The number of gymnasts involved in a legal action against British Gymnastics over alleged "systemic physical and psychological abuse" has more than doubled in the last month to 37 and represents the "tip of the iceberg", according to their representatives.

A letter on behalf of 17 gymnasts, some of whom were as young as six, alleging abuse by coaches was served on the sport's governing body in the UK by law firm Hausfeld in February.
That number has now increased substantially, with Hausfeld threatening to take the matter through the courts if British Gymnastics does not provide a substantive response by June 19.
Hausfeld had wanted a response to their February letter by this Thursday.
British Gymnastics had, according to Hausfeld, asked for an extension until December 19, something those involved in the action feared would put "current gymnasts at risk of similar serious harms".
-We're disappointed but not surprised that British Gymnastics have failed to meet the reasonable deadline we set- a spokesperson for the group legal action said.
-Every day that they delay, former gymnasts are denied the justice they so richly deserve -- and current gymnasts are at risk of similar serious harms.--Since we issued our letter before action a further 20 gymnasts have come forward, representing the tip of the iceberg in terms of the number of gymnasts who allege they have been harmed over a 40-year period.--We now look forward to hearing from British Gymnastics by no later than June 19, 2021.-The spokesperson added: -If British Gymnastics do not put their full organisational weight behind addressing our case, then we will take the opportunity for British Gymnastics to be part of reforming the sport we love out of their hands and into the courts.-An independent review to look into complaints of mistreatment within the sport is currently under way.
Jennifer Pinches, who retired from international competition after helping Team GB reach the final at the 2012 London Olympics, said last month that British Gymnastics had spent too long prioritising "podiums over people".
-It is a heart-breaking truth to face, knowing the level of abuse that we and so many others were subjected to- added Pinches, who is now the community director of the Gymnasts for Change group.
The group wants British Gymnastics to make a formal apology, provide compensation and improve coaching guidelines.

An independent review to look into complaints of mistreatment within the sport is currently under way

The group wants British Gymnastics to make a formal apology, provide compensation and improve coaching guidelines

More athletes allege abuse by British Gymnastics

Nine years on from his father's last racing campaign, Mick Schumacher admitted on Thursday that he is excited to represent the family name in Formula One again at this weekend's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix.

The reigning Formula Two champion makes his F1 debut with Haas in Sunday's race at the Bahrain International Circuit where, to his obvious amusement, he will face a handful of his father seven-time champion Michael's one-time rivals.
-I guess it's kind of funny to think about it, that they've raced two generations- he told reporters. 
-It shows they've been in the sport for a while now and they've been obviously successful -- therefore they're here.-Schumacher's experience in pre-season testing in Bahrain earlier this month was limited to only two half-days due to a gearbox issue, but he said it had not diminished his anticipation.
-It's been a long wait since last year and I am very happy that we are here now and we start tomorrow (Friday) and then we go from there.--It was kind of sad not to have as many days testing as I would have liked, but we will take on the challenge.-Schumacher, 22, will line up alongside fellow-rookie Russian Nikita Mazepin for Haas.
-I am so happy that we are here and I feel really excited- he added.
His father Michael won seven drivers' titles, two with Benetton and five with Ferrari, before coming out of retirement to end his career with a stint at the then-fledgling Mercedes works team from 2010 to 2012.
The 52-year-old has not been seen in public since a skiing accident in the French Alps in 2013, witnessed by Mick, left the Formula One legend with severe brain injuries.

His experience in pre-season testing in Bahrain earlier this month was limited to only two half-days due to a gearbox issue

Schumacher: I am so happy that we are here and I feel really excited

'Excited' Schumacher prepares for F1 debut and generation game in Bahrain

Coronavirus restrictions will be "minimal" for Euro 2020 matches this summer at Saint Petersburg Stadium, which will be filled to 50 percent capacity, Russia's tournament organising committee said Thursday.

