Al Arabi sweep past Al Ahli to make Amir Cup semi-final PAGE 14 THURSDAY, MARCH 12, 2020 Tokyo 2020 organisers insist Olympics on despite virus ‘concern’ AFP “I didn’t say it won’t, I think measures to take in case of “From the viewpoint of TOKYO there will be,” he said. postponement.” athletes who are the main pro- But “as the organising com- tagonists in the Tokyo Games, PREPARATIONS for the Tokyo mittee, it is only natural for us ‘Inconceivable to cancel’ as they are making adjust- 2020 Olympics this summer to move forward with our work Mori said a postponement was ments and preparations for this are going ahead “as scheduled,” as scheduled,” Mori added. impractical, noting that many once-in-four-years event... it is organisers insisted on Wednes- He said the World Health of the Olympic venues might inconceivable to cancel or post- day, while acknowledging they Organization, which has been not be available in two years. pone,” she told a parliament are “concerned” about the consulting with the Interna- “This is not something that committee. spread of the new coronavirus. tional Olympic Committee you can delay one or two years She conceded that “it is the Tokyo 2020 president (IOC) and organisers in Tokyo, and make it happen,” he said. IOC (International Olympic Yoshiro Mori made the com- was expected to announce its “Honestly I thought the Committee) who will make a ments after a member of the “basic thoughts soon”. statement was out of line,” he final decision on the Games”. organisers’ executive board Mori’s comments came at a said of Takahashi’s remarks, “We think it is important sounded the alarm on the virus hastily organised briefing called adding he had asked him to that the government gives cor- outbreak, warning postponing after executive board member consider his comments more rect information so that the the Games for two years might Haruyuki Takahashi made a carefully. IOC makes an appropriate de- be the best option under the splash in interviews warning The organisers also dis- cision,” she added. circumstances. that preparations should be tanced themselves from Taka- The rapid spread of the vi- But Mori dismissed that made for a postponement. hashi’s remarks in a statement, rus, which has infected more option, as did Japanese Olym- Takahashi told Japan’s stressing that the IOC has con- than 560 people and been pic minister Seiko Hashimoto, Asahi Shimbun daily it would sistently said the Games are go- linked to 12 deaths in Japan, who told a parliament com- be ideal to hold the Olympics as ing ahead as scheduled. has already cast a shadow over mittee that postponing or can- planned but “there has to be an “We sought clarification preparations for the Games. celling the Games was “incon- alternative plan.” A man wearing a face mask walks in the tunnel of a metro station with the board of the official 2020 from Mr. Takahashi. He stated Test events have been al- ceivable.” “The coronavirus has be- Summer Olympics in Tokyo on Wednesday. Japan and Olympic organisers are at pains to insist this he had inadvertently given his tered, qualifiers affected, and “Of course we are con- come a global problem. We summer’s Games in Tokyo are on, despite the new coronavirus outbreak. (AFP) personal opinion in response to the Olympic torch ceremonies cerned,” Mori told reporters, can’t just hold it (the Olympics) a hypothetical question,” they are being scaled back. conceding the outbreak that because Japan is OK,” he told ment, given the international be “impossible” to cancel the raise the issue at a board meet- said. The hugely popular high- has infected more than 117,339 the daily. sporting calendar, adding that Games altogether, and said he ing later this month. And Olympic minister school baseball tournament people worldwide and caused He said the summer two “preparation must start now” if was speaking out as “a warning “It needs to face the cur- Hashimoto also said altera- was the latest victim of the vi- 4,251 deaths will have some ef- years from now “offers the best a delay is on the cards. bell” for the organising com- rent situation and consider, tions to the schedule were not rus, organisers announced on fect on the Games. possibility” for a postpone- He insisted that it would mittee, adding that he would with sports associations, on the cards. Wednesday. The chase begins for Hamilton as F1 start overshadowed AFP MELBOURNE Mercedes’ British Lewis Hamilton Members of the Haas F1 team pictured at the Albert Park circuit ahead of the Formula One Australian LEWIS Hamilton believes his Grand Prix in Melbourne on Wednesday. (AFP) all-conquering Mercedes is will launch his bid to equal even better than last