The U.S. Tennis Association is warning folks: No Bryan Brothers chest bumps.
That was among the suggestions from the USTA on Wednesday, when it offered return-to-play guidelines to help players and people running tennis facilities know when  and how  the sport should resume at the amateur level as coronavirus lockdown restrictions ease.
The USTA thinks it will be safe to again play tennis in some cities and states sooner than in others. One of the recommendations is to maintain social distancing by staying 6 feet apart from other people  and, therefore, to avoiding playing doubles, because it could lead to incidental contact and unwanted proximity.
The group that runs the U.S. Open went on to add: If you do play doubles, avoid all incidental contact, no Bryan Brothers chest bumps and no whispering to each other from a close distance to strategize.
American twins Bob and Mike Bryan have won 16 Grand Slam titles in men's doubles together and celebrate wins by jumping simultaneously and .

US Tennis warns 'no Bryan Brothers chest bumps'

PTI Automatic

The World Games in Birmingham, Alabama has unveiled an updated logo and title after being delayed a year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Olympic-style competition for sports and events that are not on the Summer Games program will now be known as The World Games 2022.
The event was initially scheduled for July 2021, but it will now be held in July 2022 to accommodate the one-year postponement of the 2020 Summer Olympics.
While those games will continue to be known as Tokyo 2020, the World Games decided to go with a more accurate moniker.
The organizing committee also unveiled a new website.

Delayed World Games has new logo and title

David Beckham, part owner of the Major League Soccer club Inter Miami, is auctioning off a chance to take him on in a five-on-five match, part of a package that includes lunch with the English legend and a chance to watch a game from the owners' box.
The auction is part of the league's participation in the All In Challenge, which raises money for organizations that are feeding the hungry during the coronavirus pandemic, including Meals on Wheels, No Kid Hungry, America's Food Fund, World Central Kitchen and Feeding America.
Other MLS-related auctions include an opportunity to fly to Los Angeles to attend an LAFC game with comedian Will Ferrell, a part owner of that club. MLS Commissioner Don Garber is auctioning off a chance for a fan to get their name on the official MLS game ball when games resume.
MLS suspended the season on March 12.

Bend it like Beckham? How about Bend it WITH Beckham

How do you support your football team when you are not allowed inside the stadium or even anywhere near it?
German football fans are having to come up with innovative ways to cheer on their clubs, with hopes the Bundesliga can return behind closed doors next month as the coronavirus pandemic forces supporters to stay away.
The German Football League (DFL) will meet Thursday to outline plans for the country's top flight to resume from May 9 having been halted in mid-March.
It is planned that the games will be held in near-empty stadiums without fans -- dubbed 'ghost games' in German.
With large public events banned in most of Germany until at least August 31, the DFL will also need special permission from Angela Merkel's government in order to resume.
To prepare for a potential restart, the Bundesliga's 18 clubs have been back in training for three weeks, and fans across the country are coming up with novel ways to support their team without setting foot on the terraces.
For 19 euros ..

Germany's locked-out football fans ponder how to support their teams

Wales attacker Gareth Bale has said that he had donated ?500,000 ($615,000) to the hospital where he was born to help in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Real Madrid's Bale, 30, who has won four Champions League titles since joining the Spanish giants in 2013, made the announcement in a Twitter post by the Cardiff and Vale Health Board.
"I just wanted to make this video to thank everybody in the NHS for their hard work and sacrifice during this COVID-19 crisis," he said "The University Hospital of Wales holds a special place in my heart, it's where I was born and it's provided great support to my friends, my family and the wider community.
"Me and my family we'd like to show our support. Keep up the good work, you're doing an amazing job and thank you very much," he added.
As of Wednesday 624 people had died from the illness in Wales with more than 8,000 cases recorded.
Spain's La Liga has been suspended since March 12 due to the outbreak but football authorities in the ...

Bale gives ?500,000 to 'special' Cardiff hospital

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday indefinitely postponed its national team's July tour of the Netherlands after the Dutch government banned all events until September 1 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The team was scheduled to play three ODIs in Amstelveen on July 4, 7 and 9.
"It is sad that we have to postpone our July tour to the Netherlands, but in the prevailing circumstances, this is absolutely the right thing to do as human lives are far more precious and valuable than a cricket match or an event," PCB chief executive officer Wasim Khan said in a press release.
The ban on mass gatherings will also affect the Dutch Formula One Grand Prix, due to the return to the calendar for the first time since 1985, and the MotoGP race at Assen scheduled for June 28.
"Netherlands has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and we offer our heartfelt condolences to all those who have lost their lives. Like any other country, the PCB stands firmly with them and hope they will ..

