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News for 25 March 2020

All the news for Wednesday 25 March 2020


Joint Statement from the International Olympic Committee and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee


Tokyo Olympics Getty Images

The President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach, and the Prime Minister of Japan, Abe Shinzo, held a conference call this morning to discuss the constantly changing environment with regard to COVID-19 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

They were joined by Mori Yoshiro, the President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee; the Olympic Minister, Hashimoto Seiko; the Governor of Tokyo, Koike Yuriko; the Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission, John Coates; IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper; and the IOC Olympic Games Executive Director, Christophe Dubi.

President Bach and Prime Minister Abe expressed their shared concern about the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and what it is doing to people’s lives and the significant impact it is having on global athletes’ preparations for the Games.

In a very friendly and constructive meeting, the two leaders praised the work of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee and noted the great progress being made in Japan to fight against COVID-19.

The unprecedented and unpredictable spread of the outbreak has seen the situation in the rest of the world deteriorating. Yesterday, the Director General of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said that the COVID-19 pandemic is "accelerating". There are more than 375,000 cases now recorded worldwide and in nearly every country, and their number is growing by the hour.

In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.

The leaders agreed that the Olympic Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times and that the Olympic flame could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present. Therefore, it was agreed that the Olympic flame will stay in Japan. It was also agreed that the Games will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

IOC media release



Tokyo 2020: Statement by FIH CEO Thierry Weil



"On behalf of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), I would like to thank and express our full support to the International Olympic Committee, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Japanese authorities and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for the decision taken to postpone the Olympics to next year.

This decision brings clarity to the global hockey community and I’m sure it is supported by all athletes who are currently facing important challenges to train at this unprecedented time. The focus today is on staying at home to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The message of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch that “Hope Lights Our Way” could not be more pertinent at this time.

We look forward to outstanding Olympic Games in Tokyo next year!"

FIH site



GB Hockey statement regarding Tokyo 2020 postponement


GB Women Rio 2016

Great Britain Hockey welcomes the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic Games.

With the Coronavirus causing continued uncertainty and hardship across the world, we fully support the IOC and Tokyo Organising Committee in the decision to postpone the Olympic Games.

It is naturally deeply disappointing for our athletes, staff and all hockey supporters, but we look forward to working with UK Sport, the BOA and the English Institute of Sport to prepare for the rescheduled event.

Both the men’s and women’s Great Britain teams have qualified for Tokyo 2020 by beating Malaysia and Chile in qualification matches played in London last November.

This decision is likely to have ramifications for hockey at both domestic and international level and we will communicate further developments in due course.

We wish everyone good health during these difficult times and we look towards a time when people at all levels can start playing again.

Great Britain Hockey media release



Hockey Ireland Statement on Postponement of Tokyo 2020 Olympics



A decision has been made by the IOC to postpone the Summer Olympic Games to 2021, considering the current global crisis.

“In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.” The full statement is available here: https://www.olympic.org/news/joint-statement-from-the-international-olympic-committee-and-the-tokyo-2020-organising-committee

The Olympic Federation of Ireland have welcomed the call while also acknowledging the complexities involved in postponing the Games. Their focus remains on “protecting and safeguarding the Irish athletes over the coming months and ensuring that they can bounce back to full training and be in peak condition for a successful Games in 2021.” The full statement can be found at: https://olympics.ie/news/19149-confirmed-olympic-games-to-be-postponed-to-2021.html

Head Coach of the Irish Women’s team, Sean Dancer had the following to say on the postponement of the Tokyo Games, “We really appreciate the tough decisions all parties involved have had to make in recent weeks. The decision to postpone the Games not only puts athlete’s welfare first, but also the welfare of much wider communities and countries. These are unprecedented times, and while incredibly stressful for so many, the decision to postpone the Games is one we support.

Our athletes are continuing to train as much as possible given the current circumstances, and we really look forward to being able to train together as a group again when it is appropriate to do so.”

Speaking on the decision, Katie Mullan, Captain of the Irish Women’s team said “As players we are gutted with the announcement to postpone the games as our excitement has been building, however we totally understand why this decision has been made. What matters most is players health and wellbeing, as well as our families and friends, and we hope everyone is staying safe and healthy at this difficult time.

As a team it has been strange doing so much individual training, but everyone has been pushing on with home-gym programmes and trying to increase their fitness with running and cycling. This is a big change for so many people, but everyone is the same situation. We’ll be doing our best to use this as an opportunity.”

In addition to these comments, High Performance Director, Adam Grainger added, “that Hockey Ireland support the IOC (International Olympic Committee) and TOCOG (Tokyo Organising Committee for the Olympic Games) in this decision making, and can appreciate how hard the postponement decision would have been to make.

