BEB Weekend Sports: News!

Ex Real president dies after contracting coronavirus

Former Real Madrid president Lorenzo Sanz died on Saturday after being hospitalised with coronavirus.

Sanz, 76, was president at the Bernabeu from 1995-2000, a period in which Real won the Champions League twice.

"My father has just died," wrote Sanz's son Lorenzo Sanz Duran on Twitter. 

"He did not deserve this end in this manner. One of the best, most courageous and hard working people I have seen in my life. His family and Real Madrid were his passion."

Sanz signed players such as Roberto Carlos, Clarence Seedorf and Davor Suker during his time in charge of the 33-time Spanish champions.

He lost the 2000 presidential election to Florentino Perez, which sparked Real's big-spending 'Galatico' era.

Dybala and Maldini test positive for coronavirus

Juventus and Argentina forward Paulo Dybala and former Italy captain Paolo Maldini have tested positive for coronavirus.

In a message on his Instagram account, Dybala said he and his girlfriend both have the virus but were in good health.

"Both Oriana and I have tested positive," Dybala, 26, said. "Luckily we are in perfect conditions."

AC Milan technical director Maldini and his son Daniel both tested positive and a club statement said they "are well".

The club added that Daniel Maldini, 18, had been training with the AC Milan first team and that he and his father, 51, had spent two weeks in self-isolation at home and would remain in quarantine "until clinically recovered".

Dybala is the third Juve player to be confirmed to have the virus, following centre-back Daniele Rugani and France World Cup winner Blaise Matuidi.

Dybala's girlfriend Oriana Sabatini - an Argentine singer, actress and model - is the niece of former tennis player Gabriela Sabatini, the 1990 US Open champion.

All domestic sporting activity in Italy has been suspended until at least 3 April.

Hamilton self-isolating but allays coronavirus concerns 

Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton says he has undergone a period of isolation after recently being pictured with actor Idris Elba, who has tested positive for coronavirus.

Hamilton, 35, was at an event in London earlier this month with Elba.

Sophie Grégoire Trudeau - wife of the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau - was also in attendance and has been diagnosed with coronavirus.

"I want to let you know that I am doing well," Hamilton said in a statement.

The Mercedes driver added:

"There has been speculation about my health, after I was at an event where two people later tested positive for coronavirus. 

"I have zero symptoms and it has now been 17 days since I saw Sophie and Idris. I have been in touch with Idris and happy to hear he is OK. 

"I did speak to my doctor and double checked if I needed to take a test but the truth is, there is a limited amount of tests available and there are people who need it more than I do, especially when I wasn't showing any symptoms at all."

Hamilton said that he had been in isolation since last Friday - shortly before last weekend's season-opening Australian Grand Prix was cancelled because of the pandemic.

The Formula 1 season has been delayed until at least the start of June, with several races either postponed or cancelled.

Athlete group calls for Tokyo 2020 postponement 

An athlete-led movement fronted by British Olympic champion Callum Skinner has called for this summer's Olympics and Paralympics to be postponed.

Global Athlete say the Games should be put back "until the Covid-19 global pandemic is under control".

The Olympics are scheduled to take place in Tokyo from 24 July to 9 August with the Paralympics due to be held from 25 August to 6 September.

"Public health must be a priority over sporting events," read a statement.

"Sport has a duty of care to protect their athletes. By asking them to carry on as normal and continue to train for these Games, clearly puts their physical and mental health at risk."

One of Global Athlete's stated aims is to 'address the balance of power between athletes and administrators'.

Britain's Paralympic powerlifter Ali Jawad, who silver at the 2016 Rio Games, is also one of the main faces of Global Athlete, alongside Skinner, who won gold in the same year in the men's cycling team sprint.

The statement which says they have consulted "hundreds of athletes" continued:

"Athletes want to be part of a solution to ensure the Games are a success but under current global restrictions that are limiting public gatherings, as well as closing training facilities and borders, athletes do not have the ability to appropriately prepare for these games."

On Saturday, USA Track and Field, athletics' US governing body, called for the Olympics in Tokyo to be delayed because of the ongoing coronavirus situation.

It follows a request from USA Swimming for it to be delayed by 12 months.

from Bola Esho's Blog