Formula One is working to put on a British Grand Prix in July even if the British government imposes quarantine measures on visitors due to the COVID-19 pandemic, sources said on Sunday.
The Sun newspaper quoted a British government source as saying there would be an exemption for sports, with Formula One teams free to travel from Britain and return without restriction once competition resumes.
The teams would be expected to undergo a rigorous testing regime and isolate themselves immediately if they tested positive for the coronavirus, the source said.
Formula One sources said that conversations with the British government were ongoing.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Sunday said in a televised address to the nation that “it will soon be the time ... to impose quarantine on people coming into this country by air.”
An association representing British airlines said that the government is planning a 14-day quarantine period for most people arriving from abroad to try to avoid a second peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Quarantine has big implications for Formula One, with the British Grand Prix at Silverstone scheduled for July 19 — the weekend after teams complete a planned double-header in Austria on July 5 and July 12.
The race would be a 70th anniversary for Formula One at the English circuit, which hosted the first world championship race in 1950.
Seven of the 10 Formula One teams are based in Britain and would be returning from a secure environment in Austria, where they would have been effectively isolated for two weeks and repeatedly tested.
Formula One managing director Ross Brawn outlined last week some of the measures set to be implemented for the season-opening races.
“Everybody will be tested and will have a clearance before they even go into the paddock, and then every two days they’ll be tested whilst in the paddock, and that will be with an authorized authority and consistent,” Brawn told Sky Sports. “We’ll have restrictions on how people move around ... we have to create an environment that, within itself, is effectively a small bubble of isolation, and the teams will stay within their own groups. They won’t mingle with other teams and they’ll stay at their own hotels.”
Silverstone has made clear that its race has to get British government approval and cannot be a burden on the police or health service.
The New Taipei Kings claimed the inaugural Taiwan Professional Basketball League (TPBL) championship on Sunday, defeating the Kaohsiung FamilyMart Aquas 108-89 in the final. Playing at home, the Kings pulled ahead with Jeremy Lin’s (林書豪) clutch three-pointers, securing their victory over the Aquas in the TPBL final. The Kings came out strong in the first quarter, dominating to build a 35-18 lead. By halftime, they had stretched their advantage to 61-38. In the third quarter, the Aquas narrowed the deficit to 12 points, but Lin stepped up, sinking several tough three- pointers to extend the lead. In the final quarter, the Kings pushed the
Spain are the favorites to win the UEFA Women’s Euro 2025, but star player Aitana Bonmati’s illness ahead of the tournament raises another question mark around a side which, despite their obvious quality, are not unstoppable. Having claimed the last two Ballon d’Or awards, Barcelona midfielder Bonmati is the game’s biggest star at present, so her absence in the final days before the start of Euro 2025 is a major setback. The 27-year-old came down with a fever in training last week, and was subsequently hospitalized and diagnosed with viral meningitis. Bonmati was discharged on Sunday and joined up with
SEMI-FINAL SWEEP: Taiwanese are to take up all four berths in the men’s doubles semi-finals, while three Taiwanese women’s doubles pairings secured spots Taiwan’s badminton ace Chou Tien-chen stayed hot as he secured a semi-final berth in the men’s singles at the US Open at Council Bluffs, Iowa, on Friday. Chou entered the Super 300 tournament as the top seed and breezed past Victor Lai of Canada 21-19, 21-8 in 37 minutes, advancing to the semi-finals for the second straight tournament. Earlier this month, the 35-year-old veteran finished runner-up at the Indonesia Open, becoming the oldest male shuttler to reach a Super 1000-level final. He was set to face Ayush Shetty of India last night after press time for a spot in the final. Meanwhile, 22-year-old Taiwanese
TAIWANESE WIN: Chan Hao-ching and Wu Fang-hsien and their partners won their first-round matches in the women’s doubles at the All England Lawn Tennis Club Late-night finishes and five-set matches are becoming a habit for Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon this year. On Wednesday, he wrapped up his win over Gabriel Diallo before the match was suspended — making sure the fifth-seeded American would not have to come back on court for a fourth straight day. Fritz overcame a bloodied elbow to win 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/0), 4-6, 6-3 on No. 1 Court a day after he finished off another five-set win over Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard in a match that was halted on Monday at about 10:15pm after Fritz forced a fifth set with Wimbledon’s 11pm curfew looming. He
RSS