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AFTNews, Olympics, Sport

New dates announced for Tokyo Olympic Games 2021

Video

On 24 March 2020, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Tokyo 2020 agreed to postpone Olympic Games due to COVID-19 pandemic. IOC President Thomas Bach and the Prime Minister of Japan, Abe Shinzo, held a conference call to discuss the constantly changing environment with regard to COVID-19 and the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

They were joined by Mori Yoshiro, the President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee; the Olympic Minister, Hashimoto Seiko; the Governor of Tokyo, Koike Yuriko; the Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission, John Coates; IOC Director General Christophe De Kepper; and the IOC Olympic Games Executive Director, Christophe Dubi.

President Bach and Prime Minister Abe expressed their shared concern about the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, and what it is doing to people’s lives and the significant impact it is having on global athletes’ preparations for the Games.

Today, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), The International Paralympic Committee (IPC), The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, The Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Government of Japan today agreed new dates for the Games of the XXXII Olympiad, in 2021. The Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will be celebrated from 23 July to 8 August 2021. They also agreed on the new dates for the Paralympic Games, which will be celebrated from 24 August until 5 September 2021.

The leaderships of the key parties came together via telephone conference earlier today, joined by IOC President Thomas Bach, Tokyo 2020 President Mori Yoshirō, Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko and Olympic and Paralympic Minister Hashimoto Seiko, and agreed on the new schedule.

This decision was taken based on three main considerations and in line with the principles established by the IOC Executive Board (EB) on 17 March 2020 and confirmed at its meeting today. These were supported by all the International Summer Olympic Sports Federations (IFs) and all the National Olympic Committees (NOCs):

1. To protect the health of the athletes and everyone involved, and to support the containment of the COVID-19 virus.

2. To safeguard the interests of the athletes and of Olympic sport.

3. The global international sports calendar.

These new dates give the health authorities and all involved in the organisation of the Games the maximum time to deal with the constantly changing landscape and the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The new dates, exactly one year after those originally planned for 2020 (Olympic Games: 24 July to 9 August 2020 and Paralympic Games: 25 August to 6 September 2020), also have the added benefit that any disruption that the postponement will cause to the international sports calendar can be kept to a minimum, in the interests of the athletes and the IFs. Additionally, they will provide sufficient time to finish the qualification process. The same heat mitigation measures as planned for 2020 will be implemented.

In a call on Tuesday 24 March 2020, based on information provided by the WHO at the time, IOC President Thomas Bach and Japanese Prime Minister Abe Shinzō concluded that the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 would be held in their complete form and not later than summer 2021. The Prime Minister reiterated that the government of Japan stands ready to fulfil its responsibility for hosting these successful Games. At the same time, IOC President Thomas Bach stressed the full commitment of the IOC to successful Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

Following today’s decision, the IOC President said: “I want to thank the International Federations for their unanimous support and the Continental Associations of National Olympic Committees for the great partnership and their support in the consultation process over the last few days. I would also like to thank the IOC Athletes’ Commission, with whom we have been in constant contact. With this announcement, I am confident that, working together with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, the Japanese Government and all our stakeholders, we can master this unprecedented challenge. Humankind currently finds itself in a dark tunnel. These Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 can be a light at the end of this tunnel.”

Andrew Parsons, the President of the IPC, commented: “It is fantastic news that we could find new dates so quickly for the Tokyo 2020 Games. The new dates provide certainty for the athletes, reassurance for the stakeholders and something to look forward to for the whole world. When the Paralympic Games do take place in Tokyo next year, they will be an extra-special display of humanity uniting as one, a global celebration of human resilience and a sensational showcase of sport. With the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games 512 days away, the priority for all those involved in the Paralympic Movement must be to focus on staying safe with their friends and family during this unprecedented and difficult time.”

The President of the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, Mori Yoshirō, said: “IOC President Thomas Bach and the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee held a conference call today to discuss in detail the revised dates of the Tokyo 2020 Games. Minister for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games Hashimoto Seiko and Tokyo Governor Koike Yuriko joined the call. I proposed that the Games should be hosted between July and August 2021, and I really appreciate that President Bach, having discussed this proposal with the various international sports federations and other related organisations, kindly accepted my proposal. A certain amount of time is required for the selection and qualification of athletes and for their training and preparation, and the consensus was that staging the rescheduled Games during the summer vacation in Japan would be preferable. In terms of transport, arranging volunteers and the provision of tickets for those in Japan and overseas, as well as allowing for the COVID-19 situation, we think that it would be better to reschedule the Games to one year later than planned, in the summer of 2021. Notwithstanding the postponement of the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the first time in history, and various other issues that have already been highlighted, the event schedule is the cornerstone of future preparations, and I am convinced that taking this decision promptly will help speed up future preparations. I would like to thank all the stakeholders, including the host city Tokyo and the Government of Japan, for their hard work during this short period. The Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee will continue to work hard for the success of next year’s Games.”

