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Tour de France organisers scramble to save cycling's crown jewel
PARIS:
Tour de France organisers are working to find a new start date for cycling’s biggest race after large public gatherings were banned until mid-July in the latest extension of the French coronavirus lockdown.
Originally slated to start from Nice on June 27 and finish in Paris on July 19, there is no chance the event can go ahead as planned and organisers face a mammoth logistical task ... |
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Cycling faces economic 'meltdown' if Tour de France cancelled
PARIS:
The Tour de France is not only a French monument, but also the economic heartbeat of professional cycling itself and analysts fear heavy consequences if the coronavirus crisis forces its cancellation.
An announcement is expected this week on either a postponement or an outright cancellation of the 21-day extravaganza that is currently scheduled to start in Nice on June 27.
The “Gr... |
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Coronavirus may prove virtual sports game changer
LONDON:
With an unprecedented captive audience of three billion people in coronavirus lockdown virtual sports events are wooing fans after traditional live sports were shut down and public gatherings banned in many countries.
Horse-racing, boxing, cycling, football and motor-racing chiefs are desperate to maintain their fanbase and are scrambling to provide a fix and maintain revenues.
W... |
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Pandemic forces postponement of Canadian F1 Grand Prix
MONTREAL:
The June 14 Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal joined a growing list of Formula One races postponed due to the new coronavirus pandemic on Tuesday, with the 2020 season yet to get on the starting grid.
The race is the ninth to be affected by the virus, with the March 15 season-opening Australian Grand Prix cancelled along with May’s showcase Monaco Grand Prix.
Commercial rights hold... |
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Formula One in 'very fragile state', warns McLaren boss Brown
LONDON:
McLaren boss Zak Brown said Sunday that the coronavirus pandemic has plunged Formula One into “a very fragile state”, warning that as many as four teams could even be driven out of business.
The 2020 world championship has been unable to start with eight races of a scheduled 22 already either scrapped or postponed.
“This is potentially devastating to teams, and if (it is devastat... |
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Belgium set to become 1st European country to end football league season
Belgium is set to be the first country in Europe to officially end its football league with Club Brugge, based in the national capital of the country, set to be declared champions.
Brugge are 15 points ahead of the second placed Gent with one game to go before the season-end playoffs.
Brugge would also qualify as Belgium's entry to the UEFA Champions League next season.
The Belgian Pro Le... |
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Tennis stars devastated as Wimbledon cancelled
LONDON:
Roger Federer and Serena Williams were among the tennis stars left devastated on Wednesday as Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War II due to the coronavirus.
The cancellation of the oldest Grand Slam tournament at London’s All England Club leaves the season in disarray, with no tennis set to be played until mid-July.
“Devastated,” tweeted eight-time champion F... |
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Kobe's towel from finale sells for $33K in online auction
LONDON:
The towel that was draped over the shoulders of Kobe Bryant during his farewell speech following his final NBA game sold for over $33,000 at an online auction, CNN reported on Sunday.
The Lakers star ended his speech at Staples Center in Los Angeles with his trademark “Mamba Out” before walking off the court. A fan grabbed the towel, beginning a stretch in which that souvenir has been... |
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Footballers could face mass layoffs over coronavirus, warns FIFPRO
LONDON / LONDON:
Football is facing its first economic crisis for decades with the prospect of mass layoffs of players if nothing is done to bail out clubs left without matches by the coronavirus pandemic, the global players’ union FIFPRO said on Tuesday.
Professional football has been wiped off the map for weeks, maybe months, after all the major leagues, cups and international competitions ... |
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Tokyo 2020: Olympic and Paralympic Games postponed because of coronavirus
The Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games have been postponed until next year because of the worldwide coronavirus pandemic.
The event, due to begin on 24 July, will now take place "no later than summer 2021".
"I proposed to postpone for a year and [IOC] president Thomas Bach responded with 100% agreement," said Shinzo Abe, Japan's Prime Minister.
The event will still be called Tokyo 20... |
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