Sports Reporter Doha
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OOLYMPICSLYMPICS | Page 5 GOLF| Page 8 IOC chief Johnson not to confi dent rest on his Games will laurels aft er have fans Masters win SPOTLIGHT Tuesday, November 17, 2020 Rabia II 2, 1442 AH Steve Waugh captures ‘spirit GULF TIMES of India’ through camera lens SPORT Page 4 SPOTLIGHT Strict health protocols for Champions League games ‘LIFE MUST GO ON BUT UNDER STRICT PRECAUTIONS AND UNDER CERTAIN RULES AND REGULATIONS’ By Sports Reporter Doha ollowing the successful organi- sation of the Covid-19-delayed West Zone group and knockout Fmatches of 2020 AFC Cham- pions League, Qatar is all set to step in yet again successfully as a centralised venue for the East Zone phase of Asia’s elite continental competition, asserted Qatar Football Association’s Khalid al- Kuwari, who is also the Marketing and Communications Director of the Local Organizing Committee of the 2020 AFC Champions League East Zone. “It gives utmost satisfaction to the LOC to align with the AFC and bring to Qatar the distinguished East Zone phase of the AFC Champions League Dr Abdul Wahab al-Musleh, Adviser to after successfully hosting the West Zone Minister of Public Health of Qatar on phase,” al-Kuwari said while addressing Sports Aff airs, sheds light on the Covid the media yesterday, ahead of tomor- safety policies and protocols that will be row’s kickoff . in place during the competition. The tournament will witness 15 teams battling it out across 40 matches to de- Events Division, concurred with Dr Al cide the fi nalist against Iran’s Perspolis Musleh regarding the health and safety who had won the West Zone competi- protocols, policies and implementa- tion held between 14 September and 3 tion. October. “We are happy to be back in Qatar “Life must go on but under strict following the successful organisation precautions and under certain rules and of the West Zone group and knock- regulations. The 2020 East Zone AFC out matches,” he said. “The East Zone Champions League LOC and the AFC matches will witness more or less the are co-operating in a dynamic manner same safety procedures and we are quite and are ably supported by the Govern- comfortable with it. There are some ment of Qatar in matters such as Covid changes, which are improvements after safety and testing protocols. It gives us applying the learnings from the West an opportunity to test the eff ectiveness Zone tournament. of the facilities that will be in use dur- “Participating clubs from all nations ing the tournament – fi ve bubble hotels, have been co-operating very well and four stadiums including the three fully they are all convinced that Qatar is a completed ones that will be used in the safe host nation capable of a high level 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar,” said al- of hosting standard. We have put in Kuwari. place a mechanism of working with the “The afternoon kick-off timings once Members of the Shanghai SIPG squad pictured yesterday on their arrival in Doha for the AFC Champions League’s East Zone matches. QFA and the LOC to attend to matters at again will enable us to demonstrate the the highest possible levels in all neces- effi ciency of our pioneering stadium tar as the centralised venue for the East applied here with some fi ne tunings. improvements which the East Zone at all times. “We are expecting one to sary scenarios.” cooling system which had earned a lot Zone AFC Champions League after we “We have already conducted swab tournament will witness. “During the three percent of tests conducted during The East Zone phase of the 2020 AFC of praise during the West Zone tourna- delivered a successful West Zone com- tests at the airport on the teams who West Zone tournament, we learned the tournament to give positive results. Champions League will conclude with ment, he added. petition,” said Dr al-Musleh, who is have arrived in Doha and will be doing so things as we went by. There was a breach This is in line with the general trend in the Zonal fi nal on 13 December which “Overall, I am confi dent that Qatar overseeing the health and safety aspects for all arrivals. All teams will make their of the bio-bubble by a particular team the country. will be followed by the AFC Champions will once again demonstrate its high of the East Zone competition after es- way to their designated hotel bubble. and we then had to frame a policy for “In the case of a positive test for a League Final on 19 December at the Al standards of hosting excellence on mul- saying a similar role during the West “They will be tested every three or the violation of the