Governor Koike Yuriko said: “In consideration of the global coronavirus outbreak, we need a certain timeframe before we fully prepare for the delivery of Games that are safe and secure for the athletes and spectators. Also, the preparation for the new dates will go smoothly, as the dates match with same timeframe as the original competition dates, corresponding with ticketing, venue staffing, volunteers and transport. Therefore, I believe that celebrating the opening of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 on 23 July 2021 is ideal. The athletes, volunteers, torchbearers and local municipality governments have been concerned about the situation. Since we now have concrete new dates to aim for, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government will commit all its resources, and work closely with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the national government and other stakeholders to fully prepare for the delivery of Games that are safe and secure.”

It has previously been confirmed that all athletes already qualified and quota places already assigned for the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020 will remain unchanged. This is a result of the fact that these Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, in agreement with Japan, will remain the Games of the XXXII Olympiad.

AFTNN/PRNews/GIG

AFT TV, Diet & Nutrition, Travel & Wellness

Inhabit

Video

Introducing INHABIT – a feature documentary that was released on Earth Day in 2015 about what some people in the United States were doing, that was off-the-beaten-track and away from the normal consumption mentality. We found this film moving and hope this can help offer a futuristic viewpoint to how we as human-beings can live. Well.

In a statement on their website, the director said this:

The COVID-19 pandemic is causing a global shutdown of our fragile economy and it is a critical moment to reflect on the broken systems that run our world. The goal of this film is to inspire and empower people and we hope by offering the film for free it will have a greater effect.

COSTA BOUTSIKARIS – DIRECTOR/CINEMATOGRAPHER/EDITOR

If you are able to give a donation, all funds go towards current film now in Post-Production called INHABITANTS: An Indigenous Perspective.

View full feature film free: https://vimeo.com/120537755.

AFTNews, Olympics, Sport

Statement by Olympic Council of Asia Director General Mr Husain Al-Musallam

Kuwait City, Kuwait, 24 March, 2020 (AFTNN/OCA) – The Olympic Council of Asia would like to express its total support for the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to postpone the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games until next year.

The OCA appreciates that this must have been an extremely difficult decision to make, but the rapidly deteriorating situation around the world due to COVID-19 has made this postponement a necessity. The health and wellbeing of athletes and all Olympic stakeholders must be the top priority.

The IOC, along with Japanese authorities, have tried to delay this decision as long as possible in the hope that the situation might improve in the coming weeks and months but, sadly, this has not been the case. Now is the time for the Olympic sports movement around the world to show unity and solidarity and to work as one team in preparing for a brighter future.

At this time, we would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the Organising Committee of Tokyo 2020 for all the work, planning and preparation they have put in over a number of years – only for this completely unforeseen pandemic to intervene and change the course of Olympic history. We know Japan will recover from this setback and put on an even greater show to mark the coming together of humanity after finally defeating this virus.

We would also like to send our gratitude and appreciation to the athletes of Asia for all their efforts in qualifying – or attempting to qualify – for the Olympic Games. Although you must be disappointed at this time, the dream is not over. The Olympic Games will come back stronger and with even more passion – and so will you. The OCA has always championed the interests of the athletes and it did its best to ensure that the preparations of the Asian Athletes were not affected when this pandemic was at its peak in Asia. The OCA will continue to create the best possible environment for our athletes to train and participate in the Olympic Games which is an amalgamation of human spirit, culture and sports.

Our National Olympic Committees have worked tremendously hard behind the scenes in preparing the best conditions possible for their athletes. You have followed every guideline and met every deadline in guaranteeing a smooth build-up not only for your athletes and officials but also for the Organising Committee in Tokyo. The athletes and organisers will need you again and rely on you to bring together all aspects of management and operations in the future.

The OCA also commends the efforts of our International/Asian sport federations, for the way you have gone about amending your qualification schedules in an effort to be fair to all athletes from all corners of Asia. This has been a near-impossible task in recent weeks due to the ever-changing picture of the pandemic around the world and this postponement will now give you time to reassess the situation and, hopefully, make new and concrete plans.

AFTNews, Airsports, Sport

FAI World Air Games moved to 2022

Following a statement released on 20 January 2020, the Federation Aeronautic International (FAI) and Turkish Aeronautical Association (THK) have announced that the FAI World Air Games in Turkey have been moved from 2020 to September 2022.

In a statement signed by FAI President Robert Henderson and THK President A. Bertan Nogaylaroğlu both organisations committed to “supercharging” the FAI World Air Games to provide an “exciting, engaging, professional and safe global event”.