Pakistan's July tour of the Netherlands indefinitely postponed

The World Snooker Championship has been rescheduled to start in July after being postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, governing body World Snooker Tour (WST) said on Wednesday.
The sport's premier tournament was originally scheduled to open in Sheffield last week, but it is now set to run between July 31 and August 16, subject to British government guidelines on the health crisis.
"The world is going through a very challenging period but live sport can be a massive inspiration for the public and can boost morale. This gives fans of top class sport something on their calendar to look ahead to and enjoy for 17 days," WST chairman Barry Hearn said.
The Crucible Theatre which hosts the tournament has a capacity of just under 1,000, but it could be played with a reduced crowd, behind closed doors or even postponed again depending on government advice.
The World Championship was won last year by top-ranked Judd Trump, who thrashed Scotland's John Higgins 18-9 in the final.

Snooker's World Championship given July start after virus delay

Indian Super League (ISL) side Kerala Blasters on Wednesday appointed Mohun Bagan's I-League winning coach Kibu Vicuna as their head coach for the upcoming season.
This came hours after the franchise announced that it has parted ways with Eelco Schattorie after one season at the helm of affairs.
"We are happy to announce that Kibu Vicuna will take over as head coach for the upcoming season!" Kerala Blasters said in a tweet.
Spain's Vicuna oversaw Mohun Bagan win the title with four rounds to spare. The league was suspended midway due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later had to be called off with Mohun Bagan declared champions.
Mohun Bagan have merged with ATK to enter the ISL from next season with Antonio Lopez Habas, who coached ATK to their record third title, in charge of the combined outfit.
Dutchman Schattorie was in charge of the Kochi-based outfit in the ISL 2019-20 and could only guide the club to a poor seventh-place finish.
"Kerala Blasters FC have parted ways with the Head ...

Kerala Blasters appoint Vicuna as coach after parting ways with Schattorie

Italy's sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora said on Wednesday that a decision will be made "in the coming days" on whether Italian football clubs can return to training amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Spadafora held a two-hour video-conference on Wednesday with representatives of Italian football, including federation chiefs, professional and amateurs leagues, players and doctors.
"I listened with great attention to the various positions that emerged and in the next few days, after a discussion with the Minister of Health and the Technical Scientific Committee, we will issue the updated provisions regarding the possibility and the procedures for a return to training," said Spadafora.
The 20 Serie A clubs voted unanimously on Tuesday to complete the Italian league season, which has been suspended for the past six weeks.
The federation presented the Minister with a medical code to allow the resumption of competition.
Players could start training again, in small groups and under strict ...

Italy's sports minister says decision imminent on return to football

The English non-league football season is over after clubs voted in favour of ending the campaign on Wednesday.
No decision has yet been made on whether the league tables in the National League, National League North and National League South will be upheld as they stand or the competition declared null and void.
Leagues from the seventh-tier down were brought to an end and all results expunged last month.
"The options concerning the sporting outcomes of the 2019/20 season remain under careful and timely consideration, and further updates will be given in due course," the National League said in a statement.
The top four divisions of the English game are still planning on trying to finish the season when it is safe for football to return.
However, there is growing sentiment among League One and Two clubs that playing the campaign out behind closed doors could just burn what little money they have left.
"At a time when the entire country is wrestling with the devastating impact of ...

English non-league season declared over

Former New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum on Wednesday advocated for this year's T20 World Cup to be postponed to early next year, saying the currently-suspended IPL should take the mega-event's slot.
The COVID-19 pandemic has halted all global sporting activities, jeopardising the T20 World Cup, scheduled in Australia from October 18-November 15, and also "indefinitely" suspending the 13th IPL, which was slated to begin on March 29.
"I think the IPL will try and target that October window and the T20 World Cup will get pushed back," McCullum, the coach of IPL side Kolkata Knight Riders,  told 'Sky Cricket Podcast'.
There is also the women's ODI World Cup scheduled in New Zealand in February, 2021.
"That may mean the Women's World Cup gets pushed back but hopefully we get to see all three tournaments operate."
McCullum said he neither sees the T20 World Cup happening without the stadium fans nor does he believe that teams from 16 nations will be able to travel to Australia in the ...

