Andy Murray says he ‘would play’ September French Open, if it goes ahead FRIDAY, APRIL 24, 2020 QOC submits intention to bid for 2030 Asian Games a fantastic Asian Games. We want Host city to be chosen to put our experience and resources at OCA Gen Assembly at the service of Asian sport. Work- ing with all our friends in the Asian in China on Nov 29th NOC family, we would provide the best platform to showcase their TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK athletes and inspire the youth of DOHA Asia.” Asian Games in 2006 and we AFP adds: The Olympic Council THE Qatar Olympic Committee believe it is time to bid again and for Asia (OCA) invited bids for the (QOC) has submitted its intention welcome Asia back to our coun- 2030 Games from its 45 members to bid for the 21st Asian Games try. The Doha of today is very dif- by Wednesday. 2030, as it looks to build on its ferent to the Doha of 2006 and “The OCA is delighted to re- impressive track record of hosting the Doha of 2030 will be even ceive two strong bids for our Asian world-class international sporting more advanced. Athletes, NOCs, Games in 2030,” OCA president events. fans and all stakeholders can Ahmad al-Sabah, said in the state- Qatar last hosted the Asian be assured of the very highest ment. Games in 2006, which served as Qatar had played host to the 15th Asian Games in 2006. standards. “It... further enhances our repu- a catalyst for a period of unprec- “We have had the privilege of tation of hosting world-class sport- edented growth and development bin Hamad al Thani, Qatar has sports venues and facilities. of the Qatar Government, is fully hosting many prestigious sports ing events on a major scale.” of sport within the country. amassed an extensive knowledge QOC President HE Sheikh committed to bidding to host the events and we humbly believe that The host city will be selected at Under the leadership of His in sports event planning and de- Joaan bin Hamad al Thani said: 21st Asian Games. We had the hon- we have developed the expertise the OCA General Assembly meet- Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim veloped a wealth state-of-the-art “The QOC, with the total support our of hosting the and infrastructure to be able to host ing in China on November 29. Three more Diamond League meets Impossible to delay Olympics off; ‘Impossible Games’ in Oslo DPA the elite series would now be at holder Renaud Lavillenie who BERLIN the July 4/5 meet in London. jumps in his garden at home in again, says Tokyo chief World Athletics said it France. THREE more Diamond League would come up with a revised There are further events meetings are off during the calendar “as soon as the extraor- scheduled at Bislett and organ- AFP coronavirus crisis to further de- dinary global situation makes izers also said they were in “a TOKYO lay the start of the elite athletics a reliable plan possible” as “a positive dialogue” to bring in series, while organizers of one structured season” remains the Team Ingebrigtsen, the middle THE Tokyo 2020 Olympics of them, in Oslo, announced goal for 2020. But Oslo organis- and long distance runners Ja- cannot be delayed beyond an alternative exhibition event ers announced the “Impossible kob, Filip and Henrik. the year-long postponement named “Impossible Games.” Games” to replace the Diamond “Congratulations to the Oslo already forced by the coro- The governing body World League meet on their June 11 Bislett Games for dreaming this navirus outbreak, the organ- Athletics said that the meets in slot. up and following it through, ising committee’s president Eugene (June 7), Oslo (June 11) Norwegian 400m hurdles working within the pandemic has warned in comments and Paris (June 13) could not be world champion Karsten War- guidelines set out in Norway,” published on Thursday. held. holm is to participate in a 300m World Athletics president Se- Tokyo 2020 president They join six events from hurdles world record attempt. bastian Coe said. Yoshiro Mori said there is Doha, Shanghai, another Chi- Swedish pole vault world record Coe said Oslo will get their “absolutely no” chance of nese venue, Stockholm, Naples/ holder Armand Duplantis will full 50,000 dollars Diamond postponing the Games be- Rome and Rabat which also had compete against Norway’s Son- League payment from WA, as yond their rescheduled July to be postponed. dre Guttormsen in the stadium, long as the full sum is used as 23, 2021 opening, according The earliest possible start of and against ex-world record event prize money. to Kyodo News agency. “Also thinking about ath- letes and issues over Games management, it is techni- cally difficult to delay it by Premier League matches could