Hockey Ireland also understands how difficult this postponement must have been for the Japanese people, with our local hosts Iwate town for example having already invested so much time and effort into successfully hosting Hockey Ireland. Our Senior Women’s team are committed to travelling to Iwate town in 2021 and working with the OFI, Sport Ireland, Sport NI and our sponsors to ensure the best preparation possible for our players and staff.”

Irish Hockey Association media release



Field Hockey Canada – Response to IOC postponement of 2020 Summer Games

Field Hockey Canada applauds IOC for pushing forward with postponement of Summer Games



The IOC and the 2020 Olympic Games Organizing Committee released a statement March 24, postponing the 2020 Tokyo Games to a later date. The exact details of rescheduling are not yet fully determined but they propose the games will take place not later than Summer 2021.

This announcement comes in the wake of Sunday’s (22nd March) decision by the Canadian Olympic Committee (COC) to pull their athletes out of the 2020 Games if they were to be held as originally intended in July. Yesterday, Field Hockey Canada released a statement in support of the COC’s decision to not send Canadian athletes to a Games scheduled for this summer.

Today, Paul Bundy, coach of the men’s national field hockey team spoke briefly as to what the postponement of the games means to him and the team at this moment.

“It’s obviously disappointing but I definitely think it’s the smart decision by the COC and the IOC. I thought Canada showed good leadership by being the first to make a statement,” he said. “As far as our team goes, we’re resilient. We adapt and manage changes all the time. This is just another one to manage.”

Bundy said the coming weeks is about personal and family support. When the restrictions are lifted, the team plans to get back in action and pick up stronger than when they left off.

“For us, the next six weeks is about prioritizing our family and our health. We’re going to take a break from the pitch and spend time with our families. We want to make sure we get our social distancing right and follow all the advice from the health authorities.

“It’s honestly a relief knowing the games will be postponed by a year. It’s better than being in limbo, not knowing what to expect,” he said. “Once we know we can travel and compete again, we’ll fire it back up and prepare our best for the Olympic competition.”

Field Hockey Canada CEO, Susan Ahrens extends her sympathies to the athletes and applauds them for their ability to adapt and prepare for the next steps.

“We’re happy to the see that the IOC has taken the ethical and sensible route. Everyone agree s that health of our global society is the number one priority right now,” she said. “Given the magnitude of the Olympic Games, delaying by a year gives the athletes the preparation time they need and gives the competition the respect it deserves.”

Ahrens supports the national team athletes in adapting their training and setting their sights on the Olympics in 2021.

“We are proud and impressed with how our athletes are responding to this week’s news. They are showing terrific leadership in the community and will continue to be role models for safe health measures during this difficult time. Field Hockey Canada is glad to have the peace of mind that the Olympic dream is still alive and that the preparations will continue and pick up when it’s safe to do so.”

—- From the IOC Release —-

In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.

The leaders agreed that the Olympic Games in Tokyo could stand as a beacon of hope to the world during these troubled times and that the Olympic flame could become the light at the end of the tunnel in which the world finds itself at present. Therefore, it was agreed that the Olympic flame will stay in Japan. It was also agreed that the Games will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Field Hockey Canada media release



SA Hockey Welcomes postponement of Tokyo Olympic Games



The South African Hockey Association has welcomed the postponement of the 2020 Olympic Games announced on Tuesday in a joint statement by President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Thomas Bach and the Prime Minister of Japan, Abe Shinzo because of the Covid-19 virus.

The Games have now been rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than the 2021 summer, in order to safeguard the health of the athletes and everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community.

"The postponement was inevitable given the global pandemic of COVID-19. This is a most pragmatic approach taken by the IOC. We welcome the decision and applaud the IOC for putting athletes Health & Safety first." shared SA Hockey CEO Marissa Langeni

The joint-statement also stated that in their meeting leading to the announcement it was agreed that the world's biggest multi-sporting event will keep the name Olympic and Paralympic Games Tokyo 2020.

The FIH said in a statement from CEO Theirry Weill that they supported the prudent and necessary decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee to postpone the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"On behalf of the International Hockey Federation (FIH), I would like to thank and express our full support to the International Olympic Committee, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Japanese authorities and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government for the decision taken to postpone the Olympics to next year.

This decision brings clarity to the global hockey community and I’m sure it is supported by all athletes who are currently facing important challenges to train at this unprecedented time. The focus today is on staying at home to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. The message of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Torch that “Hope Lights Our Way” could not be more pertinent at this time.

We look forward to outstanding Olympic Games in Tokyo next year!""

SA Hockey Association media release



Tokyo 2020 Olympics postponed: What now for hockey?