year as he Michael Schumacher’s total of begins his bid to equal Michael seven world championships and Formula One team staff tested Schumacher’s record seven break a clutch of other F1 records world titles at an Australian when the Australian Grand Prix Grand Prix given the green light despite rising coronavi- opens the 2020 season on Friday. for virus at Australian Grand Prix rus fears. The British driver has been AFP bert Park circuit in Melbourne house Ferrari and AlphaTauri the dominant force in recent MELBOURNE as the teams prepare for the from their bases in Italy, which times, winning five of the last race on Sunday. It is not clear is now in lockdown to halt the six drivers’ championships, THREE Formula One team what it might mean for the spread of the disease. including in 2019 when he staff members have been iso- grand prix if the results are Australia banned travel passed legendary five-time lated at the Australian Grand positive. from Italy Wednesday and Argentine champion Juan Ma- Prix while tests are conducted Victorian state Premier opened a US$1.6 billion nuel Fangio on the all-time list. for the new coronavirus, offi- Daniel Andrews on Tuesday healthcare war chest in a bid “It’s been intense, with a cials said on Wednesday, cast- said it was only a matter of to slow the spread of coro- huge amount of work from ing a shadow over the opening time before large sporting and navirus, as locally detected everybody at the track and race of the year. cultural events were cancelled, infections hit 124. Three peo- back home at the factories,” Two were from the Haas F1 but that that stage had not ple have died. Victoria state, the 35-year-old said of prepa- team and one from McLaren. been reached yet. where the race is being held, rations overshadowed by con- “Two personnel were Earlier this week, Australi- has 21 infections. cerns about the virus and its showing some symptoms so an Grand Prix Corporation boss With concerns growing, impact on the sport. they got themselves checked Andrew Westacott ruled out race chiefs said drivers would “The car’s feeling like a out and have put themselves the race following the lead of not take part in autograph ses- step forward from last year,” A file photo of Mercedes’ British driver Lewis Hamilton celebrating his win at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu into self-isolation, as they Bahrain by barring spectators, sions or pose for selfies, while Hamilton added after pre-sea- Dhabi after the final race of the 2019 Formula One Grand Prix season.(AFP) should, while they await re- with hundreds of thousands ex- Renault’s Daniel Ricciardo son testing. sults,” a Haas official told AFP. pected over the weekend. and Esteban Ocon pulled out “But it’s clear we’ve still ‘I can beat anyone’ notto said after testing that Verstappen ‘ready’ A McLaren official added: The Chinese Grand Prix is of scheduled press conference got a few issues we need to Mercedes head into the race Ferrari’s new engine was Binotto insisted the two Fer- “We can confirm that one the only race to be postponed on Wednesday. iron out,” said the driver who with a new dual-axis steering “not as strong” as last year, rari drivers would start on an team member has self-isolated so far, although the first three Over the weekend, For- won 11 of last season’s 21 system (DAS), which has in- bad news for the Scuderia as equal footing, a stance Vettel in the hotel as a precaution, stops on the MotoGP calen- mula One’s governing body, Grands Prix. evitably sparked complaints they chase a first drivers’ title accepted after a 2019 season in line with our policy, after dar, in Qatar, Thailand and the International Automo- There were fears the Mel- from other teams over wheth- since 2007. where he won only once, in showing symptoms similar the United States, have been bile Federation, said it was bourne race may be ditched due er it is legal. But with Italy one of the Singapore. “I don’t see Charles to coronavirus. We expect to either delayed or cancelled. establishing what it called to travel restrictions affecting While Hamilton has taken countries worst-hit by the cor- going up and me going down. receive the results overnight. a “crisis cell” to meet every team personnel, particularly every pole at Albert Park since onavirus, he wants Ferrari to We have the same car and, The team is operating as per Selfie ban two days to monitor the rap- from Italy-based Ferrari. 2014, he has won just once in “put a smile on people’s faces” for me, it doesn’t change any- our normal schedule.” All Formula One teams are in idly increasing global threat On Wednesday, two Haas that time, and it was teammate this weekend.