The delayed European championship is set to take place across the continent between June 11 and July 11.
UEFA this month suggested it wanted spectators to attend matches and that any of the 12 host cities that banned fans could be dropped from the tournament.
-We are looking optimistically at the Euros. We already have an agreement to fill the stands to 50 percent capacity- the Russian committee's director Alexei Sorokin was cited by the state-run RIA Novosti news agency as saying.
-We are working to welcome foreign supporters and this has not been rejected by the authorities- he added, saying he was sure matches could be played "with the minimum of possible restrictions".
Host cities have until April 7 to let UEFA know what their scenarios are in terms of attendance ahead of an executive committee meeting on April 19, on the eve of the federation's annual congress in Montreux.
The Saint Petersburg Stadium has a capacity of 61,000 seats.
It is expected to host three Group B matches -- Belgium v Russia, Finland v Russia and Finland v Belgium, as well as one quarter-final.
Russia has lifted nearly all epidemiological measures against the coronavirus, with health authorities saying that the worst of the pandemic passed over the winter.
The country did not reimpose a national lockdown when a second wave of infections surged in the fall, instead prioritising the economy. 
Official data has shown that Russia has seen more than 200,000 virus-related deaths -- double the daily count published by an official coronavirus tally. 
Russia's borders have been closed for about a year to almost all foreigners.

The delayed European championship is set to take place across the continent between June 11 and July 11

The Saint Petersburg Stadium has a capacity of 61,000 seats

Russia expects half-full stadium for Euro 2020 games

France's former world champion snowboarder Julie Pomagalski has died aged 40 in an avalanche in Switzerland, the French Olympic Committee announced on Wednesday.

-Julie's tragic disappearance has left the French Olympic team in mourning for one of their own- the CNOSF said on Twitter.
Pomagalski was one of two French freeride snowboarders to perish in the avalanche when skiing off-piste in a group of four people on Tuesday.
Police in the canton of Uri said the two died coming down the 2,961-metre Gemsstock summit, favoured by off-piste skiers for its steep slopes and abundance of powder snow.
-For reasons still unknown a sheet of snow broke away" and three of the group were swept away.
Pomagalski and the other skier "were completely buried" while the third person suffered only "light" injuries and was able to escape.
The Ski Chrono website identified the second fatality as Bruno Putelli, a mountain rescuer from Albertville.
Pomagalski was crowned world champion in snowboard cross in 1999 and claimed the World Cup title for the discipline in 2004 and registered nine wins on the world Cup circuit.
She competed in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and in the 2006 Turin Games.

Pomagalski and the other skier "were completely buried" while the third person suffered only "light" injuries and was able to escape

Pomagalski competed in the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics and in the 2006 Turin Games

French ex-champion snowboarder Pomagalski killed in avalanche

European football's governing body is working on a plan to ensure that every match at this year's delayed pan-continental Euros will be staged in front of fans.

Held over from 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic this summer's championship is due to be held in 12 different countries.
That says UEFA provides the opportunity to chop and change the venues if a host city is insisting on holding a match behind closed doors.
-If a city proposes a no fans scenario" the matches due to be held there "could" be switched "to cities able to welcome supporters"-, UEFA told AFP on Wednesday.
The federation's president, Aleksander Ceferin, assured Croatian newspaper Sportske Novosti on Sunday that the June 11-July 11 event would not be "staged in front of empty stands".
-Every host most guarantee the presence of fans- he said.
Whilst the prevalence of ultra-contagious variants of Covid-19 rule out any easing of restrictions, a 'fans are obligatory' criteria could see the tournament reduced to being held in "10 or 11 countries", Ceferin indicated.
Host cities have until April 7 to let UEFA know what their scenarios are in terms of attendance ahead of an executive committee meeting on April 19, on the eve of the federation's annual congress in Montreux.
The multi-venue format, whilst complex, gives organisers flexibility to deal with issues arising from the pandemic.
"If we can no longer do anything in one country there are still 11 others where preparations are already in progress," UEFA's health advisor Daniel Koch told AFP at the start of the month.

