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Japan to explore ‘simplified’ OlympicsREUTERS — TOKYO

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said yesterday it may be necessary to a stage a “simplified” Olympics next year due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and that organisers were already discussing possible changes.

Koike’s comments came after the Yomiuri newspaper reported that various options, such as mandatory coronavirus testing and having fewer spec-tators, were being considered by organisers.

John Coates, the head of the International Olympic Commit-tee’s (IOC) inspectorate for Tokyo, has said organisers had to plan for what could be a “very different” Olympics if there were no signs of COVID-19 being eradicated.

“Holding the Olympic and Paralympic Games calls for sympathy and understanding of Tokyoites and the Japanese people,” Koike told reporters.

“For that, we need to ration-alise what needs to be

rationalised and simplify what needs to be simplified.”

The Yomiuri, citing gov-ernment and organising com-mittee sources, said making Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests mandatory for all spectators -- in addition to ath-letes and staff -- and limiting movement in and out of the ath-letes village were among the options Japan would discuss

with the IOC. At a regular briefing Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya did not confirm the details of the Yomiuri report but said stakeholders were looking at ways to “optimise and streamline the scope and service levels in preparing for the Games”.

“At this stage, we have no concrete outcome yet but we are keen to continue the discus-sions,” said Takaya.

“The spread of the novel coronavirus... is something very ambiguous and we have no ability to completely understand what the situation will look like next year.”

The IOC and Japanese gov-ernment in March took the unprecedented decision to delay the Games, which had been due to start in July. A further delay beyond 2021 has been ruled out.

The new coronavirus has infected more than 6.4 million people and killed about 380,000 around the world. Japan has had some 17,000 infections and 900 known deaths to date.

A man wearing a protective mask walks past a countdown clock for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games amid the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in Tokyo, Japan yesterday.

Holding the Olympic and Paralympic Games calls for sympathy and understanding of Tokyoites and the Japanese people. For that, we need to rationalise what needs to be rationalised and simplify what needs to be simplified: Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike

E-racing: Another first as QMMF issues digital licenses to riders and driversTHE PENINSULA — DOHA

The Qatar Motor and Motor-cycle Federation (QMMF) has issued digital licenses to those competing on the online competitions.

Amro Al Hamad, the Exec-utive Director of QMMF, yes-terday said this move is the first of its kind in the entire Middle East region where motorsport has huge following.

“We have officially launched digital motorsport licenses. We are the first ASN (a French acronym to describe a national sporting authority) in the entire Middle East to take this first step towards digital motorsport. The licenses are going to be issued to Qatari motorsport fans and residents in Qatar. It’s a system copy of the competition licenses that are issued in the virtual motorsport world,” Al Hamad said yesterday.

“Currently the licenses have been issued to partici-pants in the first edition of the Qatar Online Racing Cham-pionship (QORC) in cars. We also issued licenses to entries who took part in the MotoGP races. In the third batch, we will issue licenses to entries who will take part in rallies - for drivers and co-drivers. The licenses will only be issued to who are regular entries in our competitions,” he added.

“I’ll give you an example

on why we are doing this. The aim of the license is like having a loyalty card at any supermarket chain. Whenever you go there to make a pur-chase, the attendants ask you if you have a loyalty card. This shows that you are part of a set-up and people.

“If you don’t have a loyalty card of any supermarket chain, you don’t go there often. If you are a member, then you go there regularly. As I told you, for the first season, the licenses are free but starting next year, it won’t be free because we are building a platform for them to enjoy being part of the group and join elite races,” Al Hamad added.

For the last almost three months, the QMMF has been conducting a series of online events to make up for the lack of action on the tracks due to the coronovirus pandemic sweeping the globe.

“Our online racing com-petitions are receiving a great deal of attention fans and from those handling the sport inter-nationally. There is also a program that aims to transform the contestants from competing via the internet to take the oppor-tunity to participate actively through their racing simula-tions, in the event that they are able to that,” Al Hamad said earlier in the week.

He added, in a press

statement, that the spread of the new coronavirus (Covid 19) around the world had accelerated the application of online races in many local and international tourna-ments held under the super-vision of the Fédération I n t e r n a t i o n a l e d e l’Automobile (FIA).

On Thursday, the QMMF announced that it is set to organise the third edition of the QORC, which will be dedicated to the “WRC8” rally category. The new series will be launched on Sunday.

QMMF sets today as a deadline for registration for those wishing to contest the third edition, as the organ-ising committee targets 21

participants as a minimum and 28 contestants as a maximum. The championship races will run over two weeks as the first week includes the qualifying stage, which includes three races that take place on Sunday, Tuesday and Thursday, during which com-petitors compete on the “WRC” car through three or four groups with seven com-petitors in each group, according to the final number of registrants.

