Athletes are being encouraged to get vaccinated against COVID-19 ahead of the Tokyo Olympics but it will not be compulsory, IOC Vice President John Coates said on Thursday.

“Not compulsory, we can’t do that,” Coates, head of the IOC’s Coordination Commission for the Tokyo Games, told reporters in Brisbane.

“But it is certainly being encouraged and the IOC has an agreement with COVAX where it’s helping to facilitate the distribution of vaccines.”

COVAX is the World Health Organisation’s global vaccine-sharing scheme.

IOC President Thomas Bach said last month it was up to national Olympic committees to coordinate with their governments over access to vaccines but he was not in favour of athletes “jumping the queue”.

With the delayed Games set to begin on July 23, Coates, who is also president of the Australian Olympic Committee, expected the country’s athletes to be vaccinated by June at “the latest”.

Australia began its vaccine roll-out this week.

Coates also said Japan’s government was expected to make a decision on how many fans could attend the Olympics by April.

Organisers hope to have spectators at the Games though speculation remains that the event might be cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A decision on all of the accredited people and all of those who have bought tickets in Japan will certainly be there,” he said.

“A final decision will be taken by the Japanese government, it’s governments that decide these things on what’s safe and, a bit later, probably March, April … a decision on what venue capacity we are going to have.”

Coates said officials had to make the Athletes Village and venues “the safest place in Tokyo”.

“Last week we had four days of operational planning, we are down now to looking at the seating on the buses to make sure there’s the correct distancing,” he said.

“Well that’s all very well, we suddenly need double the fleet of buses and there are a lot of buses involved.”

By Bayo Olawunmi

Nigeria’s senior men’s basketball team, D’ Tigers became the first team to qualify for the next round of the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket Championships, after defeating Rwanda 64-51.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that D’ Tigers were outstanding in their performance as they came from losing the first quarter, 14-22 to dominate the rest of the three quarters.

The team recorded 16-9, 14-10 and 20-10 to record their second straight win after defeating South Sudan, 75-70 in their opening game.

Nigeria’s best performers of the day were Keith Omoerah with 13 points and 6 rebounds, Ike Ireogbu with nine points, seven rebounds and one assist.

Abdulmalik Abu also contributed nine points and three rebounds.

Nigeria faces Mali on Feb. 19 as their final group game to decide the group leaders of group D.

Mfon Udofia-led team would be mentally alert to the tactics of the Malians, as they remained the toughest opposition for the D’ Tigers. (NAN)

Japan’s Olympic Minister Seiko Hashimoto who is tipped to succeed Yoshiro Mori as president of the Tokyo Games Organising Committee has resigned her ministerial post, Kyodo news agency reported on Thursday.

The 56-year-old submitted her resignation to Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, the Japanese news agency said. This would pave her way to take up the new post.

Kyodo reported on Wednesday that a working group had decided that a woman should preside over the committee for the Games postponed from 2020 and that Hashimoto would be asked.

The 56-year-old seven-time speed-skating Olympian is a member of Suga’s conservative LDP party.

Organizers are to meet on Thursday and a final decision must come from the committee board.

Mori resigned last week after making sexist remarks that sparked an international uproar.

He had told a Japan Olympic Committee (JOC) meeting that women talk too much at meetings of boards of directors. (dpa/NAN)

Naomi Osaka ended Serena Williams’ bid for a record-equalling 24th Grand Slam title in a storm of power hitting on Thursday, humbling the American great 6-3 6-4 to reach her second Australian Open finals.

In a rematch of their tumultuous 2018 U.S. Open decider, Osaka underlined her status as the new queen of women’s tennis and soaked up the cheers from the Rod Laver Arena crowd as fans returned to the Grand Slam after a five-day lockdown.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Osaka will meet the winner of Jennifer Brady and Karolina Muchova in the title match.

“I did a lot of unforced errors in the first few games. I was really nervous and scared in the beginning and then I sort of eased my way into it,” said Osaka on court.

“It’s just always an honour to play her and I just didn’t want to go out really dud. I just wanted to try my best.”

Williams broke Osaka in the opening game, but the Japanese third seed reeled off five straight games in a devastating display before closing out the set with a blazing forehand winner.

Osaka took Williams’ serve in the first game of the second set and would not let up until she wobbled with three double-faults to allow the American to break back to 4-4.

But Williams repaid the favour with a double-fault on the next service game giving Osaka three break points.

Osaka converted the first then closed out the match when Williams thudded into the net.

A hat-trick from Kylian Mbappe helped Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) hammer FC Barcelona 4-1 at the Camp Nou on Tuesday in the 2020/2021 UEFA Champions League.

Liverpool, just like PSG, are also on course for the quarter-finals of the competition, after having won 2-0 away to RB Leipzig.

The elite tournament resumed with the first knock-out ties of the last 16 in the continental competition played during the coronavirus pandemic.

Barca hosted PSG behind closed doors while RB Leipzig welcomed Liverpool to Budapest as Germany is currently not allowing non-citizens/residents to enter the country from the UK.

Lionel Messi’s penalty kick gave FC Barcelona the lead but Mbappe struck either side of half-time.

Moise Kean added another and Mbappe completed his hat-trick with a superb finish as PSG took control of the tie that was a repeat of the sensational encounter at this stage in 2017.

On that occasion, FC Barcelona overturned a 4-0 first leg deficit 6-1 at home and must now launch a similar comeback attempt —-this time in Paris on March 10.

That is when six-time champions Liverpool, last winners in 2019, will expect to finish the job against RB Leipzig at Anfield.

Second half goals from Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane earned them a deserved win in the duel between German bosses Juergen Klopp and Julian Nagelsmann in the Hungarian capital.

On Wednesday, FC Porto meet Juventus and Sevilla host Borussia Dortmund while holders Bayern Munich resume away to Lazio next Tuesday.

Neymar was influential in turning the tie with PSG in FC Barcelona’s favour four years ago but the Brazilian star missed the match with his former club due to injury.

But PSG —— with 22-year-old Mbappe almost untouchable —— scarcely missed him.

Mbappe’s quick-feet in the penalty box after a nice flick from Marco Verrati levelled the match.

His clinical finish when Marc-Andre ter Stegen could only parry a 65th minute cross put PSG in front.

Ter Stegen had previously denied Mbappe on several occasions and did so again before Kean was given space at a free-kick to head home unchallenged with 20 minutes left.

Barca tried to rally but left themselves exposed and Mbappe curled into the top corner after Julian Draxler raced clear on the counter to cap a glorious night for Maurico Pochettino.

He had coached PSG only since early this year.

PSG, who beat RB Leipzig in the semi-finals last season, were superior even when Messi gave the hosts the lead from the penalty kick spot. That was after Layvin Kurzawa accidentally clipped Frenkie de Jong in the 27th minute.

RB Leipzig too are up against it, having come within inches of the opener at the Puskas Arena when Dani Olmo headed off the post in just two minutes.

Liverpool slowly took control and had already threatened several times before RB Leipzig imploded with two horrific errors early in the second half.

Marcel Sabitzer’s pass inadvertently released Salah to finish well.

And when Dayot Upamecano —— who confirmed a move to Bayern Munich this week —— fluffed a 58th minute clearance, Mane showed no mercy.

Liverpool, who are riddled with defensive problems and injuries all season, are out of contention to retain their Premier League title but at least one more round in the Champions League looks likely.(dpa/NAN)