This summer's championship is due to be held in 12 different countries

Host cities have until April 7 to let UEFA know what their scenarios are in terms of attendance ahead of an executive committee meeting on April 19, on the eve of the federation's annual congress in Montreux

UEFA wants fans at every Euro match

Neymar will miss Paris Saint-Germain's Champions League last 16 second leg against Barcelona on Wednesday after failing to shake off a thigh injury, the French champions confirmed.

PSG said on Tuesday the Brazil attacker would continue to train individually and would be assessed again "in the coming days".
-We have not had to make a decision, it is simply the state of fitness of a player, in this case 'Ney', who can't make it- coach Mauricio Pochettino said during a virtual press conference ahead of the game at the Parc des Princes.
-He is not fit enough to play a competitive game. This is just a reality, a fact.--It's a shame because he had been really looking forward to this game. It is a difficult moment for him because he had been expecting to recover but clearly he is still a few days away from being able to help the team.-The 29-year-old has not played since picking up the injury in a French Cup victory over Caen in early February. 
He also missed the first leg of the Champions League tie at the Camp Nou, which PSG won 4-1 with Kylian Mbappe scoring a hat-trick, due to the issue.
That result puts Pochettino's team in a strong position to qualify for the quarter-finals going into the return leg, although the former Tottenham Hotspur coach preached caution in front of the media.
-We still need to play a game of football, and be focused on that- he said. -We have to attack and win the game. That is what we have prepared for.-Pochettino added that Italy right-back Alessandro Florenzi could return after sitting out the last three games due to injury.
Moise Kean, who scored in the first leg, is still missing after testing positive last week for COVID-19.

PSG said on Tuesday the Brazil attacker would continue to train individually and would be assessed again "in the coming days"

Neymar has been out of the PSG team since picking up his injury on February 10

Neymar loses battle to be fit for PSG's Barcelona showdown

Novak Đoković set a new landmark of 311 weeks as world number one on Monday, one week longer than Roger Federer whose tally of a record 20 Grand Slam titles is now firmly in the Serb's sights.

Đoković, 33, won his 18th major at the Australian Open in February.
With Federer turning 40 in August, the Serb has time on his side. He is also a year younger than Rafael Nadal who also has 20 majors.
-It really excites me to walk the path of legends and giants of this sport- said Đoković, in a statement released by the ATP.
-To know that I earned my place among them by following my childhood dream is a beautiful confirmation that when you do things out of love and passion, everything is possible.-He has spent 88 weeks at number one, across two different stints.
Đoković reclaimed the top ranking from Nadal in February 2020 and finished as year-end number one for the sixth time, tying the record set by Pete Sampras.
ATP Chairman Andrea Gaudenzi said: "Novak's many achievements in tennis are nothing short of extraordinary. Among them this record may stand as his single most impressive.
-Reaching No. 1 is something many players dream of and very few ever accomplish, and to have held the top spot for longer than anyone is testament to the levels of sustained excellence that Novak has redefined in our sport.-Federer, who returns to action in Doha this week after more than a year out of action to recover from two knee operations, slipped out of the top five on Monday to sixth. His place was taken by Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Đoković made his top 100 debut in July 2005, just weeks after Nadal had won his first Roland Garros.
He was top 50 in June 2006, top 20 for the first time in October 2006 and top 10 by March 2007.
He first became world number one at the age of 24 on July 4, 2011, the day after winning Wimbledon for the first time, beating Nadal in the final.
Only a six-month injury absence in 2017 saw his ranking plunge, all the way to 22 the following summer.
It was just a blip -- Đoković was back at number one again by November and with the exception of November 2019 until January last year, when Nadal reclaimed pole position, he has been rock solid.
Few would bet against Đoković, who in 2016 was the first man to break the $100 million prize money barrier, ending his career with more Slams than Federer and Nadal.
In head-to-heads, he leads Federer 27-23 and has won all six of their last meetings at the majors, including 2019's epic Wimbledon final where he saved two match points.

