Japan decides to hold Tokyo Olympics without foreign spectators
Tokyo, March 9: The Japanese government has decided to hold Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics this summer without foreign spectators amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the Kyodo news agency reported on Tuesday, citing officials familiar with the matter. The Japanese organizers are expected to hold an online meeting with the International Olympic Committee later in March to make a formal decision on the issue, according to Kyodo. Officials told the news agency on condition of anonymity that Japanese authorities concluded that it is impossible to host fans from abroad during the games as the threat of the COVID-19 pandemic is high. Earlier in the day, the NHK broadcaster reported that the opening ceremony of the Olympic torch relay, scheduled for March 25, may also be held without spectators to prevent transmission of COVID-19. Originally scheduled for 2020, the Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo was postponed until 2021 due to the pandemic. They are currently planned to take place from July 23 to August 8. (SPUTNIK)
Neymar to miss Champions League match against Barcelona
Paris, March 9: Neymar will miss Paris Saint-Germain’s Champions League match against Barcelona because he has not fully recovered from injury, the club said Tuesday.
PSG heads into Wednesday’s game with a 4-1 lead from the first leg, which Neymar also missed against his former club after sustaining an adductor muscle injury on Feb. 11 while playing against Marseille. He only resumed light training with the squad last week. PSG said Neymar’s condition will be reassessed in the next few days. Striker Moise Kean will also miss Wednesday’s game while he continues his recovery from COVID-19. (AP)
Real Betis comeback to beat Alavés 3-2 in Spanish league
Madrid, March 9: Real Betis rallied from two goals down to defeat Alavés 3-2 in the Spanish league, staying in the fight for European qualification spots. Betis’ fourth victory in a row on Monday moved the club within three points of fifth-placed Real Sociedad and six points from fourth-placed Sevilla. Betis visits Sevilla in the Seville derby on Sunday. Joselu and Édgar Méndez put Alavés ahead with a goal each in the first half, but the hosts rallied with Borja Iglesias scoring in the 61st and 88th minutes and Joaquín Sánchez adding a goal in the 81st. It was the fourth straight loss for Alavés, which stayed second-to-last in the 20-team standings, two points from safety. It has only one win in its last 12 league games. (AP)
Batsman Marcus Harris suspended for one match by CA
Sydney, March 9: Batsman Marcus Harris is set to miss Victoria’s Marsh Cup match against Tasmania on Wednesday after receiving a one-match suspension from Cricket Australia. Harris was charged with abuse of equipment during Victoria’s Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania on March 5. “Victoria player Marcus Harris has been suspended for one match after accepting a charge for abuse of equipment during his side’s Marsh Sheffield Shield match against Tasmania on March 5,” said Cricket Australia in its statement. “Harris was found guilty of a Level 1 offence under the Cricket Australia Code of Conduct and accepted a penalty of one suspension point and 50 per cent of his match fee. The offence was Harris’ second in an 18-month period,” it further said. (IANS)
Women’s relay to conclude 2022 Athletics WC
London, March 9: The 2022 World Championship will end with the women’s 4x400m relay, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe hassaid. World Athletics announced on International Women’s Day that they have launched a campaign called “WeGrowAthletics”. As part of the campaign to break traditions with unconscious gender bias, the World Championship will wrap up with the women’s event for the first time in the US’ Oregon. In the aim of growing the number of women in leadership positions and achieving a gender balanced council by 2027, World Athletics took a first step towards the goal at the 2019 elections where they appointed their first female vice president, a voting female and male athlete on council and increased female representation on council to 30 per cent. (IANS)
Germany coach Joachim Low to step down from position
Berlin, March 9: The German Football Association (DFB) confirmed on Tuesday that Joachim Low has decided to end his tenure as national coach after the European Championship this coming summer. Low requested to prematurely terminate his contract, previously set to expire after the 2022 World Cup, immediately after the end of 2020 EUROs, which were postponed until summer 2021 over COVID-19. He led Germany to victory at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. (SPUTNIK)