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THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2020 12 Wimbledon officials continue plans for June championships Reuters | London imbledon officials on Tuesday said Wthey are continuing plans for the grasscourt major to start on June 29 as sched - uled even though French Open A general view of Arthur Ashe Stadium, where US open is conducted organizers postponed the claycourt Grand Slam to Sep- tember due to the coronavirus US Open tennis could be pandemic. The French tennis federation postponed by coronavirus postponed the event held at Ro- land Garros until Sept 20-Oct 4 AFP | New York consult other stakeholders in from its May start, with the new the sport. dates colliding with numerous he US Tennis Association The chosen dates, one week events on the scheduled global Tacknowledged Tuesday after the current scheduled tennis calendar. that developments in the coro- conclusion of the US Open, The All England Club said navirus pandemic could dic- caught the ATP and WTA by it will close the museum in its tate moving the US Open, now surprise. grounds, which is open all year, scheduled to start in August. They conflict with the Laver and other facilities following the But the American federation Cup in Boston, where Europe’s British government’s recom- said it wouldn’t determine any top players are scheduled to mendation to avoid unnecessary new date for its flagship Grand take on a World team. gatherings. A General view of the roof over the court at All England Club, London during a match (file photo) Slam without consulting the Roger Federer has already “While we continue to plan other major championship committed to the event. for The Championships at All England Club chief exec- suspension due to the pandemic The International Tennis organizers, the International The US Open, the final this time, it remains a contin- utive Richard Lewis said in a that has ground global sport to a Federation has also suspend- Tennis Federation and the ATP Grand Slam on the calendar, uously evolving situation and statement. halt while the WTA, which runs ed all its events, including next and WTA tours. is scheduled to run August we will act responsibly, in the The men’s ATP Tour had pre- the women’s tournaments, had month’s newly-launched Fed “We recognize that such a 24-September 13 at the Billie best interests of wider society,” viously announced a six-week postponed events till May 2. Cup finals in Budapest. decision should not be made Jean King Tennis Center in unilaterally,” the USTA said in Flushing Meadows, New York. a statement -- a scarcely veiled “The USTA is continuing to jab at the French Tennis Fed- plan for the 2020 US Open and Levy says virus is eration which announced ear- is not at this time implement- ‘Putting us in danger’ - athlete lier Tuesday it was moving the ing any changes to the sched- ‘biggest challenge’ second Grand Slam of the year, ule,” the USTA said. of his Spurs reign the French Open, to Septem- “These are unprecedent- concerns grow ahead of Olympics ber 20-October 4. ed times, though, and we are In postponing the event assessing all of our options, AFP | Tokyo originally sheculed for May including the possibility of 24-June 7, the French Feder- moving the tournament to a lympic pole vault champi- ation apparently declined to later date.” Oon Katerina Stefanidi said athletes were being forced to take health risks as competitors started to speak out about hold- ing the Tokyo Games during the Players cry foul after coronavirus crisis. Stefanidi and British heptath- shock French Open move lete Katarina Johnson-Thomp- son both voiced concerns af- A woman wearing a protective ter the International Olympic face mask walks near the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Committee said it was “fully committed” to running the AFP | London Games as scheduled from July 24. ottenham chairman Greece’s Katerina Stefanidi competes in Women’s Pole Vault final (file photo) An IOC member called the TDaniel Levy has pledged body’s stance “insensitive and outbreak that first exploded in to ensure the coronavirus irresponsible”, saying athletes China spread to Asia and then outbreak does not damage were facing “anxiety and heart- worldwide, infecting almost the future of his club after break” as they try to train dur- The IOC wants us 200,000 people and killing admitting the pandemic is ing the virus emergency. to keep risking our 7,900. the biggest challenge of his Stefanidi, one of Greece’s health, our family’s Yesterday an Olympic gym- 20-year reign. most prominent athletes, was nastics qualifier in Tokyo, dou- Levy was speaking yes- scheduled