T20 World Cup can be pushed to 2021 with IPL taking its slot: McCullum

Former New Zealand skipper and IPL franchise coach  Brendon McCullum on Wednesday advocated for this year's men's T20 World Cup could be postponed to early next year with a rescheduled cash-rich league taking its slot.
As far as 2021 women's ODI world Cup pushed further back.
The COVID-19 pandemic has halted all global sporting activities, jeopardising the 2020 T20 World Cup, scheduled in Australia from October 18-November 15 and also "indefinitely" suspending the 13th IPL, which was slated to begin in March.
Besides, there is also the women's ODI World Cup scheduled in New Zealand in February, 2021.
McCullum said he neither sees the T20 World Cup happening without crowd nor does he believe that teams from 16 nations will be able to travel to Australia in the wake of the travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected more than 2.5 million people globally.
"I think the IPL will try and target that October window and the T20 World Cup will get pushed back," ...

T20 World Cup could be pushed to 2021 with IPL taking its slot: McCullum

The days of European clubs spending hundreds of millions on transfers are over with television companies set to scale back on their investments in football, according to Jaume Roures, chief executive of Spanish media company Mediapro.
Mediapro could prove a key player in clubs surviving the financial crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic after it snapped up most of the domestic rights for France's Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 for four years starting next season in a total deal worth a record 1.153 billion euros (USD 1.25 billion) annually.
The Chinese-owned company also has rights to show La Liga matches in pubs and bars in Spain, despite its deal as the league's principal broadcaster ending two years ago.
The likes of Sky Sports and BT Sport, the English Premier League's domestic broadcasters in the UK, and Sky in Germany, will be watching with interest to see how Mediapro handles its contract due to begin in France in August. It has not yet even set up a channel.
In an exclusive ...

No more big-money signings as broadcasters forced to scale back, says Mediapro boss Roures

The All India Chess Federation on Wednesday decided to approach the union sports ministry seeking its intervention in conducting the election of the body already marred by factional fights.
Among the other notable decision taken at the Special General Body Meeting, a five-member panel was formed to look into the day to day affairs of the federation.
The five-member committee comprising Vipnesh Bharadwaj, Naresh Sharma, Bhavesh Patel, Neeraj Kumar Mishra and Bhagyashree Thipsay.
Bharadwaj, one of the committee members told PTI, "Yes..it will be a steady process, but we will end the turmoil. Chess players will gain. Chess and AICF will shine again!!"
The SGM held through an online conference was attended by as many as 25 affiliated state bodies with 44 members taking part, a press release from the AICF said.
In all, seven associations, and PR Venketrama Raja (Chairman, Ramco Group), the AICF president and Vijay Deshpande opposed the meeting.
As a result of the ongoing turmoil in the ...

Beyond 64 Squares: AICF seeks sports ministry intervention in conducting elections

Roger Federer raised the prospect of merging the governing bodies that oversee the men's and women's professional tennis tours on Wednesday.
The 20-time Grand Slam champion began a string of posts on Twitter by saying the shutdown of tennis because of the coronavirus outbreak has given the sport an ideal opportunity to assess its future.
"Am I the only one thinking that now is the time for men's and women's tennis to be united and come together as one?" Federer wrote, sparking an initial flurry of replies on the social media platform.
The professional era in tennis started in 1968, and the ATP was founded in 1972 and has run the men's game since. The WTA was founded by Billie Jean King in 1973, uniting the women's professional game into one tour.
Federer emphasized he was "not talking about merging competition on the court" but rather the two governing bodies.
In a response to a reader's comment, Federer wrote: "It's too confusing for the fans when there are different ranking systems, 

Federer raises prospect of merging men's and women's tours

Tainted former Pakistan captain Saleem Malik on Wednesday pleaded with his country's cricket administrators to drop his lifetime match-fixing ban and help fulfil his goal to take up coaching assignments.
The 57-year-old Malik was found guilty of match fixing following a judicial inquiry in 2000 in a scandal that rocked the cricket world.
Twenty years later, he contended that other players guilty of corruption have been allowed to return to the sport, while asking for another chance at redemption.
"I have wanted to serve my country and players as a coach," he said in a video message.
Former fast bowler Ata-ur-Rehman was also banned for life in the inquiry while six other players were fined.
"Whenever I tried to serve as a coach, I was not considered," said Malik, who played 103 Tests and 283 one-day internationals in a career that stretched from 1982 to 1999.
Known for his wristy play, especially square of the wicket, Malik was the first player to be banned from all ...