two years,” Mori was quoted as saying. Mori said he had earlier return on free-to-air television asked Prime Minister Shinzo AFP Abe whether Japan should LONDON consider a two-year post- ponement but “the prime THE Premier League is con- minister decided that one The coronavirus pandemic has forced the unprecedented postponement of the Tokyo 2020 Games. (AFP) sidering screening some be- year is the way to go”. hind-closed-doors matches on Under heavy pressure “To be honest with you, I quarters had tested positive free-to-air television in Britain from athletes and sports Tokyo 2020 president don’t think the Olympics is for the disease. when the season restarts, the associations, Japanese or- Yoshiro Mori said there is likely to be held next year,” Postponing the Games is culture secretary has said. ganisers and the Interna- “absolutely no” chance of said Kentaro Iwata, a profes- a massive logistical under- Sky Sports and BT hold the tional Olympic Committee in postponing the Games sor of infectious diseases at taking, and expected to incur UK television rights for live March agreed to a year-long Kobe University. significant additional costs. Premier League matches in The Premier League is suspended due to the coronavirus. postponement of the Games. beyond their rescheduled He said holding the Kyodo News quoted Mori what remains of the 2019/20 Organisers and Japa- July 23, 2021 opening. Games would require not as saying the opening and season, which is currently sus- being relaxed. of the first major sports to re- nese officials have said the only Japan but also the rest closing ceremonies would pended due to the coronavirus Discussing how sport sume behind closed doors and delayed Olympics will be Earlier this week, a Japa- of the world to have the virus need to undergo “drastic re- pandemic. would be broadcast if held be- the public at large couldn’t a chance to showcase the nese expert who has criti- under control. views” in order to cut costs, Culture Secretary Oliver hind closed doors, he told the have access to it.” But Dow- world’s triumph over the cised the country’s response The organising commit- adding that organisers would Dowden said there had been Commons Digital, Culture, den, who spoke to the lawmak- coronavirus, but questions to the coronavirus warned he tee itself has been hit the vi- ask the ceremonies’ directors “productive conversations” Media and Sport committee: ers on Wednesday, refused to have arisen about whether is “very pessimistic” that the rus, saying Wednesday that to consider including a mes- with sporting bodies about “I have said to the Premier speculate further on which even a year’s postponement postponed Olympics can be a staff member in his 30s sage about the coronavirus how they would resume activ- League it wouldn’t send the platforms would broadcast the is sufficient. held in 2021. working at its Tokyo head- crisis. ity in the event of restrictions best signal if they were one games. Players back Federer Kasparov to play in new Online Nations Cup over tennis merger the team line-ups must in- has to be conducted online AFP from King, Nadal and leading Will play Kramnik in clude at least one female are very unfortunate. But we PARIS women’s players such as for- online world team player.” are happy to see that chess is mer Wimbledon champions Chess remains one of the providing solace to millions WTA founder Billie Jean Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova tournament few games continuing, albeit of people who are under a King and Rafael Nadal led a and Garbine Muguruza, but only online, after the corona- home lockdown.” wave of support on Thursday controversial Australian Nick AFP virus pandemic wrecked the The event, co-or- for Roger Federer’s sugges- Kyrgios expressed reserva- NEW DELHI 2020 global sports calendar, ganised by FIDE and tion that “now is the time” tions. including the Tokyo Olym- the leading chess-playing to merge the men’s and “Just wondering... am I CHESS legends including pics which has been post- platform Chess.com, is ex- women’s governing bodies, the only one thinking that Russia’s Garry Kasparov and poned until next year. pected to feature teams while tennis is at a standstill now is the time for men’s and Vladimir Kramnik will next The Candidates tourna- comprising top players from because of the coronavirus women’s tennis to be united month take part in a new on- ment had to be halted mid- China, India, Russia, the US, pandemic. and come together as one?” line world team tournament way in March while the Chess Europe and the “Rest of the Federer, winner of a re- Federer posed to his 12.7 mil- as the game makes moves to Olympiad, which was sup- World”.