“QMMF has already dis-patched the trophies won by the participants in the first two championships. The response has been great and we are looking at creating a legacy of our own in e-racing," he said.

Hamilton set for track returnREUTERS — LONDON

Six-times Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton will be back on track at Silverstone next week for the first time since February as Mercedes gear up for the start of the

delayed Formula One season.

Mercedes said on Twitter that Hamilton

will be in his title-winning 2018 Mer-

cedes W09 car, with team mate

Valtteri Bottas driving on Tuesday, to practise pro-tocols for the July 5 Austrian opener.

Formula One has pub-lished an initial calendar with eight races in 10 weeks, taking place without spec-tators and in carefully con-trolled conditions because o f t h e C O V I D - 1 9 pandemic.

Silverstone, which hosts Hamilton’s home British Grand Prix, is due to host two back-to-back races in August when it will

also celebrate the 70th anniversary of the first world championship Grand Prix there.

Drivers have not raced since December, with the planned season-opener in Australia cancelled in March, and while they have been busy training during the lockdown some are con-cerned about preparedness.

Mercedes returned to work only this week after a long factory shutdown as part of cost-saving measures. “There is going

to be so much rust, a com-bination of emotion, excitement, eagerness,” Australian Daniel Ricciardo said last month.

“Everyone is going to be ready to go. You are going to get some guys who perform on that level of adrenalin and others who might not,” added the Renault driver.

“So you’re going to get some bold overtakes, some miscalculated ones. You’re going to see a bit of everything.”

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Premier League clubs agree to five substitutions rule change

AFP — LONDON

Managers will be able to make up to five substitutions for the remainder of the 2019/20 Premier League season after clubs agreed to the temporary rule change at a meeting yesterday.

FIFA proposed the solution last month to “protect player welfare” with a large number of matches packed into a few weeks to clear the backlog of a three-month layoff due to the corona-virus pandemic.

Premier League clubs also agreed to increase the number of substitutes available for selection from seven to nine for the remainder of the season.

“For the remainder of the 2019/20 season, the number of substitutes that can be used during a match will increase from three to five players,” the Premier League said in a statement.

“Shareholders also approved for clubs to increase the maximum number of substitute players on the bench from seven to nine for the rest of the 2019/20 season.”

To avoid too many stoppages, however, each team will still only have three opportunities to make changes as well as at half-time.

The Premier League will resume with two matches on June 17 as Manchester City host Arsenal and Sheffield United travel to Aston Villa. The remaining nine full rounds of fixtures are then expected to be completed in just five weeks.

No decision was made at yes-terday’s meeting on how league standings would be determined if a spike in infections should cause the season to be interrupted once more. Liverpool are 25 points clear at the top and just two games away from clinching the title.

Amro Al Hamad

05FRIDAY 5 JUNE 2020 SPORT

F1: Ecclestone on the hunt for ‘historic’ team Williams buyerAFP — LONDON

Former Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone is trying to find a buyer for the once-mighty Williams team, saying it would be “a terrible thing to lose” the name from the grid.

Williams’ golden age in the 1980s and 1990s under founder Frank is a distant memory. In those years Nelson Piquet, Nigel Mansell and Alain Prost were among a clutch of world champions.

But the last of both their nine constructors’ titles and seven drivers’ crowns came in 1997.

Frank Williams remains team principal but his daughter, Claire, is responsible for the day-to-day running of the team.

The nadir of a steady decline came last year, when they registered just one point in the constructors’ championship.

Last week the Williams Grand Prix Holdings group reported an adjusted loss of £13m ($16m) for the year ending 2019 and responded to the blow by seeking new investment.

A minority or majority stake will be offered to investors, along with the option for an outright buyout.

Ecclestone says he is actively seeking a potential buyer.

“Williams would be a great loss, 100 percent,” he said by

phone from his home in Swit-zerland. “I am looking around to find people who could and might be involved.”

Ecclestone admits the challenge could be even greater, with the financial fall-out from COVID-19 likely to be severe.

“Owning a team is a very expensive hobby,” said the former F1 boss, who is expecting his fourth child in the coming weeks.

The 89-year-old Eng-lishman and Frank Williams, who is 78, are old friends, having been among the co-founders of the Formula One Constructors’ Association in 1974.

Ecclestone, who

transformed the sport into a commercial giant over several decades, said the team desper-ately needed new owners.

“I hope it is not the end of the Williams team,” he said.

“It would be the end of an era but I hope that someone who can afford to run the team properly can be found as it is a terrible thing to lose a team like that.

“It is not thinkable. Dear old Frank had to work so hard to make sure the team com-peted and that happened and now to see it disappear like that, it’s not good.

