Sports — International

Celtics guard Smart ‘corona-free’, 10 days after positive test

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart, who tested positive for the new coronavirus 10 days ago, has been cleared by American health officials, he announced Sunday on Twitter. “Corona Free as of two days ago. Cleared by Mass (Massachusetts) Dept of Health,” Smart wrote on social media. “Thanks for everyone’s thoughts and prayers and I’m doing the same for everyone that’s been affected by this. Stay safe and stay together- […]

Nadal, Gasol launch fundraiser to pay back debt to COVID hit Spain

MADRID, Spain (AFP) — Spanish sports stars Rafael Nadal and Pau Gasol launched a fund-raising drive on Thursday explaining they wanted to give something back to the coronavirus hit nation that nurtured them to greatness. Tennis ace Nadal and NBA hero Gasol have targeted raising 11 million euros ($12.3million) in the nation that has suffered the second-highest total of coronavirus deaths. “The Spanish people have never let us athletes down. We are what we are […]

NBA Pistons forward Wood cleared from coronavirus: reports

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Detroit Pistons forward Christian Wood has become the first publicly known NBA player to be cleared after testing positive for coronavirus, according to multiple media reports Thursday. Wood tested positive for the virus on March 15 but has been cleared, unnamed sources told The Athletic and ESPN, while Wood’s agent, Adam Pensack told the Detroit Free Press that Woods is “feeling great and fully recovered.” The 24-year-old American, on his […]

James ‘bummed’ to miss Cleveland return amid COVID-19 lockdown

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James, musing on the potential permutations of an NBA return in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, reiterated in a podcast aired Thursday he wouldn’t relish competing without fans in the stands. “What is the word ‘sport’ without ‘fan’?” James said on the “Road Trippin’” podcast put out via his Uninterrupted multimedia platform. “There’s no excitement. There’s no crying. There’s no joy. There’s no […]

Federer donates $1 million to vulnerable Swiss in virus crisis

GENEVA, Switzerland (AFP) — Tennis great Roger Federer on Wednesday donated more than a million dollars to help support his “most vulnerable” Swiss compatriots through the coronavirus crisis. The 20-time Grand Slam champion and his wife donated one million Swiss francs ($1.02 million, 943,000 euros), saying nobody should be left behind as Switzerland battles against the global pandemic. According to official figures reported to the World Health Organization, Switzerland has the ninth-highest number of infections […]

Two weeks after NBA shutdown, US sports landscape barren

by Jim SLATER WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Imagine a Masters with fall foliage instead of spring flowers, an NBA Finals just weeks before the usual pre-season training camps and a neutral-site World Series in a warm vacation getaway. Those are just some of the options being eyed by American sports event organizers planning for a return after the coronavirus pandemic eases. Barren months are on the horizon just two weeks after the NBA launched […]

McGregor gives one million euros for protective hospital equipment

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — UFC star Conor McGregor has spent one million euros on protective equipment for hospital staff treating patients with the coronavirus in Ireland. McGregor sent a message to the Republic of Ireland’s Minister for Finance Paschal Donohoe and revealed the contents on his Twitter page. Donohoe had written to McGregor asking him to tell his 7.9 million Twitter followers to practice social distancing. “Today I am purchasing myself, one million euro […]

NBA center Towns reveals mother in coma in emotional video

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — NBA star center Karl-Anthony Towns revealed in an Instagram video Wednesday that his mother has been hospitalized for a week and is in a coma with what he thinks is coronavirus. The 24-year-old Dominican-American, the top pick of the 2015 NBA Draft by the Minnesota Timberwolves, said his mother had to be placed in a medically induced coma and has been put on a ventilator. “It’s important that everyone understands the […]

Clippers owner says, he has agreement to buy Los Angeles Forum arena

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Clippers owner Steve Ballmer said Tuesday he’d reached an agreement to purchase the iconic Los Angeles Forum, eliminating a hurdle in his plan to build a new arena for his NBA team nearby. Ballmer said the venue in the suburb of Inglewood would be purchased from Madison Square Garden Company by a newly created company called CAPSS LLC, a joint venture of Ballmer and Clippers vice chairman Dennis Wong. […]

In Japan, disappointment but understanding over postponed Olympics

by Harumi OZAWA TOKYO, Japan (AFP) — Japanese citizens reacted with bitter disappointment Tuesday at the news their Olympics were postponed after years of preparation but many said they understood the move in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Tokyo’s famous Shibuya crossing was thronged with late-night crowds of young people following the announcement, as Japan has not been subject to the same movement restrictions imposed on much of the rest of the world. Earlier in […]

Tokyo Olympics postponed to 2021: IOC

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AFP) — The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have been postponed to no later than the summer of 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic sweeping the globe, the International Olympic Committee announced Tuesday. The Games were scheduled for July 24-August 9, but after telephone discussions between IOC president Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, a historic joint decision was taken for the first postponement of an Olympics in peacetime. Abe had earlier said […]

Fate of Olympic torch relay in balance as virus worsens

  TOKYO, Olympics (AFP) — The Olympic torch relay, due to begin Thursday from a symbolic site in Fukushima, will proceed as scheduled but organizers said they would re-assess in the coming days given the “worsening” coronavirus situation. “The torch relay will start on March 26 in Fukushima, the plan has not changed,” Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto told reporters, a day after the International Olympic Committee said it was considering postponing the Games due […]