The statement added: “We will combine all aspects of the FAI World Air Games to provide a strong legacy for future air sports and aviation activities in THK and the FAI.”

The FAI World Air Games is a multi-sport air sports event held every few years. The last FAI World Air Games was held in Dubai, UAE in 2015.

The FAI World Air Games in Turkey 2022 will be the fifth edition of the Games.

FAI President Bob Henderson said: “This has not been an easy decision to make. However it has been taken with all interests at heart and with a long-term and strategic view. The FAI World Air Games is the flagship event of the Federation and, as such, we must make sure that it be held in optimal conditions. The FAI will take this opportunity to discuss internally the future of the Games taking all FAI stakeholders’ best interests in consideration. “Since the start, the FAI, including the FAI Office and the Sports Commissions, has been working hard on the preparations for the event with our esteemed Member THK. We are grateful to our Turkish friends and thank them for all their efforts.”

Information about the future FAI World Air Games events will be communicated in due course.

AFTNN/PRNews/GIG

AFTNews, PRNews

Insurer AIA pledges payment to COVID-19 healthcare frontliners

Kuala Lumpur, 27 March 2020 (AFTNN/PRNews/GIG) – AIA Malaysia today announced that it will be providing financial support to all doctors, nurses and hospital staff working in Ministry of Health (MOH) designated hospitals involved in screening and admitting COVID-19 patients in Malaysia. The offer is an extension of AIA’s appreciation of the sacrifices and contributions made by the medical community in their line of duty at the frontlines of the virus. 

The financial support comes with the following benefits:

  • Inconvenience Allowance: If a doctor, nurse or hospital staff is diagnosed with COVID-19 when carrying out their duties, they will receive a one-time inconvenience allowance of RM 1,000. 
  • Compassionate Relief: In the unfortunate event that the doctor, nurse or hospital staff passes away due to COVID-19, an additional lump sum of RM10,000 will be paid to his/her beneficiary. 

Ben Ng, Chief Executive Officer of AIA Bhd., said: “The tireless effort and dedication shown by the country’s army of doctors, nurses and hospital staff have been truly selfless. These national heroes are the country’s first line of defence in the fight against COVID-19 and we hope that with this contribution, we can help give them and their families peace of mind as they battle on the frontlines against this virus. 

“We sincerely thank all doctors, nurses and hospital staff for the sacrifices they are making in these extraordinarily challenging times. As Malaysians, we are in this battle together and we remain hopeful that we will ride out this storm as one,” he said. 

The financial support provided to doctors, nurses and hospital staff is effective from 1 March until 30 June 2020 or when the total fund of RM2 million is fully disbursed (whichever is earlier), with no waiting period. 

This comes on the back of AIA’s earlier announcement to provide free additional insurance and takaful coverage to its customers, employees and Life Planners. The coverage also provides hospitalisation and death benefits as part of AIA’s commitment to continue to look after its customers and people, ensuring that they are always well-protected.

For more information on the financial support, please visit www.aia.com.my/en/aiacares.html.

Home Gym

Locked in, but not down

I choose love.

I am sitting with my eleven year old nephew on a sunny Sydney day, watching him aim and shoot for the hoop. It made me think about my trip home to Kuala Lumpur as I am going back to 14-days of self isolation in my one bedroom apartment. COVID-19 has definitely crippled the entire world, restricting travels and bringing the global economy to a halt. When I get back, it would seem that I’ll have very limited exercise and social activities, unless I resist and improvise!

Playing basketball at home. Photo credit: NikkiYeo.com

Listening to Australia’s PM Scott Morrison deliver his speech encouraging every Australian to play an essential role in keeping COVID-19 at bay by practicing social distancing, restricting movement and avoiding group gatherings made me think about how people like me in isolation would spend the next 14 days. Just yesterday, Jasmine and I just launched MOVEAID to assist people working in healthcare and the elderly with their household needs. This global pandemic also presents us all with a chance to take stock of life.

How I plan to stay active at home

Your Best Buddy (The Vacuum or The Broom)

Did you know scrubbing, sweeping, mopping & vacuuming are great ways of staying active? You burn more calories while vacuuming, so let’s get fit while cleaning! Besides, here’s what the Huffington Post reports to reinforce the suggestion:

  • Scrubbing the tub for 15 minutes burns more than 90 calories
  • Vacuuming could make a significant dent in your 10,000 recommended steps a day burning off 119 calories per 30 minutes.
  • Sweeping with the broom will burn off 136 calories.