“It is a historic team.”Ecclestone said the man-

agement team had found Wil-liams senior a hard act to

follow. “Trouble was, Frank was hands-on in the way he managed the team,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the current management do not have the same status as Frank has. He could get things done.”

Williams should make the grid for the Austrian Grand Prix on July 5, the first race of a season truncated by the coronavirus pandemic.

In an attempt to cut costs, the British-based team fur-loughed staff while senior executives and their two drivers, George Russell and Nicholas Latifi, took 20 percent pay cuts.

They are desperate for the season to get under way as they need the income.

For the moment there is an eight-race programme planned in Europe, although Ecclestone says he never doubted that could happen.

“I said right at the beginning it is not a difficult job to get eight races together,”

he said.“COVID-19 is easing a

bit round the world, but it is not coming to an end, so they will be able to get on maybe 12 races.

“Is that good? I really don’t know whether it is

good or bad unlocking everything as it could

start again.”

In this file photo taken on June 15, 1993 French Formula One driver Alain Prost takes a hairpin turn on his Williams-Renault during warm-ups for the Canadian F1 Grand Prix.

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W Series cancels 2020 season due to pandemicREUTERS — LONDON

Motor racing’s all-female W Series cancelled its 2020 season yesterday due to the COVID-19 pandemic but promised to return next year with at least two support races on the Formula One calendar.

The series, which started last year, had been due to award points towards a Formula One superlicence for the first time.

The cancellation will be a particular setback for Britain’s inaugural champion Jamie Chadwick, who had hoped to defend her title and move a step closer to Formula One.

Chadwick already has 10 points from finishing fourth in the Asian Formula Three

series before the coronavirus lockdown.

“Our decision not to stage on-track races until 2021 is not one that has been taken

lightly,” said W Series chief executive Catherine Bond Muir in a statement.

“Now that we have taken the very difficult but ultimately

unavoidable decision... we will focus our energies clearly on 2021 when we will resume our on-track racing programme bigger and better than ever before.”

She said 2021 would include support races for Formula One at the US and Mexican Grands Prix, as was planned this year.

“W Series has had an incredible impact on the world of motorsport, and we were excited to have them join our schedule this year,” said Ross Brawn, Formula One’s man-a g i n g d i r e c t o r f o r motorsport.

“It is a big disappointment for all of us that due to the dif-ficulties presented by COVID-19 the events will not

take place, but we are looking forward to some exciting racing in 2021 when W Series returns.”

W Series was due to support the German Touring Car Championship (DTM) in Europe but the coronavirus has hit that series, with a limited run of races in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands now scheduled.

The original plan had been for British-based W Series, which has drivers from 12 countries, to race in Russia, Sweden, Italy, Germany, Britain and the Netherlands before hooking up with Formula One in the Americas.

The drivers will still compete in a W Series Esports League due to start on June 11.

A file photo of a W Series race in West Kingsdown, Britain.

Mercedes to share reserves with McLaren and Racing Point

REUTERS — LONDON

Formula One world champions Mercedes will share reserve drivers Stoffel Vandoorne and Esteban Gutierrez with the Racing Point and McLaren teams this season, a spokesman said yesterday.

The Belgian and Mexican are both former Grand Prix drivers, with Vandoorne previously racing for McLaren and Gutierrez for Sauber and Haas.

While McLaren use Renault engines, they are switching to Mer-cedes next season.

Racing Point, owned by Canadian billionaire Lawrence Stroll, already have a close rela-tionship with Mercedes as well as a Mexican driver in Sergio Perez.

Reserve drivers must be ready to stand in if a regular driver is unable to compete due to sickness or injury, a role that has become more in focus this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sport is planning to start the season in carefully-controlled conditions in Austria on July 5 with teams operating in an isolated ‘bubble’ and with frequent testing for the new coronavirus.

Formula One chairman Chase Carey said this week that Formula One would not cancel a race even if a driver returned a positive test.

“We encourage teams to have procedures in place so if an indi-vidual has to be put in quarantine, we have the ability to quarantine them at a hotel and to replace that individual,” he said.

“A team not being able to race wouldn’t cancel the race... we will have a procedure in place that finding infection will not lead to a cancellation. If a driver has an infection, (the teams have) reserve drivers available.”

McLaren’s Stoffel Vandoorne

Germany’s Niklas Kaul competes in the Men’s Javelin Throw Decathlon heats at the 2019 IAAF Athletics World Championships at the Khalifa International stadium in Doha, in this October 3, 2019 file photo.

Top decathletes to face off in backyardsAFP — PARIS

The world’s leading three decathletes will face off in a transcontinental virtual compe-tition on Sunday, the latest in a string of innovative live-streamed events with track and field hamstrung by the corona-virus pandemic.

