D2 ez sU the washington post.friday, march 13 , 2020
quotable“I would never do
anything that would put
my team, family or
anyone in harm’s way.”
freD Hoiberg,
nebraska men’s basketball coach,
who was hospitalized late Wednesday
night after falling ill during a Big ten
tournament game against indiana.
Hoiberg was eventually diagnosed
with influenza a.olympicsBY SCOTT ALLENThe flame for the 2020 To kyo
Olympics was lit before an unusu-
ally small crowd of accredited
guests Thursday in Ancient
Olympia, Greece, where the
Games originated. Amid growing
fears about the coronavirus out-
break, the torch-lighting ceremo-
ny, which dates from 1936 and
normally draws thousands to the
Te mple of Hera, was held without
spectators lining the slopes of the
tiny town. Greece reported its
first fatality as a result of the
coronavirus Thursday.
Greek actress Xanthi Georgiou
used a parabolic mirror to ignite
the torch before handing it to
Greek Olympic shooting champi-
on Anna Korakaki, who became
the first woman to be the first
torchbearer of the torch relay.
The gold medalist at the 2016 Rio
Games then passed the flame to
Japan’s Mizuki Noguchi, who
won the gold medal in the mara-
thon at the 2004 Athens Games.
The Olympic torch will make a
week-long trek through Greece
before being delivered to To kyo
organizing officials in Athens on
March 19. Japan’s leg of the relay
will begin March 26 in Fukushi-
ma Prefecture, which was rav-
aged by an earthquake, tsunami
and nuclear accident in 2011. Af-
ter traveling through all 47 of
Japan’s prefectures, the flame is
scheduled to arrive in To kyo
121 days later for the Opening
Ceremonies on July 24.
Even as the spread of the coro-
navirus has led to the cancella-
tion and postponement of sport-
ing events across the globe, Inter-
national Olympic Committee offi-
cials have been adamant that the
To kyo Games will take place as
scheduled. The IOC said it in-
tends to follow advice from the
World Health Organization.
In a speech at Thursday’s cere-
mony, IOC President Thomas
Bach thanked organizers, includ-
ing the Greek Olympic Commit-
tee, for making the event possible
“under difficult circumstances.”
“This demonstrates once more
our commitment to the success of
the Olympic Games To kyo 2020,”
Bach said. “Nineteen weeks be-
fore the Opening Ceremony, we
are strengthened in this commit-
ment by the many authorities and
sports organizations around the
world who are taking so many
significant measures to contain
the spread of the coronavirus.”
In a statement Thursday, the
IOC said it remains “absolutely in
line with our Japanese hosts in
our commitment to delivering
safe Olympic Games in July” and
“fully committed to delivering
Olympic Games that can bring
the world together in peace.”
On Wednesday, Japan’s Olym-
pics minister, Seiko Hashimoto,
told a parliamentary committee
that canceling or postponing the
Games was “inconceivable” while
acknowledging that the IOC
would have the final say.
[email protected]Torch is lit
in Greece
without
spectators
BY CANDACE BUCKNERIn the wake of Utah Jazz center
Rudy Gobert’s positive test for the
coronavirus, the Washington Wiz-
ards advised a self-quarantine for
all players, coaches and staffers,
the team announced Thursday
morning.
The Wizards played the Jazz on
Feb. 28 in Salt Lake City. And on
Tuesday, the team faced the New
York Knicks, who played the Jazz
on March 4. Players, coaches and
staffers who “exhibit or develop
flu-like symptoms will be tested”
for covid-19, the team’s statement
read.
Unlike other NBA teams who
came into recent contact with the
Jazz, Wizards players were not
tested Thursday, according to
multiple people from t he team.
The NBA suspended its season
indefinitely Wednesday night af-
ter Gobert tested positive for the
novel coronavirus.
Several members of the Wiz-
ards organization, as well as other
NBA figures, spoke with The
Washington Post about the virus
and response. They spoke on the
condition of anonymity to freely
discuss the s ituation.
Although the Wizards visited
the Jazz nearly two weeks ago,
symptoms for the virus may ap-
pear within two to 14 days after
exposure, according to the C enters
for Disease Control and Preven-
tion. Under the guidance of the
team and medical staff, the Wiz-
ards’ self-quarantine will last for
the n ext three to four days.
One high-ranking member of
the Wizards’ basketball opera-
tions staff said he already was
“bored,” and another expressed
concerns for his family as they go
about their day-to-day routines.
Although the Wizards an-
nounced the self-quarantine in a
statement Thursday morning, the
entire basketball operations de-
partment learned of the decision
during a conference call late
Wednesday night, according to
several people familiar with the
matter.
