IPL ON HOLD AS COVID ENTERS BIO-SECURE BUBBLE
Mayor seeks return of 2012 Games spirit with plans to make London ‘undisputed sporting capital of the world’
SADIQ KHAN has vowed to try and bring the Olympics and Paralympics back to London if he is elected mayor for a second term this week.
London has already hosted the Games three times – in 1908, 1948 and 2012 – a record that Paris will match when it hosts the Olympics in 2024.
With a focus on sustainability, and provided he gets a second term as mayor, Khan has promised to set up a committee which would try to get the Games back to the city in either 2036 or 2040.
“Exploring a bid for the 2036
THE Indian Premier League (IPL) has been suspended due to the Covid crisis in the country, the tournament’s organisers said on Tuesday (4).
The Indian cricket board (BCCI), which organises the event, and the IPL governing council took the decision at an emergency meeting.
“These are difficult times, especially in India. While we have tried to bring in some positivity and cheer, however, it is imperative that the tournament or 2040 Olympic and Paralympic Games is the ultimate demonstration of my plan to build a brighter future for London after the pandemic,” Khan said at a campaign event at an amateur boxing club in Earlsfield, southwest London, on Tuesday (4).
“My ambition is for London to host the most sustainable Games ever.”
Khan said he wanted to invoke the spirit of 2012. “The spirit of 2012 showed London and Londoners at their best. It was a time that displayed the inclusive, diverse and welcoming heart of our city. is now suspended and everyone goes back to their families and loved ones in these trying times,” the IPL said in a statement. “The BCCI will do everything in its power to arrange for the secure and safe passage of all the participants in IPL 2021.”
The eight-team IPL tournament attracts many of the best players from around the world.
Monday’s (3) match in Ahmedabad had to be rescheduled after two Kolkata
“As we emerge from Covid-19, we need to harbour this spirit and remind people what makes London the greatest city in the world. Bringing the Olympics back to London would do exactly that.”
The move has been backed by leading business groups and former Olympic medallists.
Paralympian Richard Whitehead, who won gold in the T42 200m event at the 2012 and 2016 Games, said bringing the event to the capital would give the country the boost it would need post the pandemic.
“Bringing the Olympic
and
Knight Riders players tested positive for Covid-19 and two non-playing members of the Chennai Super Kings franchise contracted the virus in Delhi.
India’s tally of coronavirus infections surged past 20 million on Tuesday, following 357,229 new cases over the last 24 hours, as the country battles a deadly second wave of the pandemic.
Media reports earlier said the BCCI was considering shifting the remaining 31
Paralympic Games back to London would do just that, making the opportunity to compete at the top level in front of a home crowd a dream within reach for young Brits.”
Boxer Amir Khan, who won a silver medal aged 17 at the 2004 Athens Games, added: “The Olympics helped to launch my career as a professional boxer, giving a working-class kid from Bolton the opportunities to compete in front of global audiences and fulfil his potential.”
He also added that he would “love to see another young British talent follow in my footsteps matches to Mumbai, which has three stadiums in and around the city, after coronavirus bubble breaches in Ahmedabad and Delhi.
Although the tournament was being played without spectators, the IPL faced social media criticism for continuing in the middle of the pandemic.
Australian players Andrew Tye, Adam Zampa and Kane Richardson cut short their IPL stints to return home last week after worries about the crisis. and go one better gold on home turf”.
Khan said he wanted to establish London as the “undisputed sporting capital” of the world, as in the past the city has successfully staged a number of NFL, MLB and NBA events. Now, with the backing of Surrey County Cricket Club, the Labour mayor was keen to add the Indian Premier League (IPL) to
by
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Indian spinner R Ashwin and senior Indian umpire Nitin Menon also ended their involvement in the event.
Australia has since banned all arrivals from India until May 15 and the country’s cricket board declined to comment when asked for its plans to bring back their players.
Before the IPL was suspended, the Australian Cricketers’ Association said it would talk to its government about the players’ travel plans. that list. He said he hoped future IPL matches could be played at London grounds such as Lord’s and the Oval.
“The IPL is a fantastic league but I’m desperate not just to see Kohli and others here when India come (to England), but to see the likes of (MS) Dhoni, (Rohit) Sharma and (Jasprit) Bumrah come here on a regular basis,” Khan had said.