He won his 18th major at the Australian Open in February

Đoković: It really excites me to walk the path of legends and giants of this sport

Đoković sets all-time record for weeks at No. 1

<a href="https://avaz.ba/pretraga?query=ko%C5%A1arka%20BiH&amp;">Košarkaška reprezentacija BiH</a> danas od 15:30 sati u Rigi igra meč 5. kola kvalifikacija za Evropsko prvenstvo protiv selekcije Grčke. Naši košarkaši već ranije su izborili plasman na Eurobasket pa predstojeće dvije utakmice neće imati rezultatski značaj. S druge strane, to će bit prilika selektoru Vedranu Bosniću da testira nove igrače.
Bosnić se pred okupljanje suočio s nekoliko otkaza. Ismet Sejfić, Karlo Matković, Darko Talić i Nedim Buza zbog povreda i bolesti neće biti u konkurenciji za utakmice s Grčkom (20. februar) i Bugarskom (22. februar), pa će Zmajevi u kadru imati samo 12 košarkaša.

I Grčka je izborila put na smotru najboljih evropskih selekcija.

Inače, Eurobasket će se održati u septembru 2022. godine u Češkoj, Gruziji, Italiji i Njemačkoj.

Ovo će biti prilika selektoru Vedranu Bosniću da testira nove igrače

Košarkaška reprezentacija Bosne i Hercegovine

BiH danas igra protiv Grčke: Utakmica bez rezultatskog značaja

Japan’s Seiko Hashimoto, a woman who has competed in seven Olympics, said on Thursday she had been chosen as president of the Tokyo 2020 Organising committee, replacing a man who resigned after setting off a furore with sexist remarks.Yoshiro Mori, 83 and a former prime minister, resigned as Tokyo 2020 president last week after saying women talk too much, a fresh blow to an event already marred by an unprecedented delay of a year due to the coronavirus pandemic and strong public opposition.
Hashimoto announced her selection shortly after submitting her resignation as cabinet minister to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, who encouraged her to make the Olympics successful.
-I, Seiko Hashimoto, was selected as head of the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics organizing committee- Hashimoto told a meeting in which she was chosen as the new chief.
-As I’m taking on such a grave responsibility... I feel I need to brace myself.-Hashimoto faces a raft of tough issues, including taking the helm of one of the world’s biggest sporting events with less than half a year left until its start as well as making sure athletes and officials are kept safe from the coronavirus.
Born days before Japan hosted the 1964 summer Games, Hashimoto took part in four Winter Olympics as a speed skater and three Summer Olympics as a cyclist.
Her name comes from a Chinese character used for the Olympic flame, and she lived up to it, ultimately took part in the most Olympics of any Japanese woman. The highest medal she received was a bronze in speed skating at the 1992 Albertville Winter Games.
A 56-year-old lawmaker in Japan’s ruling party, Hashimoto served as the Olympics minister, doubling as minister for women’s empowerment, since 2019 until resigning on Thursday.
Suga is likely to name Tamayo Marukawa, a former television announcer and ruling party lawmaker, to Hashimoto’s post, NHK public television said. Marukawa, 50, previously held the job for about a year.

<h2>International outcry, gender equality</h2>

Mori resigned last Friday after causing an international outcry by saying during a committee meeting that women talk too much, comments that a top Tokyo 2020 executive said on Thursday had caused “indescribable damage.”

He initially defied calls to step down, but growing anger at his remarks and a petition drive led by a 22-year-old student and activist, among others, helped seal his fate even in a nation still struggling with gender equality.Japan is ranked 121st out of 153 countries on the World Economic Forum’s 2020 Global Gender Gap Index - the worst ranking gap among advanced countries - scoring poorly on women’s economic participation and political empowerment.
Criteria for a new leader for the organising committee included a deep understanding of gender equality and diversity, and the ability to attain those values during the Games, organisers have said.
The Games are set to begin on July 23 despite repeated opinion polls showing that most citizens are opposed to holding them this year due to the pandemic.

She has competed in seven Olympics

Seiko Hashimoto, president of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics Organising Committee, speaks during the Tokyo 2020 Executive Board meeting, in Tokyo, Japan February 18, 2021.

