Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said for the first time on Monday that the Tokyo Olympic Games may need to be postponed if the event cannot be held in its 'complete form' due to the coronavirus pandemic. Abe said that while cancelling the Games was not an option, a delay was now on the cards if that was the only way to hold the event in its complete form.
'With one year to go, there is no clear picture of what shape the simplified Games will take. The situation with COVID-19, both domestically and internationally, is constantly changing.'
'Risk for the other residents of Olympic village and risk for the Japanese people is zero'
Images from all the action on Day 9 of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park on Tuesday
Serena Williams can 'absolutely' surpass Margaret Court's all-time record of 24 Grand Slam singles titles if the American returns to tennis after giving birth earlier this year, former world No 1 Steffi Graf said on Sunday.
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List of leading women's grand slam singles title winners in the professional era after Serena Williams surpassed Steffi Graf by winning the Australian Open on Saturday.
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South Korean president Moon Jae-in has backed Chung Hyeon to bring more joy to his country after the youngster's inspired charge at the Australian Open came to a heart-breaking end in the semi-finals on Friday.
There have also been recent cases where qualification tournaments were cancelled due to the COVID-19 situation. While the IOA chief does feel for the athletes, he says these things need to be looked into by the federations.
The recommendation holds true for both indoors and outdoors, the CDC said.
During his speech, he recalled the role of sport and the Olympic Games to build bridges, bring people together and shape the peace.
No spectators were present in the stadium, where the Games' opening and closing ceremonies will be held,
World No 1 Novak Djokovic won a record-extending 6th Australian Open title after defeating Briton Andy Murray in straight sets at Melbourne Park on Sunday.
The IOC has remained committed to staging the Tokyo Games as planned from July 24-Aug. 9, saying on Tuesday after a meeting with international sports federations that measures against the virus were delivering results.
Many Japanese and medical experts oppose staging the 2020 Games as planned from July 23, after already being postponed a year, as their nation suffers a fourth infection wave.
World No 1 Novak Djokovic eased his way into the Australian Open semi-finals, brushing aside Canada's Milos Raonic with a 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-2 victory.
'But it could be a very different Games to what we're used to.'
The International Olympic Committee and the Japanese government agreed last month to postpone the Games because of the global coronavirus outbreak. The costs of rearranging the Games and who will pay them have yet to be clarified by either the IOC or the Japanese government.
'Our task is to organise Olympic Games and not to cancel Olympic Games. This is why we are working day and night to organise safe Olympic Games.'
UBS Wealth Management Americas, Bank of America's Merrill Lynch and Morgan Stanley all employ several retired Olympic athletes.
The Olympics were due to begin on Friday with an extravagant opening ceremony in the National Stadium but the Games have instead been delayed until July 23, 2021 because of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
'I hope that younger people who have similar struggles can see me and feel safer in the fact that I'm managing okay. True, there are difficulties, but there's nothing unfortunate at all about being both deaf and transgender.'
Asian Games gold medallist Swapna Barman will receive seven pairs of customised shoes, one each for the different events of Heptathlon, sports giants Adidas announced on Monday.
Tokyo's state of emergency, the capital's fourth, lasts until Aug. 22, shortly before the Paralympics begin.
South Korean tennis player Hyeon Chung will be a star attraction at the second edition of Tata Open Maharashtra beginning in December.
Qualifying took place at a sunny Suzuka on Sunday morning after being postponed from its usual Saturday slot due to the approach of Typhoon Hagibis.
She added that Suga had encouraged her to make the Games successful but declined to say anything further until after a Tokyo 2020 executive board meeting later in the day, when an official announcement on the post was likely to be made.
Asian Games gold-medallist Indian heptathlete Swapna Burman said she will leave no stone unturned to compete at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics but achieving the qualification standard will be a tough task.
Rediff.com encapsulates all the sporting action from the past week in this eye-catching photo feature.
'As to the breakdown...I also understand that the IOC has stated it is too soon and too early to tell.'
"I would like to thank everyone for coming out and supporting us. For me Australian Open is special, it's like home. I have special memories here," says Sania Mirza.
Tokyo residents are deeply divided on whether they should go ahead with the Olympics mid-pandemic
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Spain's Dani Pedrosa claimed the 50th Grand Prix win of his career on Sunday, taking victory in the Japanese MotoGP as runner-up Valentino Rossi extended his lead in the championship standings.
The average global temperature for July 2015 was the highest for any month since record keeping began in 1880, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.
Canadian tennis ace Eugenie Bouchard was left surprised after a male presenter conducting her on-court interview made an unusual request by asking her to give them a twirl.
Sixth seed Nick Kyrgios battered Gael Monfils 6-4 6-4 and David Goffin outlasted Marin Cilic 7-5, 6-4 on Saturday to advance to the Japan Open final in Tokyo.
Alcohol sales have been restricted in and around Tokyo after health officials warned drinking would encourage close contact, loud speaking and mingling in bars that could help spread the virus.
Here are some areas where costs have grown, and where income that had been expected will not materialise.
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