12 Monday, May 4, 2020 Sports

New Zealand Warriors team players alight from a plane after arriving in Tamworth on Sunday after the (NRL) secured an exemption for the team to enter the country ahead of a planned resumption of the sport. (AFP) NZ Warriors land in Australia after travel exemption AFP The NRL’s only interna- two players after centre comfortable we have abided family for a prolonged period that long.” ber for the first time. Tamworth (Australia) tional side will spend 14 days David Fusitu’a and by all policies and require- would be challenging. Under plans thrashed out The NRL has pushed hard in quarantine in the town, stayed be- ments,” Warriors CEO Cam- “That definitely was a by the league and its broad- to restart the league as Austral- The Warriors Australia’s country music hind in . eron George said. tough part, saying goodbye cast partners this week, the ia achieved success in curbing arrived in Australia late on hub, before competition re- The club said Fusitu’a had The NRL season was to the family out there in the season will be cut from 25 the spread of coronavirus, with Sunday after the National starts on May 28. been given permission to de- suspended on March 24 af- carpark and seeing my two rounds to 20 -- including the the number of new daily cases Rugby League secured an ex- On Saturday Australian lay his departure on compas- ter just two rounds amid a kids go away,” he said before two already played -- with a slowing significantly in recent emption for the team to enter officials granted 36 players sionate grounds and Roache government shutdown of all boarding the flight. four-week playoff series end- weeks allowing some restric- the country ahead of a planned and staff a rare exemption had been told to do the same non-essential gatherings in “At this stage I’ve pre- ing in a on Oc- tions to be lifted. resumption of the sport. from the country’s ban on after reporting he was unwell. a bid to stem the spread of pared to go for five months tober 25. Australia has recorded A charter plane carry- international arrivals, amid “We’re totally satisfied coronavirus. and go to work. If they could The three-match State of 6,800 cases of COVID-19 ing the Warriors landed in a slowdown in new corona- Nate has had no contact Captain Roger Tuivasa- come over during a safe (pe- Origin series between New and 95 deaths from the virus, the rural town of Tamworth, virus cases in Australia and with any other player or staff Sheck said he was excited to be riod) then I’d be happy to South Wales and Queens- while New Zealand has con- about five hours drive from New Zealand. member at the club for sev- reunited with his teammates bring them over because it’ll land, normally played mid- firmed just over 1,100 cases Sydney, at about 5:30pm. The Warriors were short eral weeks and we’re very but being separated from his be tough not to see them for season, will shift to Novem- and 20 deaths. German sports minister backs Bundesliga restart Ecclestone expects at least

DPA their main aim was “achieving only train from Monday after eight F1 races this year Frankfurt a medically justifiable risk with a weekend off if a second test a bundle of measures” and it - conducted Sunday - was also DPA countries, races on several con- German Sports Minister would take up to five weeks to negative. Munich tinents and travel restrictions Horst Seehofer supports a see if the system really worked. Verstraete said some his re- still in place in many regions. Bundesliga restart later in the Verstraete meanwhile ex- marks were not ideal and could Long-time former Formula The action is to start behind month amid the coronavirus pressed scepticism that meas- have been misinterpreted in the One boss Bernie Ecclestone closed doors on July 5 in Aus- outbreak but concern remains ures Cologne took after the translation to German. believes that at least eight tria, and Ecclestone admitted after three positive tests at the positive tests were the right Verstraete added: “Instead races can be staged this year the biggest problem was wheth- Cologne club whether this is re- ones as he named restart ef- of giving an interview out of despite coronavirus-related re- er the Italy-based teams Ferrari ally possible. forts “naive.” emotion, I should have con- strictions. and Alpha Tauri and tyre mak- The leading doctor of the In accordance with the task tacted our doctor and had my Ecclestone told Britain’s ers Pirelli could travel. restart manual said that too force manual, and supported questions answered.” Sunday Express paper that F1’s motorsport boss Ross many positive tests could by local health authorities, the Other Bundesliga clubs owners Liberty Media “should Brawn has said this could make the whole concept fal- three - two players and a physi- including Berlin sides Hertha be able to have eight races be possible because a “very ter; and Cologne Birger Ver- otherapist - went into quaran- and Union reported no in- with no problems.” Eight is the enclosed environment” is straete voiced criticism which tine for two weeks while the rest fections after their tests but minimum number of Grands planned where “the teams was however dismissed by The team of German Bundesliga club FC Schalke 04 attends a training can continue training in small second-tier VfB Stuttgart sent Prix needed to be classified as come in on charters, we chan- the club which said it had fol- session at the club’s training grounds in Gelsenkirchen, western Germany groups and with social distanc- one player into quarantine af- a world championship by the nel them into the circuit, we lowed all the rules. on April 29, 2020. (AFP) ing in place. ter his test produced an incon- ruling body FIA. make sure everyone’s tested, The Interior Minister Midfielder Verstraete told clusive result. F1 organizers hope to con- cleared, there’s no risk to any- Seehofer, whose portfolio in- tests for players and staff. task force chairman Tim Mey- VTM television in his native German sports physician test 15 to 18 races