Former Olympic athlete Hashimoto chosen as head of Tokyo 2020 organisers

FIFA president Gianni Infantino said for the first time Thursday coronavirus containment measures could still be in place during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but he insisted stadiums would be full.

In an interview with AFP ahead of the Club World Cup final he also suggested FIFA could "concretely" help travelling fans from countries where vaccine rollout has been slow or had not yet begun.
-Maybe some precautionary measures have to be taken- he said in the Qatari capital Doha, where Bayern Munich face Mexican side Tigres on Thursday. 
-We need to see how the situation looks by then. It's very difficult to foresee now.--It will take a little bit of time, and we have two years of time to come back to some sort of normality.-Infantino backed the Qatari hosts who in recent days have insisted the 2022 spectacle would go ahead with stadiums at 100 percent capacity, and he raised the prospect of FIFA assisting fans with vaccine requirements.
-If certain countries have difficulties accessing vaccines, in spite of the efforts of the World Health Organization... then we could certainly envisage helping them concretely with some projects targeting World Cup situations- he said.
-But two years from now I believe that, and I hope sincerely, that everyone who would like to be vaccinated will be vaccinated.-Infantino, who was speaking before reports emerged that Bayern forward Thomas Mueller has tested positive for coronavirus, praised Qatar for its execution of a bio-bubble during the Club World Cup.
Mueller would be forced to miss the final if his infection is confirmed.
-Football has resumed after being stopped in almost all countries in the world- said Infantino.
-One hundred percent security never exists, but we can do whatever we can to go very close to this.--We are not the first organisation to organise an international tournament, after the outbreak of Covid-19, but it's a first World Cup that is taking place, because in 2020 unfortunately we were not able to organise anything.-He added that the pandemic had highlighted the challenges of a "congested" international match calendar.
-The real challenge for the future will be the international match calendar -- this balance between national team football and club football which is suffering even more now, during the Covid situation- he said.
Infantino also pledged further support for the global game which has lost more than $11 billion in revenue since the start of the pandemic according to FIFA estimates.

He also suggested that FIFA could "concretely" help travelling fans from countries where vaccine rollout has been slow or had not yet begun

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino gestures during an interview in the Qatari capital Doha

Infantino says Covid measures could still be in place for 2022 World Cup

No socialising, no handshakes and definitely no hugs -- that's what athletes at the coronavirus-postponed Tokyo Olympics can expect this summer, according to a virus rulebook released Tuesday by organisers.

The 33-page document -- the last in a series of "playbooks" drawn up in a bid to ensure the Games can go ahead safely -- also warns athletes they could be kicked out of their events if they break strict anti-virus rules.
Under the guidelines, athletes will be tested for the virus at least once every four days, and will be barred from competing if they return a confirmed positive test.
Their time in Japan will be "minimised to reduce the risk of infection," and those staying at the Olympic Village will be expected to "avoid unnecessary forms of physical contact."
Organisers told AFP on Tuesday that they still plan to hand out around 150,000 free condoms to athletes, but the new rulebook urges them to "limit your contact with other people as much as possible."
-If you have been to the Games before, we know this experience will be different in a number of ways- the guidebook warns.
-For all Games participants, there will be some conditions and constraints that will require your flexibility and understanding.-The guide for athletes and team officials is set to be revised in April and again in June, and follows the release of handbooks for sports officials, media and broadcasters last week.
The document lays out further detail on virus testing for athletes, with a negative test required within 72 hours of travelling to Japan and again immediately upon arrival.
There will be no quarantine for athletes, and they will still be allowed to attend training camps in Japan before the Games begin, but all movements must be rigorously logged and the use of public transport is subject to permission.
Athletes "must not visit gyms, tourist areas, shops, restaurants or bars" and can only go to "official Games venues and limited additional locations".
They are also advised to wear masks at all times except when they are competing, training, eating, sleeping or outside in open space.
The virus rulebooks are being released as organisers, Olympic officials and Japan's government works to build confidence that the Games can go ahead safely despite a surge in infections globally.
While vaccinations are recommended for athletes, they will not be a requirement to participate in the Games.
Support for hosting the virus-postponed event remains low in Japan, with around 80 percent of Japanese backing cancellation or further postponement -- something organisers have ruled out.
The rollout of the virus rules has been overshadowed by a row over sexist comments made by Tokyo 2020 chief Yoshiro Mori, who faces calls to resign after claiming women speak too much in meetings.
So far, he has apologised but declined to step down.
The Games are due to open in Tokyo on July 23.