Decathlon world record-holder Kevin Mayer of France, Germany’s reigning world champion Niklas Kaul and Estonian Maicel Uibo, the 2019 world silver medallist, will square off from their respective training bases in Montpellier (France), Mainz (Germany), and

Clermont, Florida. The format of the competition will be a tri-athlon starting with the pole vault, before moving on to the shot put and finally a shuttle-run discipline. In the pole vault, the athletes will attempt to clear 4.00 metres as many times as possible during a 10-minute period.

The shot put sees them chal-lenged to go beyond the 12-metre mark as many times

as possible over 10 minutes, while a gruelling shuttle run rounds off the competition, a point given for every 20 metres covered in a five-minute period.

“The format will be a little demanding because we are not used to the (endurance aspect) of it,” Mayer said.

“I think the three of us know that the last part will be the hardest. I’ve not done this par-ticular ‘discipline’ in my life, but I

know it’s going to be hard,” he said. The latest edition of the so-called “Ultimate Garden Clash” follows men and women’s pole vault competitions.

“I’m excited to see what our best decathletes bring to the table because the pole vaulters really put on a show,” said World Athletics president Sebastian Coe.

“I love how creative our ath-letes have been in coming up with new competition formats that we can stage safely and broadcast to our fans even while adhering to the many public health restrictions in place around the world.”

Decathlon world record-holder Kevin Mayer of France, Germany’s reigning world champion Niklas Kaul and Estonian Maicel Uibo, the 2019 world silver medallist, will square off from their respective training bases in Montpellier (France), Mainz (Germany), and Clermont, Florida.

Warriors’ Curry, Thompson participate in Oakland protestREUTERS — NEW YORK

Superstars Stephen Curry (pictured) and Klay Thompson were among a number of Golden State Warriors players who participated in a Walking in Unity march in the area of Oakland’s Lake Merritt.

The march was organised by the Warriors’ Juan Toscano-Anderson and took place in and around the same locations that previously held the Warriors’ NBA championship rallies and parades.

Warriors players Kevon Looney and Damion Lee also

participated. “We’re all here for the same purpose, not just for black people,” Toscano-Anderson said at the outset of the protest in a video on the team’s Twitter account.

“Right now it’s about black people, but for humanity. There’s people all over the world being oppressed. And we’re just trying to take a step in the right direction and start something -- me and my boys, my brothers. Thank you guys for being here.” In a sep-arate video, s o m e b o d y

could be heard shouting, “Say

his name.” C u r r y

responds “ G e o r g e F l o y d , ” along with other pro-t e s t e r s . Floyd, who

is black,

was killed May 25 when former Minneapolis officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, kneeled on his neck for more than eight minutes.Chauvin, who was taken into custody last week and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter, was also charged with second-degree murder on Wednesday.

Three other former Minne-apolis police officers were charged on Wednesday with

aiding and abetting second-degree murder while com-mitting a felony, and with aiding and abetting

second-degree manslaughter. All were in custody as of early Wednesday evening, according to multiple reports.

Meanwhile, Curry said he wants to locate the one-armed Chinese boy whose dazzling bas-ketball skills have gone viral online.

"Who is this kid? Help me find him! Keep doing you and don't let anyone tell you that you can't," the Golden State Warriors player wrote to his 4.5 million followers on China's Twitter-like Weibo. The post was accom-panied by footage of the boy bamboozling opponents with his

dribbling, despite his disability.He was named this week by

Chinese state media as 13-year-old Zhang Jiacheng and the original clip of him has been viewed nearly nine million times online in China -- and rising fast.

Zhang was born in the southern province of Guangdong and lost his right arm in an accident at five years old, Xinhua news agency said.

"Heart is always the strongest part of the body," Xinhua quoted Chinese basketball star Yi Jianlian, formerly of the NBA, as saying after watching the clip of the teenager.

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Nadal says 'no' to US Open in present circumstancesREUTERS - MADRID

Ordinarily Rafa Nadal would likely be closing in on a 13th French Open title this week. Instead, he is home in Mallorca trying to make sense of a world that feels anything but normal.

Tennis is on hold until at least the start of August because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and while there have been positive noises about the prospects of the U.S. Open taking place, fol-lowed by the French Open, Nadal served a dose of reality.

Speaking via Zoom to tennis media, the day after his 34th birthday, Nadal was asked his thoughts of playing at the U.S. Open, of which he is reigning champion.

“If you asked me today if I want to travel today to New York to play a tennis tour-nament, I will say: no, I will not,” the world number two told reporters.

“In a couple of months, I don’t know. Hopefully yes.

“We need to wait probably until we have more information about how the virus evolves, how the situation’s going to be. New York has been one of the places that has been hit most strongly by the virus.”

