Tokyo Olympics, IOC push ahead during state of emergency
By STEPHEN WADEApril 28, 2021 GMT
TOKYO (AP) Local organizers and the International Olympic Committee pushed ahead Wednesday with plans to open the postponed Tokyo Olympics in just under three months, unveiling the latest set of rule books to show how the games can be held during a pandemic.
The timing of the second edition of the “Playbooks” is not ideal. The version for Olympic athletes is out Wednesday, with similar guides for other participants out on Friday.
Tokyo, Osaka and several others areas came under a third state of emergency this week, and the death toll in Japan from COVID-19 has passed 10,000. The numbers are good by global standards, but poor compared with other places in Asia such as Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand or South Korea.
Australian Olympians to be given COVID-19 vaccine priority
April 27, 2021 GMT
Matt Carroll, right, CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee, chats with former Australian Olympic beach volleyballer and gold medalist Kerri Pottharst at a ceremony to mark 100 days before the start of the Tokyo Olympics in Sydney Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Olympics live sites will be held across Australia during the Olympic Games, from July 23 to Aug. 8 2021, taking advantage of the one hour time zone difference for Australians to watch athletes perform. (AP Photo/Mark Baker)
Matt Carroll, right, CEO of the Australian Olympic Committee, chats with former Australian Olympic beach volleyballer and gold medalist Kerri Pottharst at a ceremony to mark 100 days before the start of the Tokyo Olympics in Sydney Wednesday, April 14, 2021. Olympics live sites will be held across Australia during the Olympic Games, from July 23 to Aug. 8 2021, taking advantage of the one hour time zone difference for Australians
World Surf League event in Sydney halted after shark sighted
April 18, 2021 GMT
SYDNEY (AP) A shark sighting temporarily halted competition in the World Surf League event at Sydney’s Narrabean Beach on Sunday. The second heat of the event was in progress when the shark was sighted and surfers were called from the water.
Competition was delayed for 15 minutes, until organizers were sure the shark had left the area.
Three-time world champion Mick Fanning of Australia was onshore Sunday when the sighting happened. Fanning had a well-publicized encounter with a great white shark during a surfing competition near Port Elizabeth, South Africa in July 2015.
Ko wins Lotte Championship with tournament-record 28-under
By ANN MILLERApril 18, 2021 GMT
KAPOLEI, Hawaii (AP) Lydia Ko is golfing like she is a kid again. In other words, she’s tough to beat.
No one came close at this week’s Lotte Championship. Ko torched Kapolei Golf Club and tournament records in the process. A final-round 65 Saturday left her at 28-under 260 and seven shots ahead of everybody.
It brought back vivid memories of the teenager from New Zealand who became the youngest golfer female or male to rise to No. 1 the world in 2015. She is the LPGA’s youngest-ever winner, major winner, Rookie and Player of the Year.
Tanaka allows 2 homers, loses in return to Japanese baseball
By The Associated PressApril 17, 2021 GMT
Masahiro Tanaka allowed Sho Nakata’s two-run homer in the first inning of the pitcher’s return to Japanese baseball, a 4-1 loss for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles to the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters at the Tokyo Dome on Saturday.
The 32-year-old right-hander signed with the Pacific League club in January after completing a $155 million, seven-year contract with the New York Yankees.
Tanaka (0-1) allowed three runs and four hits in five innings with five strikeouts and a walk. He also gave up Kazunari Ishii’s home run in the second.