bio-bubble terms player or offi cial, the Isolation hotel Janoub Stadium, a venue for the 2022 tiple fronts especially the tournament Zone one as well. six days, whichever the case may be de- and conditions. facility will be provided by the govern- FIFA WC Qatar. infrastructure and the health and safety “We have a strict Covid best practices pending on whether there are positive “In the East Zone competition, we ment free of charge. Players who have Three other stadiums – Khalifa Inter- of players and offi cials.” protocol and tested it at various events cases or not. Enforcing social distancing have been able to introduce all these been in close contact will also be iso- national Stadium, Education City Sta- Dr Abdul Wahab al-Musleh, Adviser including the West Zone matches of guidelines, wearing of masks at all times policies right from the start of the com- lated in the same bubble hotel and they dium and Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in to Minister of Public Health of Qatar on the AFC Champions League,” said Dr and conducting temperature checks are petition.” can continue training and participating Al Sadd Sports Club – will also host the Sports Aff airs, shed light on the Covid al-Musleh. “We are implementing the the precautionary best practices that The eminent medical adviser added in the tournament as long as they don’t competition with Khalifa International safety policies and protocols that will be same bubble-to-bubble method for the will be seen in the East Zone matches as pragmatically that the nature of Cov- test positive.” Stadium and Education City Stadium in place during the competition. East Zone matches as well and the learn- well.” id-19 across the world is such that one Avazdek Berdikulov, AFC Deputy also being venues for the 2022 FIFA “I thank the AFC for choosing Qa- ings from the West Zone matches will be Dr al-Musleh shed light on the policy has to be prepared for positive cases Director of Competitions and Football World Cup Qatar. FRIENDLY Ooredoo Marathon postponed Ooredoo has announced the thon is one of the most popular South Korea to play Qatar despite new virus case Ooredoo Doha Marathon 2021 events on the sporting calendar has been postponed ‘in the in Doha, and it’s an incredible AFP “The KFA has decided to proceed with interests of health and safety for event every year. It’s an honour Vienna the match, after having a discussion with all participants.” for us to support it as part of the Qatar Football Association in accord- The much-anticipated annual our commitment to promoting ance with FIFA and UEFA rules that a event, which draws thousands a healthy, active lifestyle for all, on Heung-min’s South Korea said match can be played as long as a team has of international and local run- which is a key feature of our they were all set to play Qatar to- 13 Covid-free players, including at least ners and spectators each year, corporate social responsibility day in Austria despite fi nding a one goalkeeper.” was scheduled to take place in strategy. new coronavirus case among their Kwon Chang-hoon, Lee Dong-jun, January 2021. “While some sporting events are Scontingent, bringing the total to eight. Hwang In-beom, Na Sang-ho, Kim While restrictions have eased now going ahead, it was decided Tottenham Hotspur striker Son and the Moon-hwan and goalkeeper Jo Hyeon- since full lockdown earlier in the that in order to ensure every- rest of the squad had already been con- woo are the players who have tested posi- year, organisers took the view one’s health and safety – but still fi ned to their Vienna hotel rooms, when tive, the KFA earlier confi rmed to AFP. that postponing until a later put on an event of the calibre for not training, after six players and a staff Despite the positive cases, South Korea date would allow the best – and which the Marathon is known member tested positive. played Mexico on Saturday, losing 3-2, safest – possible event for all – it’s in everyone’s interests to But a new round of test results, released with Son — the most prolifi c Asian player involved. postpone until a later date. We yesterday, found no additional players and in Premier League history — laying on the A new date will be shared with look forward to sharing this new only one more staff er was positive, mean- opening goal for Hwang Ui-jo. all parties as soon as it has date with everyone as soon as ing South Korea have more than the mini- Qatar captain Hassan al-Haydos shoots during a training session in Vienna Several international footballers have been decided. Sabah Rabiah al- we can, and wish everyone the mum requirement of 13 players available.