When tennis returns, it will most likely be without fans.

“I hate the idea, honestly. But if that’s the only way, why not?

“That’s my position. I don’t understand tennis without the energy of the crowd, without

the passion a full stadium brings.”

While still in the grip of a pandemic, the US is also expe-riencing outrage and protests over the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man who died while in police custody.

“I am of course worried to see all these disasters hap-pening on the streets,” Nadal said.

“Violence and pandemics like this today create a difficult climate, a difficult atmosphere for the world. It’s important to stay calm, to respect everyone, to live together in peace.”

While Nadal is missing his Roland Garros stomping ground, he says there are more important things.

“I miss playing the tourna-ments that I like. At the same time I’m not thinking about that. First we must recover normal life, recover the freedom in terms of be able to enjoy our personal lives, then try to organise our professional lives.”

Nadal thinks tennis faces a tough challenge to restart, espe-cially with some regions seeing rising COVID-19 death rates.

“We can’t come back until the situation is completely safe

and players from every single part (of the world) can travel to the tournaments under safe cir-cumstances to compete,” he said.

“From my point of view if we would have a vaccine by December I would say that it wouldn’t make any sense to go back to play tennis now, I don’t think its worth it to take the risks.

“But if they say we will won’t have it until two years, then we need to find ways to go back to some kind of normality because the world and sport can’t stop for so long.”

Players 'will always feel at risk without vaccine'REUTERS - MUMBAI

Athletes will not feel 100% safe until a vaccine for the novel coronavirus is available and the US Open should only proceed if all qualified players are able to travel to the Grand Slam, American doubles specialist Rajeev Ram has said.

Professional tennis was suspended in early March as coun-tries went into lockdown to contain the spread of the virus and the season will not resume until early August.

Wimbledon was cancelled for the first time since World War Two while the French Open was postponed to September.

Organisers of the US Open, which is scheduled to begin at the end of August in New York, are continuing with their plans for the hardcourt Grand Slam and a decision is expected to be taken this month.

“I don’t see players feeling 100% safe without a vaccine because there would always be a risk of contracting the virus,” Ram, who won his first Grand Slam men’s doubles title at the Australian Open this year, told WION TV.

“The virus is so contagious and in any kind of sport, ath-letes are always in close contact with their peers... There is always going to be a risk without a vaccine.

“I don’t think the U.S. open or any event will take place if a certain number of players feel uncomfortable or unsafe while playing.”

Media reports have said the United States Tennis Associ-ation is considering flying players in by chartered flights and hosting the tournament with no fans in attendance.

“We can’t have the U.S. Open until everyone who has qual-ified for the event is in a position to travel to the event, until that happens we are going to be at a standstill,” said Ram, who also won the Olympic silver in mixed doubles in 2016.

“For the tournament to take place, a safe and secure envi-ronment must be created and the competition should also be fair on all tennis players.”

Interesting to see if Djokovic can regain momentum: EvertREUTERS MUMBAI

Novak Djokovic had built up a real head of steam before the COVID-19 pandemic shut the tennis season down and it will be interesting to see if the world number one can regain that momentum, 18-times Grand Slam champion Chris Evert has said.

The 33-year-old was on a 21-match unbeaten run before the season came to a halt in early March, winning the ATP Cup with Serbia, an eighth Australian Open title and a fifth Dubai Tennis Championships crown.

“I feel bad for Novak. He had the momentum,” Evert said on the French Open website.

“Everyone was saying, ‘Is he going to win a Grand Slam? Is he going to win four in a row? He was playing awesome tennis and then all of a sudden (season stopped).

“He’ll be an interesting story to see if he can get that momentum back.”

Djokovic, who recently returned to Serbia after being stranded in Marbella in Spain for two months due to lockdown, is organising an event that will be played across the Balkans and include Dominic Thiem, Grigor Dimitrov and Alexander Zverev.

He said last month that he could win the most Grand Slam titles and become the longest-reigning world number one by the time he retires. Djokovic has 17 Grand Slams with Rafa Nadal on 19 and Roger Federer with 20.

The possibility of tennis being wiped out for the rest of the year has led former players and pundits to speculate whether the shutdown would be more detrimental to younger players or the game’s dominant talents.

“I have a sneaky suspicion that the players that have been around for a long time, especially Serena (Williams), Roger, Rafa, I think they’re going to dive right into it,” said Evert.

“They’re appreciating that they can be with their family. They’re appreciating that they can rest their bodies. But they also know that time is not on their side.”

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates with the championship trophy after beating Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the singles final on day 14 of the 2019 US Open at USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre in this September 8, 2019, file photo.