from July one and we have a race with- cludes sports, told the Bild am Clubs hope that the govern- er told broadcasters Sport1 Belgium, as reported by the Het Fritz Soergel meanwhile said in onwards in a revised calendar out spectators.” Ecclestone Sonntag Sunday paper that “I ment will give the go-ahead on late Saturday that the system Laatste Nieuws paper late Sat- a column for the Tagesspiegel after the first 10 Grands Prix also said that Red Bull owner consider the timetable of the Wednesday. could never be completely urday, that it was “a bit bizarre” paper that a Bundesliga restart have been postponed or can- Dietrich Mateschitz was ready DFL plausible and support a In the interview conducted foul-proof and would remain only the three were placed in with all the testing and matches celled because of the outbreak. to stage the race on the Spiel- restart in May. before Cologne on Friday an- vulnerable. quarantine. could allow a scientific study on But others have raised berg course but “won’t pay the “But it is also clear for nounced three positive test “If there are too many posi- “The physiotherapist is the the virus and antibody tests. doubts because sport is a global (hosting) fee because he isn’t me that there can’t be any result from within their ranks, tive cases, this system can cer- man who treated me and other “The question would now one with teams based in three going to sell any tickets.” privileges for the Bundesliga.” Seehofer insisted that strict tainly falter,” the DFB chief players for weeks. And I formed be whether there will be infec- The German Football League rules had to be followed. medical officer Meyer said, urg- a duo with one of the two play- tions with the Sars CoV-2 vi- (DFL) and German Football “If there is a corona-case ing strict discipline from every- ers in question in the gym on rus in this workplace,” Soergel Federation (DFB) had cre- at a team or the team staff one to make things work. Thursday,” he said. said. “Where is there a study ated the manual for a restart then the whole club and pos- Meyer said he wasn’t sur- Cologne issued a statement that examines 300 people in 18 Brighton ‘not in favour’ behind closed doors later this sibly also the last opponent prised about the positive tests Sunday saying they had done grounds across the country and month, under strict health must go into quarantine for as almost 2,000 tests have been nothing wrong, all rules were closely examines their immedi- of using neutral venues regulations and with frequent two weeks.” DFB and DFL conducted at the clubs. He said followed, and players could ate environment?” to complete season DPA mises,” Barber said. “We fully London appreciate why playing behind closed doors is very likely to ANOC World Beach Games moved from 2021 to 2023 Brighton & Hove Albion be a necessary compromise to chief executive Paul Barber says play our remaining games while Tribune News Network later, the ANOC Executive completing all Premier League continuing to fully support the Doha Council has decided it would fixtures using neutral venues government’s efforts to contain put too much pressure on will damage the integrity of the the spread of coronavirus. The 2021 World Beach NOCs to host the World competition. “But at this critical point in Games have been moved to Beach Games between the All football in Britain has the season, playing matches in 2023 so that nations have two Olympic Games. been suspended since March 13 neutral venues has, in our view, time to prepare their athletes “Of course, the World because of the coronavirus pan- potential to have a material ef- for the rescheduled Olympics Beach Games involves dif- demic with nine ronds of Pre- fect on the integrity of the com- in 2021, the Association of ferent athletes and differ- mier League games left to play. petition.” National Olympic Commit- ent sports from the Olympic The Premier League met Brighton have home games tees (ANOC) said on Friday. Games, but ultimately it is via conference call on Friday to against top opposition in league The Olympic Games, the same NOCs who have to discuss possible plans of action leaders Liverpool, Manchester originally scheduled to start prepare the teams.” when the league is resumed, United and Arsenal. Barber says in July this year in Tokyo, The ANOC said it was one of which was using neutral a neutral venue without fans have been postponed to July also revising the bidding venues where reportedly “up to would be a disadvantage. 23-Aug. 8, 2021 due to the process which will be reo- 10 stadiums may be used.” “The disadvantages of us COVID-19 pandemic that pened next year. All 20 clubs “reconfirmed not playing the league’s top has infected more than 3.29 The 2019 Doha Beach their commitment” to finish- teams in our home stadium million people worldwide Qatar hosted the inaugural Doha Beach Games in 2019 which had 36 events in 13 sports. Games had 36 events in 13 ing the season in Friday’s are very obvious,” he said. “We and killed nearly 233,000. sports, including beach soc- meeting, but Barber said late must accept there may also be The ANOC had opened National Olympic Commit- to ensure that we continue to said in a statement. cer and 4x4 beach volley- Saturday that Brighton are some benefit from playing our a bidding process to find a tees (NOCs) could also pre- listen to our NOCs and de- “With Tokyo 2020 now ball, with Spain topping the “not in favour” of the neutral remaining four away matches host for the Beach Games in pare for the Winter Olym- liver an event that is in their scheduled for next year and medal tally with seven gold venues proposal. at neutral venues but the fixture January before deciding to pics in 2022. best interests,” ANOC’s act- then Beijing 2022 taking medals followed by Brazil “Clearly, we must all be pre- list simply isn’t equally balanced move the event to 2023 so “We have a responsibility ing president Robin Mitchell place just over six months and Italy. pared to accept some compro- at this stage of the season.”