• Abstract and Figures
• Public Full-text

CRICKET | Page 2 NBA | Page 3 England Coaches intent confirm on using ‘power WI Test series and platform to in July affect change’ Wednesday, June 3, 2020 FOOTBALL Shawwal 11, 1441 AH FIFA adds voice to GULF TIMES protests over Floyd’s death SPORT Page 4 MOTORSPORT F1 unveils 8-race schedule Spielberg, Silverstone to in Europe from July 5 host two races each AFP Paris REVISED CALENDAR July 3-5: Austrian Grand Prix he curtailed Formula One sea- (Spielberg) son will start with two races July 10-12: Styrian Grand Prix behind closed doors in Austria (Spielberg) on July 5 and July 12 followed July 17-19: Hungarian Grand Prix T (Budapest) by six other grands prix in Europe, the organisers said yesterday. July 31-August 2: British Grand Prix Formula One said it hoped to have (Silverstone) between 15 and 18 races in total, with the August 7-9: 70th Anniversary Grand season being completed in December. Prix (Silverstone) The F1 season was thrown into chaos August 14-16: Spanish Grand Prix with the cancellation of the traditional (Barcelona) curtain-raising Australian Grand Prix August 28-30: Belgian Grand Prix in March only hours before practice was (Spa-Francorchamps) due to begin as the coronavirus pan- September 4-6: Italian Grand Prix demic spread across the world. (Monza) Last week, the Austrian govern- ment sanctioned the season-opening Grands Prix will take place on their double-header at the Spielberg circuit original dates of August 30 and Sep- after F1 organisers “presented a com- tember 6, completing the European plete and professional plan” to combat part of the season. Each event will also the Covid-19 outbreak. The Hungarian include the Formula 2 and Formula 3 Grand Prix will be brought forward to categories. July 19 before a two-week break, fol- The blueprint for the rehashed sea- lowed by consecutive races in Britain son features further races in Asia and and events in Spain, Italy and Belgium. the Americas in September, October All will likely be run without spec- and November before finishing in the tators while participants must ad- Gulf in Bahrain and Abu Dhabi in De- here to strict safety protocols. Regular cember. health tests will be conducted with The 2020 season was to have fea- the number of team members and race tured a record 22 races, now it is set staff at the venue also reduced. to be the shortest campaign since “While we currently expect the 2009 with races in Australia, Monaco, season to commence without fans at France and the Netherlands cancelled. our races we hope that over the com- MotoGP is also expected to release ing months the situation will allow us A display of the trophies before the first practice session for the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 13, 2020. (AFP) an updated schedule shortly. to welcome them back once it is safe The first 11 races of the season have to do,” said F1 chief executive Chase made it a “logical” choice to stage the demic that has killed less than 700 team principal Christian Horner. some positive momentum. As a race been either postponed or cancelled Carey. season’s first two races. people in Austria, and more than over “It has been a huge effort by all in- team and racers, we are excited to get due to the global health crisis. MotoGP “But we know the return of Formula 375,000 worldwide. volved and the two events at the Red going again and put on a show for our organisers Dorna are awaiting Spanish 1 will be a welcome boost to sports fans ‘BLUEPRINT TO FOLLOW’ “Red Bull have pulled out all the Bull Ring will be a blueprint for all oth- fans.” Silverstone will host two races government approval to start the trun- around the world.” F1 managing di- With a local airport, the races can be stops to get the Austrian Grand Prix up er races to follow. in Britain on August 2 and 9, with the cated season with back-to-back races rector Ross Brawn last month said the held in an isolated environment, es- and running, in order to support a safe He added: “With the first eight races Spanish Grand Prix set for Barcelona at the Jerez circuit in Spain on July 19 Red Bull Ring circuit’s remote location sential in the fight against the pan- start to the Formula One season,” said of the calendar now confirmed we have on August 16. The Belgian and Italian and 26. FOCUS ‘This is our generation’s challenge of a lifetime and we must remain patient and united to overcome it’ By Samuel Eto’o indoors. For many of them, football is later and said: “You are so good, I saw take the small things in life for granted Qatar2022.qa their outlet – from poverty, from lone- your match today. I’m going to talk to again’. liness, from sadness – and to take it your mother so you can keep playing.” There are many things that will away is heartbreaking. But it’s a sacri- That is how he gave me a pass to keep help us get through this. Small acts of o far, 2020 has been a year like fice that must be made in order to help playing. I was about 12 or 13 years old. kindness, for neighbours, for friends, no other in our lifetime. As the most vulnerable in our societies. From that moment on there was no for loved ones can mean the world to Covid-19 sweeps through con- looking back. I had the blessing of my people who may be feeling lonely, cut Stinents, countries and commu- MY CHILDHOOD WAS FOOTBALL, father and you could not keep me off off, bored or inactive. Once things im- nities in every corner of the world, it is FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL that football pitch. Day or night. From prove, sport – in particular football – fair to say that our generation has never During the pandemic, I have been there, it was one or two years before I will play a huge role in uniting people faced anything like this before. thinking about the wonderful memo- went to Europe, and my life changed again and lifting spirits. So, before I begin this piece, I would ries football brought me during my forever. It has also been heartening to see like to send my thoughts and prayers to childhood. I lived and breathed foot- so many initiatives taking off online. everyone who has been affected by this ball – but my parents were very hard OVERCOMING ADVERSITY I saw Generation Amazing’s virtual terrible virus, and express my gratitude on me. In the present, we must only think training sessions that started recently. to all of those working in key sectors to They did not accept the fact that I about getting through this time to- As I mentioned above, having football look after those who are sick – espe- played football because to them foot- gether. As a child – like millions of taken away as a kid would have been cially the frontline healthcare workers ball was something children played if others – I learned how to overcome unthinkable to me, so it is admirable who are risking their lives every day for tournaments and events have right- FOOTBALL WAS MY OUTLET they didn’t go to school. I was obvi- adversity; challenges that felt like they that Generation Amazing – which I am the rest of us. fully been postponed across the world. I think back to my own childhood ously going to school and I was not a would never end, tunnels that didn’t proud to call myself an ambassador for And a word of praise too for those in While this is obviously a necessary in Africa. I was born into a family of bad student, but I had a passion, which seem to have a light at the end and, at – has been so proactive in ensuring the other jobs – supermarket and phar- measure, I feel it is important – while seven. I grew up in a town not far from was football. times in new countries, isolation. young people of Qatar and around the macy workers, cleaners, aviation staff never wishing to trivialise matters – to Yaoundé, the political capital of Cam- I vividly remember one day I played These are all feelings and emotions world have an outlet to exercise, play and many other sectors; all working to say that when this is all over, we must eroon, and until I was seven or eight a game in my city and I had to hide in I’m sure many of us have been feel- football and continue to feel connected keep life as relatively normal as possible also look towards the joy that sport can years old, I lived there. Then my par- order to go play. What I didn’t know is ing recently, relating to this current to the World Cup. for the rest of us during this trouble- bring to our global community. While ents moved to Douala, which is the that my dad was with some friends in pandemic. But I think back to my at- I look forward to getting involved some time. Sports men and women are this virus has divided and isolated, economic capital, after my father took the bar in front of the field. Everything titude then, and draw upon some of with the programme again – online often described as heroes in the media, sport can unite and connect.

Load more

  5

Copy Link