On this day: June 5, 1953: Bill Tilden diedREUTERS - NEW YORK

Bill Tilden’s star shone brightly during the golden age of American sports in the 1920s but his legacy as the most dominant tennis player of his generation remains overshadowed by his off-court behaviour.

Born into wealth and privilege, Tilden had showed promise with a racket at an early age during summers spent at the family home in the Catskill Mountains, New York.

Having lost both his parents and older brother Herbert by the time he was 22 years of age, however, tennis became Tilden’s primary means of coping.

Using unorthodox backcourt play and possessing a cannonball serve, Tilden’s influence on American tennis is hard to overstate.

In 1920, he became the first American to win the Wimbledon men’s singles title, and he won every major tournament he entered for six years, including six straight US Open titles.

At the 1929 US National Championships, Tilden became the first player to reach 10 finals at a single Grand Slam event. His 10 finals at a Grand Slam tournament remained a record until 2017, when Roger Federer reached his eleventh Wimbledon final.

Tilden also led his country to seven Davis Cup victories, often sharing sporting headlines with baseball great Babe Ruth, golfer Bobby Jones and boxer Jack Dempsey.

“Playing for himself, for his country, for posterity, he was invin-cible,” wrote Frank Deford in his biography ‘Big Bill Tilden: The Triumphs and The Tragedy’. “Tilden simply was tennis in the public mind.”

Tilden’s instructional guide “Match Play and the Spin of the Ball” examined tennis theory like never before, and future Grand Slam champions including Jack Kramer and John Newcombe swore by it.

With his artistry and flair, “Big Bill” took tennis to mainstream America, only to be shunned for his off-court behaviour.

Tilden had his reputation destroyed in 1946 when he was charged with soliciting a 14-year-old boy.

He served seven-and-a-half months in prison, but was arrested again in January 1949 after picking up a 16-year-old hitchhiker.

He was released in December 1949 and days later a poll named Tilden the greatest tennis player of the first half of the 20th century but his personal life continued to be troubled.

Tilden was banished from several professional tennis clubs and tournaments, and his penchant for self destruction continued as he drained his wealth on producing less-than-successful Broadway shows.

When he died of a heart attack at the age of 60, Tilden was preparing to play in the US Pro Championships in Cleveland.

“Big Bill” was virtually airbrushed out of tennis history, with a net worth of $88.

Australia players union rejects CA's revenue forecastsREUTERS - MELBOURNE

Cricket Australia’s (CA) forecast of a near 50% plunge in the revenue that underpins player payments has been met with scepticism by the players’ union, who called for talks to “shine a light” on the board’s calcu-lations.

The Australian Cricketers’ Association (ACA) said yesterday that CA had forecast 2020/21 revenues would slump 48% to A$239.7m ($165.20m) from their pre-vious forecast of A$461m due to the impact of the

COVID-19 pandemic.A reduction of approxi-

mately 20% was anticipated for the following season’s revenues to A$385.80m from the previous estimate of A$484m, the ACA added citing an email sent by CA on Wednesday.

“The ACA expresses a lack of confidence in these reforecasts,” the union said.

Players are paid just over a quarter of the revenues as per their deal in the col-

lecting bargaining agreement with CA.CA Chief Executive Kevin Roberts said last week

the board was facing a shortfall of about A$80m in revenue due to COVID-19 and there was a high like-lihood Australia would not be able to host the Twenty20 World Cup in October-November.

The bleakest scenario looks to have been avoided, however, with India’s lucrative four-Test tour, worth an estimated A$300m in revenue, set to go ahead in the home summer.

Cricket Australia recently released a schedule for the summer that included the four Tests as well as one-day internationals and Twenty20s against India,

plus the men's T20 World Cup, the men's and women's Big Bash leagues, and women's series against New Zealand and India.

The ACA said the new forecasts did not “appear to be reasonable or consistent with an obligation of good faith”.

“From what the ACA has been able to determine so far, cricket is yet to suffer a significant adverse revenue event and the outlook for the game remains positive,” the union added.

“If cricket does suffer an adverse financial event in the future -- a reforecast can be provided at this time.”

The ACA said a more formal process of due dili-gence was now necessary.

CA did not provide immediate comment when con-tacted by reporters.

Spinners have chance to shine during saliva ban, says KumbleAFP - NEW DELHI

Cricket chief Anil Kumble hopes a ban on using saliva to shine the ball after the coro-navirus shutdown could see a resurgence of spin bowling in Test cricket.

The International Cricket Council is expected to order a temporary ban next week on using spit as a shining agent, as part of measures to get the sport restarted.

Fast bowlers could struggle to swing the ball under the new rules with Australian quick bowler Mitchell Starc saying the game could be come “boring” if batters dominate.

But Kumble, the former Indian Test captain and now chairman of the ICC cricket committee that recommended the

ban, is hoping spinners could play a bigger part as a result.

