Nothing to Shout - Olympic Fans May Face Cheering Ban Tokyo Olympics Trying to Avoid the Risk of Spreading Coronavirus
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
38 Friday Sports Friday, November 13, 2020 Nothing to shout - Olympic fans may face cheering ban Tokyo Olympics trying to avoid the risk of spreading coronavirus TOKYO: Fans may be asked not to cheer at the be allowed at the Games. Muto said officials were Tokyo Olympics to avoid the risk of spreading the considering waiving quarantine for arriving fans coronavirus, a top official said yesterday. The and replacing it with a series of tests and health comments follow a gymnastics test event in Tokyo checks. Athletes’ and officials’ movements will be on Sunday where mask-wearing spectators, heavily restricted for two weeks after they enter urged not to shout or cheer, confined themselves the country, but this is difficult to implement for to polite applause and murmurs of approval. fans, he said. Tokyo 2020 chief executive Toshiro Muto said fans arriving in Japan may be spared a mandatory Quarantine ‘unrealistic’ two-week quarantine, saying it would be too hard “As the number of foreign spectators is so high, to enforce. But he said officials were also consid- 14 days of quarantine and a ban on public transport ering urging fans not to shout or talk loudly, to use is unrealistic,” he told reporters after a com- minimize the risk of COVID-19 infections at the mittee meeting. Instead, “pre-visit tests and health postponed 2020 Games. monitoring, careful screening at the border, post- “There’s a possibility that we might ask the entry checks on activities and health, (and) taking (Olympic) spectators to refrain from shouting or swift measures if symptoms appear” are among the talking in a loud voice,” Muto said after a commit- measures being considered. tee meeting. “When we think of the impact, we be- The Olympics were delayed for a year to next lieve it is an item for consideration, to reduce the July by the coronavirus pandemic but despite a risk of airborne droplets.” However, Muto added rising caseload worldwide, the outlook is bright- that the “practicality and feasibility” of clamping ening for the Games. Tokyo has begun holding test down on cheering needed to be considered. While events, including a near-capacity baseball game sports competitions around the world have re- and Sunday’s four-nation gymnastics competition TOKYO: Zhou Ruiyu of China competes on the balance beam during the Friendship and Solidarity Competition sumed after shutting down for the pandemic, most held in tightly controlled bio-secure conditions. gymnastics event in Tokyo - the first major international sporting event in the Japanese capital since the Tokyo are taking place behind closed doors. Olympic chief Bach, whose visit next week will be 2020 Olympic Games was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. —AFP Fans are allowed at sports events in Japan, usu- his first since the Games were delayed, said the ally in limited numbers, but they are advised not events were a positive sign. board meeting. “How many and under which con- visiting crowds, would be decided in the spring. to shout and cheer. International Olympic Com- “Having seen the different tests in Japan, we ditions, it will... very much depend on future de- At Sunday’s gymnastics competition, around mittee president Thomas Bach, who will visit next can become more and more confident that we will velopments.” Japan currently has a strict ban on 2,000 fans in face masks remained socially dis- week, on Wednesday said he was increasingly have a reasonable number of spectators also in practically all in-bound foreign tourism. Muto said tanced at an 8,700-capacity Olympic venue, confident that a “reasonable number” of fans will Olympic venues,” he said after an IOC executive any cap on the number of spectators, or rules for while being encouraged not to shout. —AFP set to miss the final three games to return home for the birth of his first Australia look to future child. India will need to quarantine for 14 days on arrival in Australia due to coronavirus concerns, and Kohli would have to repeat the exercise if he wanted to come back, making it highly unlikely he will do so. The two Maradona leaves hospital with Pucovski, Green in sides meet in three one-dayers and three Twenty20s from November 27 in the lead-up. Those matches will be followed by two Australia A fixtures following surgery India Test squad against Indian sides in Sydney to prepare for the Tests. OLIVOS: Argentine football legend Diego Maradona left hospi- SYDNEY: Highly-rated young prospects Will Pucovski and Cameron Fine form tal on Wednesday followed by a convoy of supporters, eight days Green were yesterday included in an expanded 17-man Test squad to Pucovski, who was in the Test set-up last summer but has struggled after undergoing surgery to remove a blood clot on his brain. face India as Australia looks to the future. Opener Pucovski, 22, and all- with mental health issues, has plundered back-to-back double centuries Maradona did not speak to the crowd of journalists and chanting rounder Green, 21, have been hammering on the door this season, im- in his last two games as an opener for Victoria to make his call-up all- fans gathered outside in masks as he left the Olivos clinic in pressing in the domestic Sheffield Shield with a host of former but inevitable. He recently said he was in a good head space and ready Buenos Aires by ambulance shortly after his doctor Leopoldo Australian greats urging their inclusion. The selectors - coach Justin to challenge for a Test berth once again, vying with incumbent Burns, Luque told reporters he could go home. Private security person- Langer, Trevor Hohns and George Bailey - heeded the calls, but not at who has had a lean spell. Batting all-rounder Green, described by Greg nel held up dividers to screen the ambulance before it left. A con- the expense of the out-of-form Joe Burns, who retains his spot along- Chappell as the best he has seen since Ricky Ponting, has also been fir- voy of Maradona’s supporters followed the ambulance after side regular opener David Warner. ing with a classy 197 for Western Australia last month. He is considered dozens had waited outside the clinic for days, holding photos of Rookie spinner Mitchell Swepson and seamer Sean Abbott, along less likely to get a start, at least in the opening Test, with Travis Head him and chanting their encouragement. One banner read “Eter- with fast bowler Michael Neser, who has long been on the fringes, also and Matthew Wade currently filling the middle order, and Marnus nally Thanks.” made the grade and are in line for debuts. “It is such a positive sign for Labuschagne and Steve Smith locked in at three and four. Luque had earlier published on Instagram a photo of himself Australian cricket to have so many good young players stepping into The pace attack virtually picked itself, with Pat Cummins, Mitchell hugging the 60-year-old, who wore a bandage on his head. contention,” said Hohns. “Two of those many standout players were of Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and James Pattinson all regulars, and Neser and Maradona is expected to continue his rehabilitation in Tigre, 30 course Cameron Green and Will Pucovski.” “Their undeniable form de- Abbott breathing down their necks. Swepson pressed his case with kilometers (19 miles) north of Buenos Aires, near his daughter Gi- manded selection and we are very pleased to have these young men in three consecutive five-wicket hauls in the Sheffield Shield and was pre- annina’s home. “Diego has gone through perhaps the hardest time the squad for what will be a tremendous Test series against an ex- ferred to Adam Zampa as Nathan Lyon’s understudy. “Mitch Swepson of his life,” his lawyer Matias Morla said earlier Wednesday, adding tremely formidable opponent.” is another who has excelled and is in fine form for Queensland. He gives it was a “miracle” that the clot “which could have taken his life, was World number one Australia, led by Tim Paine, play four Tests against detected.” “What is needed now is family togetherness and being the side a strong second spin option to Nathan Lyon and we feel he is Virat Kohli’s second-ranked India starting with a day-night fixture in surrounded by health professionals,” said Morla. “With the doc- ready and deserving of the opportunity,” said Hohns. “Sean Abbott has Adelaide on December 17. They then move to the traditional Boxing Day tors and his family, Diego will be as he should be: happy.” —AFP also been outstanding at the start of the summer and comes in to his Test in Melbourne before heading to Sydney and Brisbane, with Kohli first Test squad as a very strong fast bowling option.” —AFP.