In a subsequent conference call,
Wizards players were advised to
stay i n their homes and report any
flu-like s ymptoms to team d octors
immediately.
[email protected]
pro basketball
Wizards’
players,
sta≠ told to
stay away
soccer: analysisronald martinez/agence France-Presse/getty images
Megan Rapinoe lifted the United States to the SheBelieves Cup trophy and then spoke out against gender discrimination.BY STEVEN GOFFMegan Rapinoe saved her best for
first (on the field) and last (in her
postgame TV interview).
Christen Press was pretty amazing,
too. We will get to her audacious goal in
a moment.
Rapinoe’s excellence first surfaced in
the seventh minute of the U.S. women’s
national soccer team’s 3-1 victory over
Japan on Wednesday in the final round
of the SheBelieves Cup in Frisco, Te x. —
an outcome that clinched the
championship trophy and extended the
top-ranked squad’s unbeaten streak to
31.
From 25 yards, the 2019 World Cup
star delivered a masterstroke of a goal.
She lifted the free kick over the wall and
into the top left corner to shatter a
scoreless affair and begin the march to a
10th consecutive victory.
About two hours later, following the
awards ceremony at sold-out To yota
Stadium, ESPN’s Sebastian Salazar and
Julie Foudy asked Rapinoe about the
U.S. Soccer Federation’s legal filings
that say the men’s n ational team players
possess more “skill” and
“responsibility” than their female
counterparts.
At that moment, as fans chanted,
“Equal pay!” behind her, Rapinoe could
not have known that USSF President
Carlos Cordeiro had issued an apology
as the match ended.
Unlike Saturday — when on the eve
of the U.S.-Spain showdown Cordeiro
claimed the women’s players had
refused to negotiate a settlement in
their gender discrimination suit —
Cordeiro said he regretted the languageused in the legal filings.
“The team was very upset, obviously,”
Rapinoe said on ESPNews. “We had sort
of felt those were the certain
undercurrent feelings they have had for
a long time, but to see that as the
argument, a sort of blatant misogyny
and sexism as the argument against us,
is really disappointing.
“I just want to say it’s all false. To
every girl out there, to every boy out
there who watches this team, who
wants to be on this team or just wants to
live their dream out, you are not lesser
just because you are a girl. You are not
better just because you’re a boy. We are
all created equal and should all have the
equal opportunity to go out and pursue
our dreams.
“A nd for us, that means playing on
the soccer field, so everything that was
in that deposition of what they said in
the argument is not true. Don’t ever
believe that.”
Since the women’s fight against the
federation began several years ago —
over playing on artificial turf, financial
compensation and other issues —
Rapinoe has shown her mettle on the
field and away from it.
No doubt, she had a big say in the
decision before Wednesday’s match to
wear warmup jerseys inside out,
leaving the USSF emblem facing
inward.She plays with confidence and
conviction, and she speaks with it as
well. She does not bow to the president
of the federation or the country.
Though she has alienated many fans,
Rapinoe has galvanized and inspired
more. During pregame introductions,
no one receives a louder ovation.
After matches, hers is the most-
sought autograph, though in the days of
the coronavirus, these fan-friendly
players are not interacting with
admirers as much as they usually do.
Rapinoe also played a part in the
second U.S. goal, intercepting the
goalkeeper’s poor clearance and
supplying Press at t he top of the penalty
area in the 26th minute.
Six days after scoring a magnificent
goal from distance against England, the
part-time starter chipped the ball over
the keeper with perfect weight and
dropped it into the net for her ninth
goal in her past 10 appearances.
Press also assisted on Julie Ertz’s late
winning goal against Spain on Sunday.
After Japan halved the margin,
Lindsey Horan ended the suspense in
the 83rd minute by heading in Mallory
Pugh’s corner kick.
As for Rapinoe, this summer offers
the opportunity for a second Olympic
gold medal — and probably her last
major tournament after 14 years of
national team service. The next World
Cup is more than three years away, and
despite sensational moments such as
Wednesday’s, her best days are behind
her.
Wednesday, though, reminded us
what she has meant to this exceptional
team and to the women’s game at large.
[email protected]Rapinoe sends a message
U.S. national team star
inspires both with her play
and with her wordswashingtonpost.com/sports
pro football
C oronavirus crisis
ends XFL’s first season
The XFL announced Thursday
that it would not finish its first
regular season because of the
coronavirus outbreak.
The league, which has eight
teams, including the DC
Defenders, issued a statement
that read: “Currently, the XFL
will not be playing its regular
season games. However, all
players will be paid their base
pay and benefits for the 2020
regular season. All XFL ticket
holders will be issued refunds or
credit toward future games. The
XFL is committed to playing a
full season in 2021 and future
years.”...
