OLYMPICS
Towns halt hosting plans
Dozens of Japanese towns have abandoned plans to host Olympic athletes due to concerns they would overburden already stretched medical resources amid a fourth wave of COVID-19 infections, the Nikkei reported yesterday. Forty out of more than 500 towns registered to welcome international competitors had decided not to accept athletes for training camps and cultural exchanges before the global sporting showpiece, the newspaper reported, citing a government source. The reluctance of some towns to host visiting athletes, normally a source of pride for communities outside the host city, is the latest sign of deep unease in Japan over the scheduling of the Games in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic. Chiba Governor Toshihito Kumagai said the prefecture would not guarantee hospital beds for athletes as they should not be given preferential treatment. “Chiba Prefecture is not thinking about securing scarce hospital beds ... for athletes and people involved in the Olympic Games in a way that would prohibit our residents from using them,” Kumagai told reporters.
SOCCER
Red Star probe dropped
A French investigation into suspected match-fixing in a Champions League game between Paris Saint-Germain and Red Star Belgrade in October 2018 has been shelved, the Serbian club’s lawyer said yesterday. The Parquet National Financier (PNF), which is responsible for fighting financial crime, on Friday last week sent out a notice that it had closed its investigation, Antoine Vey, a lawyer for the Serbian club said, confirming a report in French sports daily L’Equipe. UEFA was alerted before the match that a Red Star manager was preparing to bet nearly 5 million euros (US$6.03 million dollars) on a defeat for his team by five goals, the report said. PSG then won 6-1. The PNF then opened a case of “criminal conspiracy” to commit an offense of sporting corruption and to commit an offense of organized fraud.
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
McGregor tops pay list
Irish fighter Conor McGregor was the world’s highest-paid athlete over the past year, ahead of soccer players Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, according to the annual Forbes list released on Wednesday. During the 12-month period ending on May 1, McGregor earned US$180 million, a figure which includes US$158 million from endorsements and the sale of the majority stake of his whiskey brand, Forbes said. Barcelona and Argentina forward Messi was second on the list and set a record as the highest-earning soccer player after bringing home US$130 million, while Portugal and Juventus forward Ronaldo earned US$120 million to sit third among the top 10 highest-paid athletes.
BASKETBALL
Sneakers fetch US$152,500
A pair of Michael Jordan’s famous Air Jordans from his rookie season on Wednesday sold at auction for US$152,500, the star item in Sotheby’s first international dedicated sneaker sale. The pair sold — in the Chicago Bulls’ red, white and black — were worn by Jordan during his stellar 1984-1985 debut season. The “Gamers Only” auction, conducted entirely online, featured 13 pairs of match-worn basketball shoes from some of the NBA’s greatest athletes, including Scottie Pippen and Shaquille O’Neal.
US track and field athletes have about four dozen pieces to choose from when assembling their uniforms at the Olympics. The one grabbing the most attention is a high-cut leotard that barely covers the bikini line and has triggered debate between those who think it is sexist and others who say they do not need the Internet to make sure they have good uniforms. Among those critical or laughing at the uniforms included Paralympian Femita Ayanbeku, sprinter Britton Wilson and even athletes from other countries such as Britain’s Abigail Irozuru, who wrote on social media: “Was ANY female athlete consulted in
Four-time NBA all-star DeMarcus Cousins arrived in Taiwan with his family early yesterday to finish his renewed contract with the Taiwan Beer Leopards in the T1 League. Cousins initially played a four-game contract with the Leopards in January. On March 18, the Taoyuan-based team announced that Cousins had renewed his contract. “Hi what’s up Leopard fans, I’m back. I’m excited to be back and can’t wait to join the team,” Cousins said in a video posted on the Leopard’s Facebook page. “Most of all, can’t wait to see you guys, the fans, next weekend. So make sure you come out and support the Beer
Former US Masters champion Zach Johnson was left embarrassed after a foul-mouthed response to ironic cheers from spectators after a triple bogey at Augusta National on Friday. Johnson, the 2007 Masters winner, missed the cut after his three-over-par round of 75 left him on seven-over 151 for 36 holes, his six on the par-three 12th playing a big role in his downfall. Television footage showed Johnson reacting to sarcastic cheers and applause when he tapped in for the triple bogey by yelling: “Oh fuck off.” Such a response would be considered bad form in any golf tournament, but is particularly out of keeping
Taiwan’s Lee Jhe-huei and Yang Po-hsuan on Saturday won the men’s doubles bronze medal at the Badminton Asia Championships in Ningbo, China, after they were bested by the hosts in their semi-final. The Taiwanese shuttlers lost to China’s Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang, who advanced to yesterday’s final against Malaysia’s Goh Sze Fei and Nur Izzudin. The Chinese pair outplayed Lee and Yang in straight games. Although the Taiwanese got off to a slow start in the first game, they eventually tied it 14-14, before Liang and Wang went on to blow past them to win 21-17. In the second game, Lee and