The Disco Dance Floor (Dancing)

Dancing is a great way of exercise. It keeps you fit and it is very easy. Just turn on a YouTube dance tutorial and start dancing! You could also enjoy a playlist of songs we’ve prepared called the Move8 Playlist below:

Flexing Waxing

We take for granted the distance and weather our car go through and great time is now to whip out the car wax and work those biceps. Always remember to engage your core muscles – that’s right in the centre of your tummy, and work in wide strokes so your entire arm feels the muscles working out.

Indoor Aerobic Exercise

Exercise can be achieved indoor with body weight exercise. Use your furniture as your exercise tools. To get a good back exercise simply lie down under a sturdy dining table, extend your arms out to grab the side of the table and pull yourself up. We highly advise speaking to your fitness coach so they can design a good programme for your while at home.

So during this Movement Control Order decreed by the government in order to #flattenthecurve, stay indoors as much as you can, but keep moving in whichever manner you can. Choose love and a positive outlook and may we come through this with much character building realised. Take care now.

AFTNews, Men's Health, Mental Health, PRNews, Wellness

Online Telehealth Psychology Sessions for Australians

Video

Gamarada Universal Indigenous Resources Pty Ltd (GUIR) has launched Bulk Billed Online Telehealth Psychology Sessions accessible from anywhere in Australia. In response to COVID-19, GUIR will be collaborating with the Australian Institute for Human Wellness to provide Culturally Safe online telehealth psychological services. These sessions will be BULK BILLED for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are eligible for telehealth Medicare rebates with a Mental Health Care Plan. Non-Indigenous people can also access bulk billed sessions if they meet eligibility criteria (see below).

In a LinkedIn post, GUIR founder Ken Zulumovski also revealed an online staff training and program to help teams stay sharp in uncertain times. Find out more about GUIR by visiting their website at www.guir.com.au.

AFT Features, Fitness, Home Gym

Exercise while Staying at Home

Tips to stay active at home

Locked down at home, no worries! Try to stay active and boost your immunity with those simple exercise tips;

Right click, save and share 🙂

1- Plan your exercise program and make to-do list
2- Stay active for a minimum of 30 min per day for 5 or more days per week.
3- Remember the 4 main elements of exercise:
a. Warm up 3-5 min
b. Conditioning 15-25 min (3 days aerobics and 2 days resistance)
c. Cool down 3-5 min
d. Stretching minimum of 5 min
4- Best exercise experience is with your partner or your kids
5- With your children be creative and let them move around the house
6- Always change your exercise routine and beat the boredom
7- No equipment, no problem you can use anything available including your body weight.
8- Exercise from a chair can be fun and ideal for older adult
9- YouTube can be great source for tones of exercise varieties, remember to choose wisely

Text provided by Dr. Ayman Al-Bedri, Secretary-General, Society of Exercise is Medicine Malaysia. Photo credit: Steven Raj Advisory Board Member EiMM.

AFTNews, Rugby, Sport

World Rugby Statement: HSBC World Rugby Challenger Series postponed

World Rugby has taken the decision to postpone the women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series tournament that was due to be played in Stellenbosch on 28 and 29 March in response to the continued COVID-19 situation.

The health and safety of participating teams, tournament event staff and spectators is our highest priority. This proactive decision has been taken to help protect the global rugby community and the wider public and was taken based on the World Health Organisation and relevant public authority travel and health guidelines. The decision is fully supported by stakeholders, including unions and commercial partners.

Further details in relation to the rearrangement of the Stellenbosch women’s HSBC World Rugby Challenger Series event will be communicated in due course.  

AFTNews, Olympics, PRNews, Sport

IOC Boxing task force suspends European Qualifier in London and all remaining events until May

17 March 2020, AFTNN // PRNEWSGIG – The IOC Boxing Task Force (BTF) has announced that the boxing Road to Tokyo European Qualifier in London and subsequent qualifiers worldwide scheduled to take place in May are to be suspended until further notice.

The European qualifier, which started on 14 March and was planned to run until 24 March, will be closed after today’s evening session.

Safeguarding the well-being of the athletes, officials and all other participants is a top priority for the BTF. Since the preparation phase of the event, the BTF has been working in close cooperation with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) – the delivery body of the competition – as well as its stakeholders, its own medical experts and the national health authorities, to set up the necessary precautionary measures.

The BTF eventually took the decision to suspend the event today, amid increasing global travel restrictions and quarantine measures, in order to allow the participants from over 60 countries to adjust their travel plans and return home.

The BTF will continue to evaluate the situation daily, aiming to complete the distribution of the remaining Tokyo 2020 boxing quota places in May and June. The BTF’s priority remains the qualification of athletes on the field of play, and it will inform all stakeholders as soon as more information is available.

At the same time, the IOC is fully committed to the success of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, as was recently outlined again in the following statement.

The BTF would like to thank the host nations, the organising committees and all the participants involved for their support and tremendous efforts in dealing with this extraordinary situation.

Ends.