HOW THE WORLD OF SPORT PAID TRIBUTE
SPORTSMEN and women around the world paid their respects yesterday following Friday night’s terrorist atrocities in Paris.
Jockeys at Cheltenham all wore black armbands as a show of solidarity with the victims of the carnage in the French capital. Many other sportsmen wore the French tricolore on their armbands, among them Formula One star Romain Grosjean during qualifying for today’s Brazilian Grand Prix.
A host of sporting events in France have been postponed, including all five of this weekend’s Champions Cup and Challenge Cup rugby union matches taking place on French soil. Horse racing, taekwondo and athletics meetings were also cancelled.
Glasgow head coach Gregor Townsend, whose team were due to play in Paris against Racing 92, said: ‘It was very concerning for the supporters who came across for this and would have been in Paris at the time. For them to be caught up in what happened is shocking but our thoughts go out to the people of Paris first of all.’
Agen’s players gave an impromptu and emotional rendition of the French national anthem after the minute’s silence before their game against London Irish at Madejski Stadium yesterday.
Ryder Cup star Victor Dubuisson and the six other French golfers competing at the BMW Masters in Shanghai wore all black, while players and caddies, among them Sergio Garcia (right) wore black ribbons.
Benjamin Hebert showed his support by writing ‘Pray for Paris’ on his cap, while Alexander Levy dedicated his nine-under par round of 63 to those affected in his homeland.
Tennis doubles pair Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert are planning some form of tribute to the victims at this week’s World Tour Finals in London. Mahut said: ‘We play on Monday and we are discussing with the ATP to do something, at least to wear something on the shirt. We didn’t talk with the other players but I’m sure they will do something.’
In cricket, meanwhile, England will carry on with their tour of the United Arab Emirates that has five limitedovers matches against Pakistan still to go. The ECB released a statement of support for the victims of the events in Paris.