The Te nnessee Titans waived
linebacker Cameron Wake after
one season of what had been a
three-year contract.
Wake, who turned 38 on
Jan. 30, got 2.5 sacks in
Te nnessee’s season-opening win
at Cleveland, giving him 100.5
for his career. But he didn’t have
another sack in the next eight
games before being placed on
injured reserve in late
November. Wake was due to
count approximately
$8.2 million against the salary
cap....
A person familiar with the
decision confirmed to the
Associated Press that the Buffalo
Bills agreed to re-sign offensive
lineman Quinton Spain to a
three-year contract....
Del Shofner, the wide
receiver who combined with
Hall of Fame quarterback Y.A.
Tittle to give the New York
Giants one of the NFL’s most
prolific passing threats in the
early 1960s, died in Los Angeles.
He was 85.college basketball
A game official who worked
the Colonial Athletic Association
men’s basketball tournament
this past weekend at
Entertainment & Sports Arena
in Washington tested positive for
the coronavirus, according to the
league.
“We’re trying to make people
aware,” CAA Commissioner Joe
D’Antonio said. “We’ve notified
all 10 of our institutions. We’ve
advised them that they should be
consulting with their medical
personnel as to what the next
steps are and what the best
precautions are relative to their
student-athletes and
administrators that participatedin the tournament.”
The official worked just one
game during the tournament
and informed the league of his
positive test. The league declined
to reveal which game the official
worked, though he did not show
symptoms until 72 hours after
the contest.
— Kareem Copeland
Grand Canyon fired coach
Dan Majerle after seven
seasons. The former NBA star
had a record of 136-89.soccer
English Premier League club
Arsenal confirmed Coach Mikel
Arteta tested positive for the
coronavirus.
The Spaniard admitted he is
“disappointed” after discovering
the news but remained in good
spirits....
Italian club Juventus said
defender Daniele Rugani tested
positive for the coronavirus.
Rugani, who also plays for the
Italian national team, is the first
player in the country’s top
soccer division to test
positive....
Odion Ighalo scored his
fourth goal in three starts since
he joined Manchester United as
the visitors closed in on the
Europa League quarterfinalswith a 5-0 win over LASK in the
first leg of their round-of-16
meeting in Linz, Austria.
Only 500 people were allowed
inside the stadium because of
the coronavirus outbreak,
including media personnel and a
small pocket of LASK fans. It
was a scenario that played out in
other Europa matches.
Basel beat host Eintracht
Frankfurt, 3-0, for another
commanding lead.
Also, Edin Visca netted a late
penalty to give Istanbul
Basaksehir a 1-0 home win over
FC Copenhagen; B ayer
Leverkusen won, 3-1, at Rangers;
and Shakhtar Donetsk earned a
2-1 away win against
Wolfsburg....
American defender Antonee
Robinson was diagnosed with
an irregular heart rhythm, which
caused his proposed transfer
from Wigan to AC Milan to fall
through.misc.
Officials with the world’s most
famous sled dog race announced
they postponed post-race events
in Nome, Alaska, in response to
the new coronavirus.
The Iditarod postponed both
the awards banquet set for
March 22 and the meet-the-Digestmushers event set for March 21,
both in Nome.
Meanwhile, leader Brent Sass,
a native of Minnesota, i s taking a
day’s rest at the halfway
point....
Amid drastic restrictions on
everyday life in Italy, Federica
Brignone’s overall World Cup
skiing title provided a rare
moment to rejoice for her fellow
citizens. Never mind the fact
that Brignone clinched the
coveted large crystal globe when
the circuit was cut short by the
spread of the coronavirus
outbreak — preventing a
possible comeback from
American rival Mikaela
Shiffrin....
The Boston Marathon won’t
be run A pril 20 as scheduled and
could be rescheduled for the fall
because of the coronavirus,
according to reports....
The ATP suspended play for
six weeks, bringing the men’s
tennis tour to a halt. Meanwhile,the women’s tour canceled the
Volvo Car Open, scheduled to
begin April 4. W TA chairman
and CEO Steve Simon said
decisions on the European clay-
court season would be made in
the next week....
Russia’s track team was
limited to 10 athletes for the
To kyo Olympics, and the
country’s federation was fined
$10 million by the sport’s
governing body.
World Athletics passed the
latest package of sanctions after
the Russian track federation’s
new president accepted charges
that fake documents were used
under the previous management
to give an athlete an alibi for
missing a doping test....
One positive case of
coronavirus for a McLaren
staffer was the catalyst for the
cancellation of the Australian
Formula One Grand Prix.
— From news services
and staff reportsteleVision anD raDio
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