Asia Pacific

IOC offers Tokyo medical help amid call for cancellation

TOKYO — Confronted in Japan with some of the strongest medical-community opposition yet to the Tokyo Olympics, IOC President Thomas Bach offered Wednesday to have added medical personnel available to help out when the games open in just over nine weeks.

Technology

Rugby uses eye-tracking technology to tackle concussions

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — A “shadow trial” of advanced eye-tracking technology will be conducted in the Super Rugby Trans-Tasman tournament in Australia and New Zealand as part of World Rugby’s bid to tackle head injuries by improving the detection of concussions.

Kenki Fukuoka

Medical career beckons for Japan rugby star Kenki Fukuoka

The final of Japan’s Top League club competition on Sunday will mark the end of one of world rugby’s most distinguished and influential recent playing careers.

Europe

New Zealand to play Fiji, Tonga in July internationals

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand Rugby has confirmed the All Blacks will play Fiji twice and Tonga once in July internationals.

Sports

Burns keeps Nelson lead after more Spieth magic, rain looms

McKINNEY, Texas — Sam Burns is the 54-hole leader — again. Local favorite Jordan Spieth saved the magic for the 18th green — again.

Sports

PGA CHAMPIONSHIP ’21: A capsule look at 10 top contenders

A capsule look at 10 top contenders for the 103rd PGA Championship, to be played May 20-23 on the Ocean Course at Kiawah Island in South Carolina (listed in predicted order of finish):

Sports

Americans dominate first World Triathlon Series women’s race

YOKOHAMA, Japan — Taylor Knibb won the season-opening World Championship Series triathlon on Saturday to book her place on the U.S. team for the Tokyo Olympics in July.

Asia Pacific

Japan expands virus emergency ahead of Tokyo Olympics

TOKYO — Japan on Friday further expanded a coronavirus state of emergency, currently in Tokyo and five other prefectures, to nine areas, as Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga's government is determined to hold the Olympics in just over two months.

Asia Pacific

1 Swiss, 1 American die on Everest in year’s 1st fatalities

KATHMANDU, Nepal — A Swiss climber and an American have died on Mount Everest in the season's first casualties on the world's highest mountain, expedition organizers said Thursday.

Sports

Nishikori raises questions about holding the Tokyo Olympics

ROME — Japanese tennis player Kei Nishikori has doubts about whether the IOC and local organizers are doing enough to plan for a worst-case scenario of “hundreds” or “thousands” of coronavirus cases at the Tokyo Olympics...

Cate Campbell

Vaccine a shot in the arm for Campbell’s Olympic preparation

BRISBANE, Australia — Australian swimmer Cate Campbell has had to incorporate something new into her fine-tuning as she prepares for a fourth Olympics.

Sports

Shohei Ohtani making history with 2-way success for Angels

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The only weakness in Shohei Ohtani's incredible two-way game these days is his control, and it's bugging the Los Angeles Angels' star.

Sports

McIlroy ends 18 months without winning at Quail Hollow

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rory McIlroy found his comfort zone at Quail Hollow and left with a trophy he badly needed.

Sports

Alvarez adds another title with 8th-round TKO of Saunders

ARLINGTON, Texas — Canelo Alvarez added another title belt in the super middleweight division, handing Billy Joe Saunders his first loss when the English boxer didn't come out for the ninth round Saturday night...

Golf

Birdies galore at Hilton Head, and Spieth needed them badly

The RBC Heritage began two month later than usual with a little rain, a little sunshine and a lot of birdies, most of them from Jordan Spieth to turn a rough start into a furious...

Tokyo

Call to cancel Tokyo Olympics enters race for Tokyo governor

TOKYO — The contentious issue of the billions being spent on the postponed Tokyo Olympics has entered the debate in the race for governor of Japan's capital.

Golf

A safe return for golf as Berger wins Colonial in a playoff

FORT WORTH, Texas — Daniel Berger was playing some of the best golf that no one noticed. Three months away because of the COVID-19 pandemic didn't slow his momentum, and he made it pay off...

NHL

The Latest: English Premier League player tests positive

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

Race and ethnicity

US Olympic leaders eye change on protests amid wary athletes

DENVER — The U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee is open to challenging IOC rules restricting protests at the Olympics.

Rugby

Fans savor return of stadium sport in virus-free New Zealand

DUNEDIN, New Zealand — They call one section of the stadium The Zoo, and it's easy to see why: thousands of university students in team colors standing on their seats, steadying trays of...

Tokyo

Tokyo Olympic head says 80% of facilities lined up for 2021

TOKYO — About 80% of the facilities needed for next year’s postponed Tokyo Olympics have been lined up, the president of the organizing committee said Friday.

Tokyo

Q&A: State of Tokyo Olympics 2 1/2 months after postponement

TOKYO — It's been 2 1/2 months since the Tokyo Olympics were postponed until next year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. So where do the games stand? So far, many ideas about how the Olympic...

Football

Will open seats be familiar sight in sports as virus fades?

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Empty seats have been the norm the past few years at the University of Kansas, where a succession of football coaches has failed to turn around the flailing fortunes of the...

MLB

Mets’ Alonso: ‘I will not remain silent’ on racial injustice

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

Kansas City

Future of stadiums, arenas promises high tech, low capacity

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The smell of barbecue wafts through the parking lots hours before kickoff at Arrowhead Stadium, and when the first salvo of fireworks explode overhead, thousands of Chiefs...

Sports - Middle East

The Latest: No positive results in EPL latest testing round

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

MLB

AP Exclusive: Athletes wary about virus, testing upon return

Chris Thompson is an NFL running back. He also is the father of a 4-month-old daughter, Kali. Guess which of those facts matters more to him when he ponders eventually returning to work amid a...

Tokyo

Tokyo Olympics just beginning the race to reset themselves

TOKYO — Just two months after the unprecedented Olympic postponement, organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto was asked Thursday about progress toward rescheduling next year's Tokyo...

Entertainment

Out of the Woods: Tiger emerges for TV match with Lefty, QBs

The purpose is to raise $10 million or more for COVID-19 relief efforts, and provide entertainment with four of the biggest stars from the PGA Tour and NFL.

Winter Olympics

Tokyo Olympics followed up by 3 mega-events -- all in China

TOKYO — Uncertainty grips next year’s postponed Tokyo Olympics: Will there be fans or empty stadiums in 14 months? And how will thousands of athletes, staff, and technical officials travel,...

Thomas Bach

Countermeasures needed for Olympics, but what will they be?

TOKYO — Tokyo Olympic organizing committee CEO Toshiro Muto spoke Thursday about the need to take “countermeasures” to combat the coronavirus at next year's postponed games.

Virus Outbreak

FC Seoul faces sanctions after putting sex dolls in seats

SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean soccer club is facing penalties, including expulsion from its own stadium, for putting sex dolls in empty seats during a match last weekend.

MLB

No universal playbook for virus testing in pro sports

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — There is no universal playbook for coronavirus testing in professional sports.