Pakistan's Malik wants cricket ban to be dropped, eyes coaching job

The Indian Olympic Association on Wednesday decided to ask the Sports Ministry to allow national campers undergo outdoor training inside major sports centres in the country by following necessary precautions during the lockdown and after that.
All sports activities have been stopped due to COVID-19-forced nationwide lockdown which has been extended till May 3 and the athletes are barred from any outdoor training even inside their facilities. They have to follow the social distancing guidelines of the government strictly.
Campers at the NIS-Patiala had already written to the Ministry requesting to allow them outdoor training (but inside the facility) in small numbers and different timings in the day so that they can follow social distancing.
"(We will) request SAI and MYAS that there are few SAI centres such as Patiala, Bangalore etc where athletes were training prior to the lockdown. These athletes who are in these centres should be allowed to train and the athletes will respect & ...

IOA decides to ask Sports Ministry to allow national campers outdoor training inside SAI centres

Susie Maxwell Berning, one of six women to capture the US Women's Open at least three times, has been elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame announced the election Wednesday morning, making Maxwell Berning the fourth and final member of the 2021 induction class that includes Tiger Woods, Marion Hollins and former PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem.
Berning was elected from the female category, beating out Beverly Hanson, Sandra Palmer and Dottie Pepper.
"Just to be in the same room as Mickey Wright, Kathy Whitworth, Judy Rankin and Patty Berg ... to be honored alongside them is something I thought would never happen," Maxwell Berning said.
"I'm now part of their family, which makes me very proud."
She was the first woman to receive a golf scholarship from Oklahoma City University and competed on the men's team. Maxwell Berning was LPGA Tour rookie of the year, won her first major at the Women's Western Open in 1965 and really made a name for herself at the biggest ...

Maxwell Berning, winner of 3 US Opens, gets in Hall of Fame

The Berlin Marathon says the race cannot be held as planned in September because of new restrictions in the city related to the coronavirus pandemic.
City authorities have extended a ban on major events with more than 5,000 people until October 24. More than 62,000 people took part in the marathon last year.
Organizers say they will take time to "engage with the consequences of the authorities blocking our events, agree on further steps and then inform you."
There was no mention of any plan to restrict the race to elite runners only. That was the solution used by the Tokyo Marathon on March 1.
The Berlin Marathon is typically one of the fastest in the world. The current men's world record was set in Berlin by Eliud Kipchoge in 2018.

Berlin Marathon can't be run as planned in September

The French rugby league has canceled the semifinals of its Top 14 league because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The LNR's executive committee abandoned hosting the semifinals on June 19 and 20 and the final in mid-July in the southern city of Nice but says they could potentially be played before the end of summer if health conditions allow.
The LNR says it is waiting to see what rules the government sets out following the end of lockdown before definitively deciding if a resumption is possible.
France is under lockdown until May 11.

French rugby league cancels Top 14 semifinals

A Saudi-backed takeover of Newcastle United appears to be nearing completion at a time when the rest of the football industry is on its knees due to the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
For Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), led by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the crisis presents a commercial opportunity and a chance to break into the lucrative Premier League.
But the potential 300 million pound (USD 370 million) deal, which will reportedly see the Saudi fund take an 80 percent stake in the club, is facing fierce opposition from human rights groups and one of Saudi's regional rivals.
The Premier League bubble is close to bursting as clubs scramble to avoid losing hundreds of millions in broadcast rebates if the season is not completed and a deep recession threatens income from gate receipts, merchandise and sponsorship.
As a result, transfer fees are expected to drop sharply while wages will also be depressed, with even the world's wealthiest clubs ...

Page 81 -