By Rod Gilmour



Hockey remained quiet but other global federations and athletes spoke up and showed their muscle. On Tuesday, the Tokyo Olympics were postponed until 2021 after talks between Japan’s prime minister Shinzo Abe and Thomas Bach, the International Olympic Committee president.

The IOC said the Games will take place “not later than summer 2021” and that they will still be called the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

Abe said they had come to the realisation that cancelling the Olympics was out of the question. Bach agreed unaminously that a postponement was the most appropriate response to the global disruption caused by the coronavirus crisis.

Abe told reporters: “We agreed that a postponement would be the best way to ensure that the athletes are in peak condition when they compete and to guarantee the safety of the spectators.

Tokyo 2020’s fate was sealed when Canada and Australia said they would not send athletes to Japan for this year’s Games, the British Olympic Association urged the IOC to make a quick decision, the US Olympic and Paralympic committee cited the “enormous” disruption the pandemic had caused to training. World Athletics, Brazil, Slovenia and Germany, USA Swimming and USA Track and Field had also joined the wave of calls for the Games to be delayed.

What happens now?

While there is uncertainty over the remainder of the Pro League matches after May 17, hockey will now be starved of international action until the 2021 Pro League kicks in. With the 2020 Games now slated for summer 2021, the EuroHockey Championships in Amsterdam, which start on August 20, will also have to be looked at. The question now for the federations – once the global crisis has subsided – is whether any international tournaments can be played between now and next year’s Games, or if the 2021 Pro League will suffice.

Athlete welfare

Sally Munday, the UK Sport chief executive, said that the Olympic and Paralympic body would fully support British athletes and coaches during this “distressing period”.

She said: “We also realise that today’s decision has significant financial implications for our high-performance system and we are working hard to identify the wide-ranging impacts and scenarios, and are in close contact with government to establish how best to support our summer Olympic and Paralympic sports and athletes to be ready for the Games when they do take place.”

‘Worrying time’ for athletes

Recent case law in the UK has shown that Team GB athletes are not seen as employees under British law, which could leave them with a shortfall in government support.

Simon Leaf, a sports lawyer at Mishcon de Reya, said: “From an athlete’s perspective, it is a worrying time. The Olympics is the main chance for many of those athletes to secure important endorsement deals so the delay to the games, will undoubtedly put pressure on those without regular sponsorship income. Even those that do have sponsors will need to check the agreements that they have signed, as they may no longer qualify for important performance-related bonuses that are often linked to achieving certain milestones by given dates.”

An Olympic first

Crisis talks were held over the phone on Tuesday morning between Bach and Abe, who sought what is the first ever postponement in the 124-year history of sport’s showpiece event.The Games have never before been postponed, although they were cancelled in 1916, 1940 (which was also a scheduled Tokyo Games) and 1944, during the first and second World Wars.

What they said

“As a team it has been strange doing so much individual training, but everyone has been pushing on with home-gym programmes and trying to increase their fitness with running and cycling. This is a big change for so many people, but everyone is the same situation. We’ll be doing our best to use this as an opportunity.”
Katie Mullan, Ireland captain

The Hockey Paper



Irish women’s wait for Olympic debut pushed back to 2021



The Irish women’s wait to play in the Olympic Games for the first time has been put on hold for a year following the decision by the IOC and Tokyo to postpone the event until 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Reacting to the news, coach Sean Dancer said: “We really appreciate the tough decisions all parties involved have had to make in recent weeks. The decision to postpone the Games not only puts athlete’s welfare first, but also the welfare of much wider communities and countries.

“These are unprecedented times, and while incredibly stressful for so many, the decision to postpone the Games is one we support.

“Our athletes are continuing to train as much as possible given the current circumstances, and we really look forward to being able to train together as a group again when it is appropriate to do so.”

Captain Katie Mullan added it is a decision which is the right one but also a tough one to deal with as the Olympic dream is put on hold.

“As players, we are gutted with the announcement to postpone the games as our excitement has been building. However we totally understand why this decision has been made. What matters most is players health and wellbeing, as well as our families and friends, and we hope everyone is staying safe and healthy at this difficult time.

“As a team, it has been strange doing so much individual training, but everyone has been pushing on with home-gym programmes and trying to increase their fitness with running and cycling.

“This is a big change for so many people, but everyone is the same situation. We’ll be doing our best to use this as an opportunity.”

High Performance Director Adam Grainger, meanwhile, said: “Hockey Ireland support the IOC and TOCOG (Tokyo Organising Committee for the Olympic Games) in this decision and can appreciate how hard the postponement decision would have been to make.

