National Sports

The Latest: NHL medical officer doesn’t see quick return

by Associated Press

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The NHL’s chief medical officer expects the coronavirus pandemic to get worse before it gets better.

Dr. Winne Meeuwisse says the virus “really just entering the rapid acceleration phase” in North America. That makes it unclear when hockey might resume.

She says the league is thankful only two players have tested positive for COVID-19 so far and its hopeful weeks of isolation will prevent more from contracting the virus. Players and staff have been told to self-quarantine until at least April 4.

There is

The Latest: Kentucky Derby prep at NY’s Aqueduct postponed

by Associated Press

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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Aqueduct has extended the suspension of live horse racing through at least April 5 because of the impact of the new coronavirus in New York.

As a result, the $750,000 Wood Memorial has been postponed. No make-up date has been determined yet for the major Kentucky Derby prep that was to be run on April 4.

Last Thursday, the New York Racing Association suspended racing at Aqueduct after confirmation that a backstretch worker who lived and worked at Belmont Park tested positive for COVID-19. The Belmont

Update on the latest sports

by Associated Press

VIRUS OUTBREAK-SPORTS

IOC chief invokes Trump in defense of Olympic decision

UNDATED (AP) — A day after postponing the Tokyo Olympics, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach is invoking comments by President Donald Trump to defend himself from criticism.

Bach spoke to about 400 reporters on a conference call and was asked why it took so long to postpone the Tokyo Games amid growing concern among athletes about the coronavirus pandemic. He noted that many governments have imposed social limits only into next month or early May, and pointed to Trump’s hope of easing

The Latest: Belgian soccer asks clubs to avoid unemployment

by Associated Press

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The Belgian soccer league says clubs should not apply for temporary layoffs for their players despite matches remaining suspended because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The league asked clubs not to burden the government’s temporary unemployment scheme for employees forced out of work because of the lockdown measures implemented in Belgium.

The league says exceptions can be made only “for urgent economic reasons.”

The league also says it’s too early to decide when matches can resume.

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Major League

The Latest: MLS extends moratorium on training to April 3

by Associated Press

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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Major League Soccer has extended its moratorium on team training through April 3 and still wants players to stay in their team’s local market.

MLS has targeted May 10 as a potential return date.

Team training facilities may be used only for physical therapy purposes at the direction of the team’s medical staff.

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Roger Federer and his wife, Mirka, say they have donated 1 million Swiss francs ($1.02 million) “for the most vulnerable families” in Switzerland.

Federer writes on his social media accounts

The Latest: Federer donates $1 million for virus relief

by Associated Press

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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Roger Federer and his wife Mirka say they have donated 1 million Swiss francs ($1.02 million) “for the most vulnerable families” in Switzerland.

Federer writes on his social media accounts that “these are challenging times for everyone and nobody should be left behind.”

The announcement was the first post on his Twitter and Instagram accounts in more than three weeks.

Federer underwent surgery on his right knee five weeks ago and hoped to return for grass-court tournaments in June. The men’s tennis tour

The Latest: Spanish soccer federation to help small clubs

by Associated Press

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The Spanish soccer federation has announced measures to help smaller clubs financially.

The measures include a loan of 4 million euros ($4.3 million) to help pay the salaries of players and coaches.

The loan will be available to clubs from the third and fourth divisions, and futsal clubs. It can be paid back without interest over two seasons.

The federation also says it will negotiate a credit line for teams in the first and second division.

Federation president Luis Rubiales says the federation’s

The Latest: Olympic postponement delayed by govt guidelines

by Associated Press

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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IOC president Thomas Bach says government guidelines imposing restrictions on daily life only into next month and even President Donald Trump’s target of the “middle of April” to lift them are among the reasons why he waited so long to postpone the Tokyo Olympics.

Bach says “we were in line with these developments” until World Health Organization leaders said Monday the coronavirus pandemic is accelerating.

Bach and the International Olympic Committee faced mounting criticism from athletes last week for

The Latest: Medical workers to be given free soccer tickets

by Associated Press

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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Premier League teams Brighton and Bournemouth have become the first clubs to sign up to a campaign to make 100,000 free soccer tickets available to medical workers on the front line during the coronavirus outbreak.

The initiative was conceived by executives at Brighton, which has committed to giving National Health Service workers 1,000 tickets for matches and has invited other clubs from the Premier League, English Football League, Scotland and Northern Ireland to join in.

Bournemouth immediately

Update on the latest in sports:

by Associated Press

TOKYO OLYMPICS POSTPONED

Virus forces postponement of Summer Olympics

TOKYO (AP) — The Tokyo Olympics have been postponed until 2021. The International Olympic Committee has decided that the Tokyo Games cannot go ahead as scheduled this year because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The IOC says the games will be held “not later than summer 2021” but they will still be called the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.  

The announcement was a nod to the reality that training and qualifying schedules have been ruptured beyond repair as the coronavirus spreads.

Next up for the organizers is picking a date when it