Under the guidelines, athletes will be tested for the virus at least once every four days, and will be barred from competing if they return a confirmed positive test

Athletes "must not visit gyms, tourist areas, shops, restaurants or bars" and can only go to "official Games venues and limited additional locations"

No hugs or high-fives: Olympic organisers unveil athlete rulebook

Premier League referee Mike Dean has alerted police after his family received death threats following two controversial red cards he issued over the past week.

Dean was criticised for sending off Southampton defender Jan Bednarek against Manchester United last Tuesday and West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek in Saturday's match at Fulham.
Both decisions have now been overturned on appeal.
Reports said Dean had asked to be excused from duty next weekend although it is understood he will referee Wednesday's FA Cup fifth-round match between Leicester and Brighton. 
Mike Riley, managing director of Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL), supported Dean's decision to notify the police.
-Threats and abuse of this nature are totally unacceptable and we fully support Mike's decision to report these messages his family received to the police- he said.
-Nobody should be victim of abhorrent messages like this. Online abuse is unacceptable in any walk of life and more needs to be done to tackle the problem.-Bednarek was sent off for a challenge on Anthony Martial in Manchester United's 9-0 win over Saints, with Dean sticking with his initial decision after being invited to check the pitchside monitor at Old Trafford.
Dean sent off Czech midfielder Soucek for catching Aleksandar Mitrovic with his elbow by accident in Saturday's goalless draw.
Dean checked the replays on the pitchside monitor after consulting VAR and decided the incident merited a straight red.
West Ham boss David Moyes said he was "disappointed with football in general" after the incident involving Soucek.
Moyes was unimpressed by Mitrovic's reaction -- the Serbia striker went down clutching his face -- but said the referees needed to be stronger in their decision-making.
-Every footballer has a responsibility to do the correct thing but the officials are giving the players responsibility to gain success by their actions- he said on Monday.
-The only people who can stop it are the officials. No-one else can change it. If players are going to do this, it needs to change.-

Dean was criticised for sending off Southampton defender Jan Bednarek against Manchester United last Tuesday and West Ham midfielder Tomas Soucek in Saturday's match at Fulham

Referee Mike Dean shows West Ham's Tomas Soucek a red card

Premier League referee contacts police after death threats

Olympics organisers unveiled the first of a series of "playbooks" aimed at holding the coronavirus-postponed Tokyo Games safely on Wednesday, warning that rule breakers could be kicked out.