“Hockey Ireland also understands how difficult this postponement must have been for the Japanese people, with our local hosts Iwate town for example having already invested so much time and effort into successfully hosting Hockey Ireland.

“Our senior women’s team are committed to travelling to Iwate town in 2021 and working with the OFI, Sport Ireland, Sport NI and our sponsors to ensure the best preparation possible for our players and staff.”

In addition to the postponement of the Olympic Games, the summer international schedule is also looking sparse.

Lisnagarvey’s hosting of the men’s EuroHockey Club Challenge I in May was called off by the EHF today.

At Masters level, the Home Nations for men’s Over-35s, 45s and 55s scheduled for June in Swansea and the Celtic Cup for men’s Over-60s and 65s in Glasgow in August are cancelled.

This follows the men’s Over-40s and 50s Home Nations in May in Edinburgh and the Over-60s, 65s and 70s in Southgate as well as the ISVT tournament in Tilburg in April which has already been pulled.

The WMH World Cup in Nottingham in August remains on the agenda for the time being.

At underage level, a decision will be made on whether European Hockey Federation’s summer competitions at Under-18 and 21 level will go ahead will be made after April 7.

The host for the U-18 boys and girls Championships, Kazan, Russia, has had to withdraw from hosting due to a Government directive.

If the tournament is possible to go ahead, an alternative host will be sought.

The Hook



A step in right direction

Indian athletes hail decision to postpone Games

Vinayak Padmadeo


Indian men’s team chief coach Graham Reid during a training session in Bengaluru. HI

It came as a great relief for the Indian athletes as news percolated down that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has postponed the Tokyo Olympics to 2021.

A few of them are somewhat sad that they will now have to wait another year to get a shot at Olympics glory, but others saw it an opportunity to work hard and get better at their skills.

Skeet shooter Angad Bajwa, winner of back-to-back gold medals at the Asian Shooting Championships, said it was a sad day but the right call had been made. “It is a sad day for me and many others, we have worked hard to earn the qualifications and were looking forward to competing in Tokyo, but under these circumstances we all knew that the Games will have to be postponed,” he said.

The only Indian athlete to have won two individual Olympics medals, wrestler Sushil Kumar, mirrored Bajwa’s views. “I don’t mind Olympics getting pushed to 2021. Health of our athletes and general population is more important that anything else,” Sushil said.

“This is the first time that I am forced to spend time at my home. My wife and my twins are thrilled about it, but I have never spent time like this away from mat. But the situation is such that we all need to take care. So it is fine that Olympics can wait,” added Sushil, who had not yet qualified for the Olympics.

Good move

Boxer Vikas Krishan, who earned his Tokyo ticket at the Asian Olympic Qualifier Tournament in Jordan, welcomed the postponement. “I am very happy and I welcome this move to postpone the Olympics. It wouldn’t feel right for sports when people are dying all around us,” 69kg division boxer Krishan said. “It is a relief. Now I am waiting for the day when the government tells us that the danger is over and we can resume the camps and train hard. Till that time, we all have to stay home and stay clear of the virus,” he added.

‘Can’t wait to get started’

Rifle shooter and Olympian Sanjeev Rajput said that he is itching to get back to competitive training. “If you ask me, the postponement is an advantage to us (Indian shooters), for it gives us another year to fine-tune our technique and work on our weaker points,” Rajput said. “But the important part for us would be to declare the team and give them a quarantine facility to the Tokyo-bound team where they can train,” he added.

Reactions

The situation right now is not good. Life always comes first, everything else can wait. Players' safety is paramount. Everyone who took this decision factored this in. I think it's good for everyone. Now I get more time to prepare, our training plans can be extended. And it's not just for me, it is true for everyone around the world. — Mary Kom, boxer

Happy that it's postponed even though some of us haven't qualified. We are eager to know what the qualification (process) would be like going ahead. As an athlete who's played Olympics before I would say it's good as everyone can chill now and not worry about preparations amid a lockdown. We all have to be safe first and then we can think about preparations — Saina Nehwal, badminton star

It's a good decision because everyone is disturbed. Athletes' health is paramount. No one is training properly. It's not just about India, it's also about the entire world. We first have to save people from this epidemic. — Bajrang Punia, wrestler

It is very disappointing that the Olympics will not go ahead in 2020, but given the unprecedented circumstances facing the world at present it is totally understandable and expected. — Graham Reid, men's hockey team coach

It was really required as no athlete is able to train all over the world. It's good that the Olympics is postponed and now we have proper time to train and prepare and plan. — Anjum Moudgil, shooter

The Tribune



Indian Hockey coaches: Disappointed but will prepare better now

Despite the disappointment of Tokyo 2020 being postponed, Indian Hockey coaches Graham Reid and Sjoerd Marijne are focusing on preparations for next summer.