“You can probably leave grass on the surface or even rough it up and have two spinners,” he told an online forum.

“Let’s get spinners back in the game in a Test match.

“Because if it’s a one-day or T20 game, you’re not worried about the ball or shining of the ball.”

The former leg-spinner said he would love to see “two spinners playing in Aus-tralia, two spinners playing in England, which never happens.”

And he said that ground staff could create pitch conditions to favour spinners.

“In cricket you have the surface you can play around with and bring about a balance between bat and ball,” he said.

“All of us are yearning to start the game and not really worried about saliva or sweat or condition of the ball -- we just want to play cricket.”

Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah said earlier this week there should be an alter-native to saliva when cricket resumes while fellow paceman Mohammed Shami said sweat is not a viable replacement.

Australian ball manufacturer Kooka-burra is developing a wax applicator to shine the ball, but the world body is reluctant to allow artificial aids.

Kumble believes that allowing an arti-ficial substance on the ball would kill the creativity of the sport.

“We’ve been very strict about sub-stances that have been used on the ball,” he said.

Cricket, like nearly all sport, was halted in March when India and many other nations ordered lockdowns.

Coach Micky Arthur talks to Sri Lankan cricketers during a practice session at the Colombo Colts Cricket Stadium in Colombo. PIC: @OfficialSLC

Qatar, a sports loving country, has given fans the best of everything in top events. It has blended the traditional past-times like Arabian horse racing, camel racing and falconry, which were all rooted in the country’s past. They also conduct

top events in basketball, golf, swimming, football, table tennis and volleyball. I have been living here for the last three years and I have noticed that Qatar is now recognised as a major sporting hub, having hosted a number of international tournaments and competitions in the last two decades or so. I love watching tennis at the Qatar Open (ATP and WTA Tour events) every year. I often attend other sports activities as well, especially the amazing the MotoGP races. Qatar, without a doubt, is one of the best places to visit in the Middle East and also to watch international sports activities. As an American, I often encourage my fellow Americans to watch sports in Qatar. I have been informed that Qatar will complete all eight stadiums before it hosts the FIFA World Cup in 2022. What’s more, I gather a few of the stadiums will have cooling technology capable of reducing temperatures within the stadium by up to 20°C (36°F), and the upper tiers of the stadium will be dismantled after the World Cup and donated to countries with less developed sports infrastructure: Jimmy Lloyd, Resident of Doha

07FRIDAY 5 JUNE 2020 SPORT

Qataris are passionate about sport. Like any successful professional athlete, they are determined to better themselves, push their boundaries and break down barriers. Sport plays a major role in the Qatar National Vision 2030. Qatar is now recognised as a major sporting hub, having hosted a number of international tournaments and competitions. In the last few years, Qatar has hosted number of events on an annual basis like handball, swimming, MotoGP races athletics and many more. I was honoured to be a part of a few events myself. My greatest thrill was being a member of the local organising committees at these events. Qatar, with fast developing domestic soccer set-up, will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, which will be more like witnessing history in the making as Qatar will be the first country in the Arab world to host a FIFA World Cup edition - that will help change perceptions and drive development of sorts across the entire region: Ghazala Mohammad Azad, Events Manager

I’ve been to a few sports events, mostly international ones and friendlies involving popular football clubs FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. I’ve also attended the Qatar Open tennis tournaments growing up. I wish I had volunteered at these two events. I used to urge my class-mates and friends to volunteer so we could meet some of the world’s leading tennis players. Some of my friends did that and they told me it was a great experience and opportunity to meet the players. It’s been what everyone is working and striving for. Everyone is look forwarding to 2022 and picturing in their minds how Qatar will be like then. Everything related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup is exciting. Most expatriates, who have been in Qatar for years, have expressed their eagerness to watch the World Cup matches in 2022. Personally, I am just observing the growth in Qatar and would like to see what will happen after 2022: Ola Diab, Journalist

I think following the sports calendar in Qatar is a terrific opportunity for the residents to attend international events held here including football, golf, tennis, motor sports rallies, equestrian events etc. I have attended a couple of horse shows at Al Shaqab, a world-class equestrian centre. It was a wonderful experience to see the beautiful Arabian horses, and the commitment and high standards that were set for the welfare of horses. I’m thrilled that the 2022 FIFA World Cup will be held in Qatar! I think Qatar’s FIFA World Cup journey has been progressing really good. Looks like the required infrastructure have been set up such as the football stadiums, Doha metro, world-class museums and other beautifully pieces of architecture. The launch of the National Sports Day in Qatar has also promoted a healthy lifestyle nationwide. This holiday has brought a great awareness on fitness and health among the public.Sam Williams, Vancouver, Canada, worked at Ras Laffan.