to hand the cere - health and public bling as a test event, became terday as Tottenham an - monial flame to Japanese offi- health to train every the latest competition to be nounced financial results cials before the Greek leg of the day? You are putting cancelled. for 2018-19 which showed Spectators leave the court during during a match due to rain (file photo) torch relay was scrapped over us in danger right A day earlier, the deputy head the north London club COVID-19. now, today, not in 4 of Japan’s Olympic committee recorded 460 million eu- Reuters | Mumbai pandemic has also brought the “The IOC wants us to keep months said he had tested positive for ros ($544 million) in sports world to a virtual stand- risking our health, our fami- coronavirus. revenue. KATERINA STEFANIDI ennis players around the still. ly’s health and public health to But the IOC insisted “there A quarter of that income Tworld have hit out at the With players already count- train every day?” she tweeted. is no need for any drastic de- was a result of their run to lack of communication from ing the cost of the tennis shut- “You are putting us in dan- of the risk they are putting us in cisions at this stage” adding the Champions League fi- the game’s governing bodies in down, the decision did not go ger right now, today, not in 4 right now.” that “any speculation at this nal. the wake of the French Open’s down well. months.” Johnson-Thompson, the moment would be counter-pro- The move into their shock switch to September Canadian world number 93 On Tuesday, minutes before world heptathlon champion, ductive”. new stadium also helped from May because of the coro- Vasek Pospisil, who sits on the the IOC statement, the Euro criticised the IOC for telling Hayley Wickenheiser, a Ca- revenue increase, with a navirus pandemic. ATP Players Council, slammed 2020 football tournament was athletes to train “as best they nadian IOC member with four 27 million euros jump in The French Tennis Feder- the decision as “selfish” and delayed for a year, bowing to the can”, saying it was at odds with ice hockey gold medals, warned corporate and hospitality ation (FFT) on Tuesday said “arrogant” and added that it crisis that has paralysed Europe stringent government health “this crisis is bigger than even income. the claycourt Grand Slam at showed the players had no say and drastically curtailed inter- measures. the Olympics”. Yet overall profits were Roland Garros would now in the running of the sport. national travel. “I feel under pressure to “From an athlete perspective, still down almost 45 mil- take place from Sept. 20-Oct. “This is such a difficult time, Olympic qualifying tourna- train and keep the same routine I can only imagine and try to lion euros on 2018’s figure 4, dates that clash with several everyone is being impacted by ments are among the swathe which is impossible,” she wrote empathise with the anxiety and of 113 million euros, to 68.6 other events. this catastrophe. Enhancing of sports events that have been on Twitter. heartbreak athletes are feeling million euros. The French Open will be- communication and work- cancelled or postponed, with “It’s difficult (to) approach right now,” she said in a state- With the virus having gin just seven days after the ing together to find solutions only 57 percent of athletes the season when everything has ment. forced the postponement U.S. Open final in New York, should be the priority,” he booking their places so far. changed in the lead-up apart “The uncertainty of not of the Premier League un- leaving players to contest the posted on Twitter. “It’s unbelievable,” said Stefa- from the ultimate deadline,” knowing where you’re going til at least April 3 and all claycourt Grand Slam in the Pospisil’s views were echoed nidi. “What about team sports added the Briton. to train tomorrow as facilities European competitions middle of the hardcourt swing. by other players. that have to train together? close and qualification events in lockdown at present, The new coronavirus has “This is not to call out the What about swimming? What ‘Bigger than the Olympics’ are cancelled all over the world Levy acknowledged the killed more than 8,400 peo- ATP but to show the difficulties about gymnastics that they Doubts are increasingly be- would be terrible if you’ve been health crisis is creat - ple and infected more than in this sport,” said American touch the same objects? ing expressed about holding training your whole life for ing huge problems for 198,300 around the world. The Noah Rubin. “There is zero consideration the Olympics on time, after the this.” football..

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