BEB Weekend Sports: News!

Eight venues will have spectators at delayed Euro 2020

Uefa has confirmed that eight of the 12 host cities for this summer's Euro 2020 will have spectators attending games.

The four remaining cities - Munich, Rome, Bilbao and Dublin - have until 19 April to provide additional information on their plans before final decisions are made whether they can host matches.

The tournament, delayed a year because of the coronavirus pandemic, will take place between 11 June and 11 July.

Host associations had been asked to submit plans to accept fans by 7 April.

London, Glasgow, Dublin, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, St Petersburg, Bilbao, Munich, Budapest, Baku, Rome and Bucharest are all due to host matches.

Budapest is aiming to host spectators at full capacity, while Baku and St Petersburg have confirmed a 50% capacity, although the Russian city is hoping to increase that figure.

Hungary, Azerbaijan and Russia are the only nations that are planning exemptions from entry restrictions and requirements. Ticket holders travelling to these countries may be able to avoid entry bans or quarantine requirements.

Amsterdam, Bucharest, Copenhagen and Glasgow have confirmed a minimum capacity of between 25%-33%, although that figure could yet rise for the venues in the Netherlands, Romania and Denmark.

Real beat Barca to move top of La Liga

Real Madrid moved top of La Liga with victory over Barcelona in an El Clasico played in torrential rain at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium.

Karim Benzema broke the deadlock with a sublime near-post flick - his ninth goal in his past seven La Liga games.

Real doubled their lead before half-time through Toni Kroos' deflected free-kick.

Oscar Mingueza pulled one back for Barca before Madrid's Casemiro was shown a late red card.

Barca midfielder Ilaix Moriba's well-struck shot came back off the crossbar in stoppage time as the hosts held on.

The result takes Real above city rivals Atletico Madrid because of their superior head-to-head record.
Atletico, who led La Liga by 10 points as recently as 31 January, can reclaim top spot with victory at Real Betis on Sunday.

Biles, US gymnast hints she may continue until Paris 2024 Olympics

American four-time Olympic champion Simone Biles has hinted she may continue in gymnastics until the Paris 2024 Games.

The 24-year-old, the most successful gymnast in World Championship history with 25 medals, was due to retire after the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

But her French coaches want her to compete in an individual event in Paris - an idea she has not ruled out.

"Right now, my focus is the [Tokyo] Olympic Games," Biles said.

 Speaking in a news conference, she added: 

"Afterwards, I'm not so sure because Cecile and Laurent [Landi] are from Paris and so they have kind of guilted me into at least being a specialist and coming back, but the main goal is the 2021 Olympics first."

Biles added she was "very confident" the Tokyo Games would go ahead this summer despite concerns around the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

She said she had not yet received her Covid-19 vaccine but thinks it will be "really exciting" when the day comes.

Blackmore becomes first female jockey to win Grand National

Rachael Blackmore made sporting history by becoming the first female jockey to win the Grand National with victory on Minella Times at Aintree.

The Irish rider scored a thrilling triumph aboard the 11-1 chance, trained by Henry de Bromhead who also saddled runner-up Balko Des Flos.

"I don't feel male or female right now. I don't even feel human," 31-year-old Blackmore told ITV. 

 Any Second Now was third, with Burrows Saint fourth.The 173rd running of the world's most famous steeplechase provided a story for the ages as Blackmore won in the colours of owner JP McManus.

Blackmore had already achieved a landmark success at last month's Cheltenham Festival when becoming the first woman to be the meeting's leading jockey.

from Bola Esho's Blog