My family and I attended the Shaqab International Championship 2019 last year. What an amazing sports family event it was! It was a perfect blend of equestrian excellence and family entertainment. Al Shaqab is a beautiful facility with well managed infrastructure. Various children’s activities such as horse simulators, pony rides, virtual reality games and food stalls. It was an absolute treat to watch those world-class equestrian riders and stunning horses. We can’t wait to attend another remarkable event at Al Shaqab Arena: Azqa Haroon, Housewife

Qatar has always delivered on its promise when it comes to sports events. The passion for sports is there for everybody to see. The international events, the ones that fans want to see, are staged here year after year. We have the best of the stadiums, safe commute to venues and historic destinations and world-class hotels. There is stoppage in sports events at the moment, not just in Qatar but everywhere else in the world, but I am sure when things get better, Qatar will be surging ahead with its sports events. Qatar has smartly carried out its 2022 FIFA World Cup preparations. The venues already completed look awesome. I have travelled around the world and I know what global standards are like. Qatar’s sports infrastructure is truly world-class. Fans will watch an amazing FIFA World Cup in 2022. Muhammad Naeem Saleem, COO, HNBK Holding

Qatar has hosted some huge international events from the FIFA Club World Cup to the FINA World Championships in recent times and I have had the opportunity to attend some of those in my time in Doha. The Asian Cup in 2011 had a huge impact on me as a 12 year old watching world-class players play right in front of you at the very stadiums I trained at as a kid. I am looking forward to attending the FIFA Club World Cup 2020. I am more than excited for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar. I was amazed by Qatar’s exploits in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, an event they won. Moving forward, I feel Qatar could give a big shout in the 2022 FIFA World Cup and that has got me excited too. Unsurprisingly the State of Qatar has proved that they are capable hosting top events with ease when it was once a distant dream for many countries in the Middle East: Sebastian Bose, Student

Football fans celebrate as they

welcome Qatari players after Al

Annabi won the AFC Asian Cup in

this file photo. PIC: ABDUL BASIT /

THE PENINSULA

I remember the football match I watched during the Gulf Cup last year. Qatar were playing the UAE at Khalifa International Stadium (Qatar won 4-2). It was truly an amazing experience to be there. Halfway through the match, we thought it would be a draw but during the second half, Qatar scored amazing goals and the whole stadium erupted in absolute jubilation. People were screaming and cheering their favourite players with joy and national spirit. When there was a corner right before the end of the game for Qatar, the player came near the audience and started to throw his hands up for everyone to clap and then took the corner. Qatar scored in the final minute, driving the entire stadium into insane noise and everyone was screaming in excitement and happiness. I am glad I watched such a high profile football match. It was a memorable experience as a big crowd (43,780 spectators) had turned up to watch the match: Rabshan Malik, 14, Ninth Grade student

To describe what Qatar has successfully done in the last three years is quite a short period to talk about. Being a resident in the country for more than a decade, I have been a witness to the country’s spectacular achievements in sports, on and off the field. I had the privilege of attending many events while I was a Doha resident. The experience was simply amazing and beyond my wildest expectations. The high number of international tournaments and matches at mega sports events have been conducted flawlessly in Qatar, drawing praise from famous sports personalities like David Beckham, FIFA President and many others. The tagline “Expect Amazing” is practised well in Qatar. I was watching the FIFA vote ceremony in December 2010 when Qatar was awarded the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosting rights. Qatar winning the hosting rights was spearheaded by H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani at that time. The Amir then made what many thought was impossible. The event would definitely put the GCC on the international football map. I can say without doubt that Qatar would host one of the best FIFA World Cups in 2022. Here’s wishing the country success for all times to come.Pancho Fernandes, long-time resident of Doha

In recent years, Qatar has become one of the main countries to host top sporting events. This has attracted many renowned athletes and coaches to the country and allowed them to join local clubs to enhance and influence emerging athletes in Qatar. Being a sports enthusiast, I am always eager to attend such events. I had the privilege of attending PSA World Championship which was organised by the Qatar Tennis, Squash and Badminton Federation at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex last November. It featured 64 players, including the 56 top-ranked players. I watched the first match of home-favourite Abdullah Mohammed Al Tamimi against France’s Gregoire Marche. And it was such a stunner as Al Tamimi became the first Qatari player in history to reach second round of the championship. This will remain one of the most memorable events I have ever watched. Qatar seems to be surging ahead and has been kept achieving milestones despite the blockade. This means a lot to me personally as I was born and brought up here and have seen Qatar’s development since the 90s: Hamood Hassan, Assistant Vice-President, Qinvest

Past and present residents have their say on Qatar's packed sports calendar