Both the men's and women's teams are in National Camp at the Sports Authority of India's Bengaluru campus and are expected to be there till April 15.

Hockey India has announced that it will set systems in place for both women's and men's teams' preparations to be on track for the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

The national hockey body has said that despite disappointment over the development, priority is to work with Chief Coaches of both teams to work out a new schedule to keep the momentum going until next summer.

"We have informed the Chief Coaches about the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Games. Of course there is a sense of disappointment but the COVID-19 situation is unprecedented and has impacted the entire world. We will, however, continue our pursuit along with the Indian Olympic Association, Ministry, Youth Affairs & Sports and Sports Authority of India to achieve success at the Olympic Games and our goals remain unchanged," HI President Mohammed Mushtaque Ahmad said in a statement.

Men's team coach Graham Reid insists on looking at the positives in the situation.

"It is very disappointing that the Olympics will not go ahead in 2020, but given the unprecedented circumstances facing the world at present it is totally understandable and expected. I feel sorry for all the athletes who have dedicated the last 4 years of their life for this, however postponement rather than cancellation will give most of them enough motivation to continue to push through this tough period," he said.

Reid emphasised that the focus now is to be prepared for International competition as soon as restrictions are lifted. With victories again three top teams in the FIH Hockey Pro League, the head coach hopes the momentum sustains.

"The positive in this situation for us is that we have another year to work with this young squad. We are lucky that SAI has provided us with a safe environment and that we can continue to train. Unlike many other countries, there is no time lost for us. We will now rework our programme and be ready for International competition as soon as restrictions are lifted. I think the recent FIH Hockey Pro League games against the top 3 teams in the world showed that we are competitive. I’m excited to think about what this team can do with another year under its belt."

Women's Team Chief Coach Sjoerd Marijne said the side is undeterred by the postponement of the Olympics. "I just had a meeting with the team and broke this news to the group. Though it is disappointing, the girls told me, 'It's ok, Coach. We will continue to work the way we are and this probably gives us more time to prepare for the Olympic Games and be our best.'

Both the men's and women's teams are in National Camp at the Sports Authority of India's Bengaluru campus. A meeting between HI, SAI and the Chief coaches is due to happen soon to map out a training and fixture schedule for the Olympic-bound squad going ahead.

Meanwhile, both teams are expected to remain in Bengaluru till April 15 as previously mandated by SAI.

Sportstar



Hockey India working with coaches to make schedule adjustments following postponement of Games


File photo India men's hockey team. Image credits Twitter @TheHockeyIndia

New Delhi: As International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided to postpone the Tokyo Olympics to next year due to coronavirus, Hockey India on Tuesday said that it will be working with both men's and women's team coaches in order to work out a suitable competition and training schedule.

"We have informed the chief coaches about the postponement of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Of course, there is a sense of disappointment but the COVID-19 situation is unprecedented and has impacted the entire world. We will, however, continue our pursuit along with the Indian Olympic Association, Ministry, Youth Affairs & Sports and Sports Authority of India to achieve success at the Olympic Games and our goals remain unchanged," Hockey India President Mohd. Mushtaque Ahmad said in an official statement.

Both the Indian men's and women's teams are currently in national camp at the Sports Authority of India campus in Bengaluru. Hockey India will hold a meeting with the chief coaches of both teams, in order to map out a training and fixture schedule for the teams who were to take part in the Olympic Games in July-August this year.

"It is very disappointing that the Olympics will not go ahead in 2020, but given the unprecedented circumstances facing the world at present, it is totally understandable and expected. I feel sorry for all the athletes who have dedicated the last four years of their life for this, however postponement rather than cancellation will give most of them enough motivation to continue to push through this tough period," expressed Indian men's hockey team chief coach Graham Reid.

Meanwhile, the Indian women's team chief coach Sjoerd Marijne said, "I just had a meeting with the team and broke this news to the group. Though it is disappointing, the girls told me, 'It's ok, coach. We will continue to work the way we are and this probably gives us more time to prepare for the Olympic Games and be our best.' Clearly, the girls' motivation is undeterred by this announcement and we will continue to look at the positives and work hard to be our best. I am sure once the situation around COVID-19 improves, we will sit down with Hockey India management to plan out a fresh calendar for the preparations leading up to the Olympics next year."

Earlier today, for the first time in the history of the mega global event, the Olympics were postponed by a year.

The decision was confirmed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) after the organising body for the event and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to reschedule the Tokyo Olympics in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Tokyo Olympics will now take place next year.

The IOC has, however, said that the original name of Tokyo 2020 will remain intact irrespective of the fact that it will take place next year.