Sports officials will be allowed to skip quarantine as long as they monitor their health for 14 days after arriving in Japan, according to the 32-page document.
During those 14 days, however, the officials will not be allowed to travel outside the Games bubble or watch events as a spectator.
The playbooks are aimed at building confidence that the Games can go ahead even if the pandemic is not under control by the opening ceremony on July 23. The rules are set to be updated in April and again in June.
The first of the guides is aimed at sports officials, with versions for athletes, fans, media and others to follow in the coming weeks.
-We have learned a lot from the best practices of other events- said Olympic Games Executive Director Christophe Dubi of the International Olympic Committee.
-It is the mantra of all of us -- the Games have to be safe, for each stakeholder group, for each participant. It's a question of responsibility.-Officials will be subject to a series of rules during their stay in Japan, including mask-wearing, complying with contact tracing and staying within designated areas.
They will have to present a detailed itinerary of their planned movements for their first 14 days in Japan and stick closely to it on arrival.
And they will have to monitor and record their health for two weeks before going to Tokyo.
Details on rules for athletes were still being finalised, but officials said they would be tested for Covid-19 at least every four days, and would be tested before leaving their country and again on arrival in Japan.
The guide released on Wednesday warns rule breakers will face "consequences that may have an impact on participation" at the Games, with "repeated or serious failures" potentially leading to offenders being kicked out.
-These Games in many respects will be different- said Olympic Games Operations Director Pierre Ducrey at the IOC.
-There will be a number of constraints and conditions that the participants will have to respect and follow, which will have an impact on their experience, particularly when it comes to social aspects- he told reporters at a press conference presenting the rule book.
Doubts about the Games have grown as countries have been forced to re-enter lockdowns, with large parts of Japan currently under a state of emergency.
Japan's government approved a month-long extension of its state of emergency on Tuesday, with measures now running through March 7 in parts of the country.
Tighter border restrictions imposed after infections surged have already forced the postponement of some sporting fixtures in Japan, including this year's first Olympic test event, an artistic swimming qualifier that was scheduled for March.
The nationwide Olympic torch relay is still due to begin on March 25.
Tokyo 2020 president Yoshiro Mori said Tuesday that the Games would go ahead this summer "however the coronavirus evolves", brushing aside doubts about the event.

Sports officials will be allowed to skip quarantine as long as they monitor their health for 14 days after arriving in Japan

Olympics organisers unveiled the first of a series of "playbooks" aimed for holding the Tokyo Games safely this summer

Olympics organisers unveil virus rule book for Tokyo Games

Roger Federer is targeting the Doha Open in March for his comeback after over a year on the sidelines recovering from two knee operations, the 20-time Grand Slam champion said on Tuesday.

The 39-year-old Swiss has been out of action since February 2020 and shelved plans in December to compete in the Australian Open, which makes a delayed start next week.
It will be the first time Federer has missed the season-opening Grand Slam in Melbourne.
In an interview with Swiss radio SRF he said he now felt ready to begin his season in the tournament in Qatar which begins on March 8.
-For the first time I've got the feeling that my knee is once again ready for competition- said Federer, who has set Wimbledon and the Tokyo Olympics as his main objectives for 2021.
Federer's last appearance was a year ago in the Australian Open semi-final to eventual winner Novak Djokovic.
-This is my first attempt to return to a tournament. So it's important for me, for my team, that it's a minor event, and not a major, with all the stress that involves.--I have to be ready, mentally and physically, to last five matches in five days- added the Swiss great.The current world number five is missing only one major trophy in his long and decorated career, the Olympic singles gold medal, having claimed doubles gold with Stan Wawrinka in Beijing in 2008, and singles silver at the 2012 London Games.
Since his 20th and last Grand Slam victory in Melbourne in 2018 he has only made it to win major final, at Wimbledon in 2019 where he succumbed to Djokovic despite having two match points.

This will be the first time Federer has missed the season-opening Grand Slam in Melbourne

Federer: I have to be ready, mentally and physically, to last five matches in five days

Federer targets comeback at Doha Open in March

Two of the candidates in Barcelona's presidential election, Joan Laporta and Victor Font, insisted on Monday that Lionel Messi "generates more" than he earns, after his "colossal" club contract was published in a Spanish newspaper. 

-Leo generates much more income than the money he costs- Joan Laporta, who is seeking to regain the presidency, told Rac1 radio. 
-We have done a study and he generates a third of Barca's total income.--It's not only the economic return- Laporta said. -But also the emotional and sporting return, and the vivid moments he gives us.-Messi is in the last year of his contract. 
On Sunday, under the headline "the colossal contract that ruins Barcelona", El Mundo published details of the current deal, signed in 2017. It said Messi could have earned 555 million euros ($674 million) by the time the deal expires.
Barcelona responded by saying it was not the source of the leak and it planned to sue El Mundo. The club did not, however, contradict the details.
Laporta is one of three candidates for the election on March 7. One of his rivals, Font, spoke on Onda Cero radio.
-To imply that Barca is ruined because of Messi is an absolutely erroneous conclusion- he said. 
Both candidates condemned the "leak" to the Madrid newspaper and both promised they would do everything to keep Messi at Barca. 
-We have to do everything possible to keep Messi, in 2017 and today too- said Font.
Laporta, the president when Messi first broke into the Barcelona team, agreed.
-I will do everything possible to keep Messi at Barca. I have had signals that he is happy in Barcelona, that he wants to stay.-

