reach their first ever final. The football viewing journey will start with an exclusive program featuring beIN legends including Arsene Wenger, Marcel Desailly, Andy Gray, Dwight Yorke, Hafid Darradji, Ayman Jadah, and Alessan- dro Altobelli, who will talk about their favourite FIFA World Cup memories and goals. The 2018 FIFA World Cup saw Kylian Mbappe emerge on the world stage and capture the imagina- An athlete carries the Olympic torch during one of the last relays ahead of the Olympic flame handover ceremony for the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics in Athens on Thursday. The tion of fans with his speed and skills, becoming only ceremony was held behind closed doors as a preventive measure against the spread of coronavirus. (AFP) the second teenager, after Pele, to score in a World Cup Final. AFP Olympic gold medallist Matthew Pinsent cauldron inside the all-marble Panathe- Speaking to beIN SPORTS, French and Arsenal LONDON called for decisive action. naic stadium, where the first modern legend Arsene Wenger said: “I was one of the first “On a global front we have other pri- Olympics were held in 1896. to say that Kylian Mbappe has the potential to reach WORLD athletics chief Sebastian Coe orities and I think the Olympics should at The flame was then handed to To- the same levels as Brazil legend Pele. Why? Because admitted on Thursday that the Tokyo the very least be saying we should post- kyo 2020 representative Naoko Imoto, I look at the numbers and when he started at Mo- Olympics could be moved to later in the pone or indeed just cancel at this stage a swimmer who competed in the At- naco, this guy had contributed to over 30 goals aged year by the coronavirus outbreak, but and we’ll talk about postponement later lanta 1996 Olympics. Imoto, a UNICEF 17-and-a-half years.” said it was too early to make a definitive on,” he told the BBC. representative, was reportedly a last- The 2018 FIFA World Cup also saw some of the decision. “I just don’t think there’s much of a minute appointment as she already best matches and goals in the tournament’s history, Olympic bosses acknowledged on choice at this stage.” lives in Greece and did not have to with Wenger believing that “Pavard’s goal against Wednesday there was no “ideal” solu- travel from Japan. Argentina in the 2018 FIFA World Cup is one of tion as a growing number of athletes ex- TOKYO 2020 RECEIVES OLYMPIC FLAME Greek President Katerina Sakellaro- the best goals.” All of the matches and goals will be pressed concern. Meanwhile, Greece on Thursday World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe. poulou in a statement said the ancient widely discussed on social media across MENA this The COVID-19 pandemic is playing handed over the Olympic flame to Tokyo Olympic values of “concord, goodwill, weekend, and you can join in the conversation by us- havoc with the global sporting calendar, 2020 organisers at a ceremony held be- gymnastics champion Lefteris Petrounias brotherhood... are the weapon to use” ing the hashtag #beINHistory. forcing the postponement of Euro 2020 hind closed doors. ran a lap with the flame and Olympic pole against the virus. On Sunday 22 March, beIN SPORTS HD1 will and a suspension of the tennis season. In the absence of spectators, Olympic vault champion Katerina Stefanidi lit a Last week’s flame lighting ceremony have a full dedicated 2016 UEFA Euro day with International Olympic Committee in ancient Olympia was also carried out matches and special programs featuring star names chairman Thomas Bach said earlier this without spectators as Greece registered from the world of football and beIN talent. week that starting on schedule on July 24 AUSTRALIA FIRM ON TOKYO GAMES its first death from the virus. Monday 23 March will see beIN SPORTS HD1 remained the organisation’s goal. “Regretfully the COVID-19 outbreak broadcast the unforgettable AFC Asian Cup 2019 But Coe, who is a member of the To- AFP are changing every day and we must made us take hard decisions and change campaign, with historic matches including the final kyo Olympics Games Coordination Com- SYDNEY adapt.” our initial plans. We deeply regret that between Qatar and Japan – where Qatar won their mission, conceded in an interview with “We gain confidence from the IOC’s you... were not able to travel to Greece first ever AFC Asian Cup trophy. the BBC that a delay was possible. AUSTRALIAN Olympic chiefs Thursday overriding principles regarding stag- and join us here today,” Greek Olympic During the rest of the week, beIN SPORTS HD1 “That is possible, anything is possible reaffirmed plans to send athletes to ing the Games. Namely, to protect the Committee chairman Spyros Kapralos will have dedicated La Liga (Tuesday 24 March), at the moment,” said Coe when asked Tokyo 2020, even as a former top official health of everyone involved and support said, addressing Tokyo organisers absent Serie A (Wednesday 25 March), Bundesliga (Thurs- whether the Games could be postponed warned it looked impossible to hold the the containment of the virus,” he added. from Thursday’s ceremony. day 26 March) and FIFA Club World Cup (Friday to September or October. Games during the coronavirus pandemic. His comments came as Australia’s Authorities decided to cancel the 27 March) shows and matches exclusive with Ara- “But I think the position that sport The International Olympic Commit- chef de mission at the London 2012 torch relay’s Greek leg after a crowd bic commentary for all its fans across MENA – in- has certainly taken, and it was certainly tee on Wednesday said it intended to go Olympics, Nick Green, told the Sydney mobbed Hollywood actor Gerard Butler cluding the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup final be- the temperature of the room in the con- ahead with the Games from July 24 as Morning Herald he doubted the Games at a cauldron lighting ceremony in Sparta tween Liverpool and Flamengo, which was played versation I had the other day with the scheduled, despite growing fears about can proceed as planned. last week. at Doha’s Khalifa International Stadium. IOC and our other federations, is that the virus. “A couple of weeks ago, I was as Top athletes have warned that their Launching beIN SPORTS’ sporting schedule, nobody is saying we will be going to the Australian Olympic Committee chief confident as everyone else, saying the training regimes have already been im- Head of Sports for beIN MENA, Jonathan White- Games come what may. Matt Carroll said his organisation was Olympics would go ahead, no problem,” paired by the pandemic, and that they head, said: “During these difficult times, beIN “But it isn’t a decision that has to be doing everything possible to “fulfil the said Green, an Olympic rowing cham- would be taking health risks should the is here for you. Our first priority is to ensure our made at this moment.” dreams of Australian athletes in incred- pion. Games go ahead. customers continue to get the very best services we Coe, who played a pivotal role in se- ibly difficult circumstances”. “I’m pretty robust about it but I don’t Pole vault champion Stefanidi is can provide, so we have delved into our deep ar- curing the Olympics for London in 2012, “The AOC does not live in a bubble,” have the same robustness in my think- among prominent athletes to have voiced chives so that you can relive the action from your said postponing the Games until 2021 he said, after a worldwide phone confer- ing now. I actually can’t see how the concern at the IOC’s insistence on hold- favourite matches and tournaments. Over the next could present problems. ence with IOC president Thomas Bach. Games can go ahead, to be frank.” ing the Games. few weeks, you will have the chance to watch some “That seems on the surface of it “There is a global health crisis. We Ian Chesterman, the chef de “The IOC wants us to keep risking of your most memorable sporting moments 2018 an easy proposition, but member fed- recognise that people are suffering, mission for Tokyo, admitted it was a our health, our family’s health and public FIFA World Cup, AFC Asian Cup 2019, and the erations actually avoid Olympic years people are sick, people are losing their “complex” situation, with so many health to train every day?” she tweeted best from the European football leagues. We want often to have their world champion- jobs, businesses are struggling, amid Olympic qualification events cancelled this week.