"In the present circumstances and based on the information provided by the WHO today, the IOC President and the Prime Minister of Japan have concluded that the Games of the XXXII Olympiad in Tokyo must be rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021, to safeguard the health of the athletes, everybody involved in the Olympic Games and the international community," the IOC said in an official statement.

The Tokyo Olympic Games were slated to be held from 24 July to 9 August, while the Paralympic Games were scheduled to be held from 25 August to 6 September.

Firstpost



What the Indian hockey players are up to?

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, Indian Hockey players are utilising their free time to hone their English language skills, reading books and watching their favourite movies.


India's star forward Mandeep Singh (in picture) is using the time to improve his English - PTI

Locked inside the SAI centre due to the COVID-19 forced restrictions, Indian Hockey players are utilising their free time to hone their English language skills, reading books and watching their favourite movies.

Indian men and women's hockey teams are practising at SAI centre Bengaluru where no unauthorised person can enter the campus.

Despite the uncertainty over Tokyo Olympic Indian hockey teams are following their rigorous training schedules. .

Senior member of men’s team goalkeeper P.R. Sreejesh is reading books which were in his wish list for a while.

“Our routine is as usual but we get free time on Sundays and Wednesday evening. We work on fitness and recovery . I have read Da Vinci Code, autobiography of Helen Keller. I have some more books in my wishlist,” Sreejesh told PTI.

In the crisis time, the players are also concerned about their families and are in touch with them through video calls.

“My father is above 60 and kids are below seven. I have strictly instructed them not to move out of the house,” said the veteran from Kerala.

For star forward Mandeep Singh, it is the time to improve English and he is taking it very seriously along with others.

“Wife of Chris Ciriello (team’s analytical coach) takes English classes once in a week. We are doing assignments which include reading good English books. I have started reading one book on Olympics,” said the player from Jalandhar who recently won the HI best forward award.

Indian women team’s experienced goal-keeper Savita gets daily do’s and don’ts list from her mother who is in Sirsa, Haryana though her family is assured of her safety and health at SAI centre.

“We are very safe here as the campus is very neat and clean. We don’t want to go out and don’t want to get bored either, so working on innovative recreation games based on team bonding. We change roommates regularly to have better understanding between each and every players,” said Savita.

Indian women team also joined the nation to show gratitude towards the health warriors in the fight against Coronavirus by clapping together. The video went viral on social media.

“It was instinctive. We know how difficult the times are. We wanted to show the solidarity with the nation and also thank those who are on duty against this fight,” she added.

Another player Navneet Kaur said they are following the guidelines regarding social-distancing and maintaining hygiene.

“We are maintaining distance and use hand wash and sanitisers. We sanitize the gym also before exercise,” she said.

“Normally we used to go out for shopping and movie. Last week we had time so we watched many latest bollywood movies released together in the meeting room which include ‘Panipat’, ‘Pyar ka Panchnama’ and ‘War’,” she said.

Sportstar



Alloysius Edwards: Lockdown presents a major challenge for athletes

The worst hit by the postponement of the Olympics will be those on the verge of making it to the event, says the former India hockey goalkeeper.

V. V. Subrahmanyam


Alloysius Edwards: "With each passing month, the motivation might not be the same [for athletes bidding to qualify for and participate in the Olympics.]" - SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

It is never easy for any athlete to prepare for any rescheduled event as months of planning goes wasted, feels former India hockey goalkeeper Alloysius Edwards.

Alloysius represented India in 147 internationals between 1989 and 2000, including the 1994 World Cup. He was part of the Indian team at the Olympics in Atlanta, U.S., in 1996.

In a chat with Sportstar on Tuesday, the 51-year-old Alloysius said that the worst hit by the postponement of the Olympics will be those who are on the verge of making it to the Games. “The biggest challenge for any athlete is to be at home, particularly with this kind of a lockdown. When injured, you have that confidence of coming back, but here you are staring at many grim possibilities,” he reasons out.

“Nowadays, every country has a long-term, scientific training programme for Olympic berth contenders. There will be some who might just miss the bus, too, for the simple reason that there will be fresh guidelines and qualifying standards, especially in individual disciplines,” Alloysius said.

Uncertainty factor

“And, also, any young, fresh, performing talent cannot be ignored, especially in individual events, for the rescheduled Games,” he added.

“With each passing month, the motivation might not be the same as the time-frame has changed now,” he feels.

“What is important to note is that any athlete prepares with the specific objective of peaking at the right time. [A] majority of the athletes should have primed themselves hoping the Games will be held this year as scheduled,” says Alloysius, a manager at the Punjab & Sind Bank in Hyderabad.