Laporta: We have done a study and he generates a third of Barca's total income

Messi is in the last year of his contract

Barcelona presidential rivals insist Messi is worth it

Japanese sensation Naomi Osaka, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal said Sunday they remain keen to compete in the delayed Tokyo Olympics, and would be guided by what the health experts tell them.
Organisers are still adamant the Olympics can be held safely even if the coronavirus is not under control by the time the flame is lit on July 23.
Three-time Grand Slam champion Osaka dmitted being worried by a recent poll that found 80 percent of the Japanese public were opposed to Tokyo hosting the event this year because of the pandemic. 
Large parts of Japan are currently under a state of emergency to tackle a spike in coronavirus cases, with borders closed to almost all foreigners.
-My concern would be the general safety of everyone else because you're opening the country- Osaka said. -Everyone is flying in from different places. I would just want the public to feel safe.- 
The 23-year-old has been the poster girl of the 2020 Olympics and still hopes to represent Japan at her home Games. 
-I will stay in my room for two weeks to play the Olympics- said Osaka, who lives in Florida. 
-I missed out on the last one. Playing in Tokyo would be very special to me.- 
World number two Rafael Nadal echoed Osaka's sentiments and hoped to play, but said health experts should have the final say. 
-What we have to do is just follow the instructions of what the people who really have the right knowledge of all this stuff give to us- he told reporters on Sunday. 
The Spaniard said mandatory quarantine ahead of the Olympics would be hard to squeeze into the congested tour schedule. 
-Combining our tour with another 15 days of quarantine to play Olympics- he said. -It looks difficult to fix it in our calendar.- 
World number one Djokovic has played in three Olympics, winning a bronze at the 2008 Beijing Games, calling it "the greatest honour" to represent Serbia at "the oldest and most traditional event in the history of sport".
He too is keen to be in Tokyo.
-I am personally planning to go for the Olympic Games. I'm really hoping that the Olympics will happen- he said.
-It's going to be a lot of people obviously. Far more than a tennis tournament. It's obviously not up to me to talk about organisation or what can be done, should be done, what will be done.-
World number nine Petra Kvitova, who won bronze in the women's singles in Rio, described the Olympics as a "fifth Grand Slam". 
-I hope that the Olympics really will happen, for sure- she said. -For me, the Olympic Games is very important.- 
Second-ranked Simona Halep, who competed at the 2012 London Games but skipped Rio in 2016 due to concerns over the Zika virus, said vying for her first Olympic medal was her top priority this year. 
-The main goal is a medal at the Olympics, to go there and be able to compete at the highest level- she told the WTA website.&nbsp;

Organisers are still adamant the Olympics can be held safely even if the coronavirus is not under control

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Sports

More athletes allege abuse by British Gymnastics

'Excited' Schumacher prepares for F1 debut and generation game in Bahrain

Russia expects half-full stadium for Euro 2020 games

French ex-champion snowboarder Pomagalski killed in avalanche

UEFA wants fans at every Euro match

Neymar loses battle to be fit for PSG's Barcelona showdown

Đoković sets all-time record for weeks at No. 1

BiH danas igra protiv Grčke: Utakmica bez rezultatskog značaja

Former Olympic athlete Hashimoto chosen as head of Tokyo 2020 organisers

Infantino says Covid measures could still be in place for 2022 World Cup

No hugs or high-fives: Olympic organisers unveil athlete rulebook

Premier League referee contacts police after death threats

Olympics organisers unveil virus rule book for Tokyo Games

Federer targets comeback at Doha Open in March

Barcelona presidential rivals insist Messi is worth it

Osaka, Djokovic, Nadal keen to be at Olympics but virus a big concern