IOC chief reluctant to hold Tokyo Olympics behind closed doors
Geneva: International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach on Friday reiterated their desire to hold Tokyo Olympics with spectators in the stands and not behind closed doors.The multi-national event was initially set to be hosted in July this year but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it will now take place from July 23 till August 8 in 2021.Professional sports around the world are getting back on their feet as matches are being held behind closed doors. However, Bach ruled out the idea of doing same with Olympics next year.”(Our planning) includes all different countermeasures, but no, an Olympic Games behind closed doors is clearly something we do not want,” Bach told reporters via videoconference.”So we are working for a solution which on the one hand is safeguarding the health of all the participants and on the other hand is also reflecting the Olympic spirit.”Bach had earlier conceded that Tokyo Games will have to be entirely scrapped if it cannot be held next year. Japan Prime Minister Shinzo Abe had initially raised such concerns and Bach accepted the same. (IANS)
Flamengo secure 36th Rio title
Rio de Janeiro: A late goal from former CSKA Moscow forward Vitinho gave Flamengo a 1-0 victory over Fluminense and guaranteed the club’s 36th Rio de Janeiro state title.Vitinho struck in the 94th minute at the Maracana stadium as Flamengo completed a 3-1 win over two legs on Wednesday, reports Xinhua news agency.Flamengo have dominated Brazilian football over the past 18 months, securing two Rio state league titles, the Brazilian Serie A championship and the Copa Libertadores, South America’s premier club trophy.In June, the Rio state league became the first Brazilian football competition to restart after all sports in the South American country were halted in March because of the COVID-19 pandemic.The Serie A season is scheduled to begin on August 9, three months behind its original schedule. (IANS)
Wawrinka one of the greatest: Coach
Zurich: Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka is one of the greatest players of all time, according to the 35-year-old’s long-time coach Magnus Norman.Wawrinka is one of three players, apart from Andy Murray, Marin Cilic and Juan Martin Del Potro, to have won a Grand Slam outside of the trio of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal since 2003.”Stan is one of the best players to ever play the game, if you look at his record, if you look at winning three Grand Slams, winning three different Grand Slams in the era where he had the Big Four playing,” Norman told ATP Tennis Radio. “He’s a little bit underestimated for sure … He’s had an unbelievable career.” (IANS)