‘Major challenge’

Alloyisus should know what it means to miss Olympics. For after being in the one-month preparatory camp in Brisbane ahead the Sydney Olympics in 2000, and even presented with the official No. 12 blazer (which he exchanged with Jude Felix’s No. 1 on the latter’s request), he was sent home and Devesh Chauhan preferred instead.

“You are bound to face many hurdles once the original schedule goes awry. This is a major challenge both for the athletes and the coaches as the whole training programme has to be re-drawn,” he explained.

“Definitely, postponement is the only sensible option left for the Olympics organisers given the grim scenario across the world. After all, athletes’ health and safety are of paramount importance at any given time,” he concluded.

Sportstar



FIH withdraws geo blocking amid COVID-19 pandemic

Geo-blocking of online streaming means that content available via internet in one country can’t be accessed in another nation.

The International Hockey Federation (FIH) on Tuesday announced it has withdrawn any geo-blocking on its online streaming platform for the last two seasons of the Pro League in its bid to increase engagements with the fans during the COVID-19 lockdown.

Geo-blocking of online streaming means that content available via internet in one country can’t be accessed in another nation.

The coronavirus outbreak has claimed over 16,000 lives and infected close to 400,000 people world over. The pandemic has caused the world to come to a virtual standstill.

Sports calendars have been shredded with the governments across the globe calling for social-distancing.

FIH was also forced to suspend all the Pro League matches, including fixtures involving India, to May 17, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As hockey fans and players around the world are staying at home to help the fight against COVID-19, FIH has decided to strengthen its engagement with them by bringing the best of hockey to their households,” FIH CEO, Thierry Weil said in a media release.

The world body also announced that the Olympic qualifiers, played in October and November last year, and the 2018 men’s and women’s World Cups will also be available to stream over the next couple of weeks on FIH social media platforms.

Sportstar



EHF cancels all EuroHockey Club Trophy and Challenge events, 2020

During the EHF Board meeting that took place (via video conference) on Saturday 21st March, the Board discussed all competition matters at length led by Walter Kapounek (Competitions Chair) and David Voskamp (Competitions Manager)

The Board agreed that the Women’s Club Trophy scheduled for Easter and all the other EuroHockey Club events scheduled for Whitsun are to be cancelled, due to the ongoing impact of COVID 19.

The EHF President, Marijke Fleuren said “We (the EHF Board) are very disappointed for every player, coach, official, umpire, fan and volunteer that we had to make this decision to cancel the EuroHockey Club Trophy and Challenge events for 2020.

This festival of hockey all around Europe, with our clubs being the focus is a highlight for me every year.

What we had to prevent was that everybody has to make a choice for her/himself. We had to take the decision to go on with or to cancel the matches with all your interests in our minds.

I wish the whole European hockey family well and I know that when we restart hockey in Europe we will find extra joy in seeing each other, our friends and families in our hockey clubs and being all together again”

Note:

  • Ranking – the implications for the rankings were discussed and the EHF will inform National Associations of this in due course.
  • The EHL Final8 is still on hold and options for it will be discussed with the EHL Board shortly.

EuroHockey media release



Sultana Bran Hockey One 2020 Season postponed



Season 2 of the Sultana Bran Hockey One League has been postponed until 2021 due to the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 global health crisis.

The Hockey One Board confirmed the difficult decision at a meeting late yesterday.

“We understand that fans, sponsors, partners, players and all other stakeholders were looking forward to the second season of Sultana Bran Hockey One League later this year, following the successful inaugural season held in October-November 2019,” said General Manager Tony Dodemaide.

“The League and Member Associations, operators of the men’s and women’s teams, had made extensive progress in planning for the second season, with the schedule close to being announced just as the scale of the pandemic was becoming apparent.

“In close consultation with Hockey Australia and our Member Associations, it became clear that the impacts of the crisis were such that they could not support the program later in the year, with their priorities quite rightly shifting to their organisational adjustments and supporting their local clubs and associations through this difficult period.”

With the majority of Australia’s other major national sporting competitions also being postponed, Mr Dodemaide emphasised the commitment to the future of the Sultana Bran Hockey One League.

“In recognising the realities of the current situation, our Board, sponsors, partners and stakeholders all remain committed to the long-term vision of Hockey One as a key vehicle for the sport of hockey,” said Dodemaide.

“Our first season validated the belief that elite hockey has a rightful and viable place in the national sporting landscape, with sponsors, team members, match attendees, TV viewers and fans engaging like never before with a domestic hockey competition.

“We look forward to building on those foundations and presenting the second edition of Sultana Bran Hockey One League even bigger and better in 2021.”

“In the meantime, we wish all our fans and stakeholders a safe passage through the current crisis, and fully support and endorse all of the measures articulated by both Federal and State Health authorities in recent communications.”

Sultana Bran Hockey One League Media release



SPAR Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge postponed


The SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge events have been postponed indefinitely because of the coronavirus outbreak. The first tournament had been scheduled for April 5. Photo: Full Stop Communications

Port Elizabeth - The annual SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge, scheduled to have started next week, has been postponed due to steps announced by the government to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

The event involves schools from the Eastern Cape and Southern Cape and was scheduled to get under way in Grahamstown on April 5.

Other tournaments were pencilled in for April and May, with the provincial finals set for July 25 and 26 in Port Elizabeth.

However, national tournament director Les Galloway, who is based in Durban, said the circumstances left them with no choice but to adhere to the restrictions placed on events of this nature.

“Given the announcement by the President and a directive from SA Hockey we have had to postpone indefinitely our 2020 SPAR Eastern Cape tournaments,” she said in a message to the schools.

“SPAR fully supports this decision even though they love the Hockey Challenges as much as they hope you love participating.

“We are also very aware of how full your schools’ programmes are, but if there is a possibility of rescheduling we will see if we can do this.”

SPAR EC sponsorship and events manager Alan Stapleton said it was a sad time for sport, but they fully understood the sensitive nature of the situation.

“As throughout the world, we are going through some tough times in South Africa, with our lives in every aspect being affected by Covid-19,” he said.

“We believe if we adhere to the restrictions that have been put in place by the government and follow the right protocols we as a nation can together overcome the current situation.”

In his address last week, President Cyril Ramaphosa declared a national state of disaster due to the virus and announced a range of measures to control further contamination.

“Gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited,” the president said. “In addition large events and celebrations are cancelled.”

The postponement of the Hockey Challenge falls in line with other major sporting events which have been put on hold.

Stapleton said confirmation of any new dates would be released on the retailer’s digital platforms and in the media as soon as they became available.

Fullstop Communications media release for SPAR Eastern Cape Schoolgirls Hockey Challenge



14 years ago on this day at Melbourne

K. Arumugam


Melbourne CWG Silver winning Indian women's hockey team

Fourteen years ago on this day India played the second successive Commonwealth Games final at Melbourne, Australia. Led by impact making medio Sumrai Tete, India beat their old nemesis New Zealand in the Semifinal, pint-size Surinder Kaur striking the solitary goal of the match. The stage was set for repeat Manchester.

Indian girls were the defending champions at Melbourne, having won a scintiallating quarterfinal and final through extra time golden goal at Manchester four years ago.

The Melbourne hockey stadium was full what with the hosts, who won the inaugural Gold at Kuala Lumpur, was all out to regain its status of being the World No.1 team which it was then. Australia lost to England at Manchester.

India team had a roller coaster roll, having drawn South Africa 2-2 in the league and losing to Australia tamely in the opener (2-4).

But the final was a different cup of tea. India went full stream, stunning the hosts on their forte: speed and ball control. Indian game was praiseworthy because it had to rest two key players, captain Sumrai and centre-forward Sunita Kullu, who were injured.

Half-time score was nil nil.

In the second half, coach MK Kaushik faced dilemma as couple of others too had sustained injuries. Perhaps thinking a half-fit Sumrai is as good as any player, she was fielded with moderate success. struggling India came in for handy for their rivals. Australia struck a late goal to win second of their CWG Gold but they were stretched by the never-say-die Indian girls.

In the 62nd minute Australia's Sarah Taylor smashed a ball into the circle after intercepting a fumbled clearance from Indian defence, allowing captain Nikky Hudson to deflect a shot past the Indian goalkeeper Helen Mary for the winning goal.

Australian coach Murray was ecstatic at the marvellous goal.

The strength of the Indian team was Coach Kaushik's belief on tribal power. Most of the 16 member team were from the Odisha-Jharkhand belt. They all lived upto the expectations.

Its not gold but Silver was no less for a team that was preparing for the year's World Cup and the Asian Games.


Captain Sumrai Tete receiving prestigious Dhyan Chand Award at the hands of President of India.

Its 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games' success story that prompted Jaideep Sahni to script Chak De India, having stayed with the team during camp for about three months, and in constant discussion with M K Kaushik.

The most successful of sports film, Chak De India was released a year after Melbourne. Actually, most climax scenes were shot at Melbourne!

However, when the team returned there was no euphoria back in India contrary to what one witnessed in 2002. Indians don't consider Silver medal a worthy of celebration!

The fact of the matter is that India did not reach the semis in the next two outings, and did not turn up with bronze even when it did so at the latest edition in Gold Coast.

Stick2Hockey.com

 

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