Digest

OLYMPICS

2022 construction to be done by October

Construction work for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics in the Chinese capital will be completed by October with the renovation of the National Stadium, Beijing Major Projects confirmed on Saturday.

The National Stadium, aka the Bird's Nest, will become the first venue in history to stage the opening and closing ceremonies for both the Summer and Winter Olympics, having hosted the 2008 Beijing Games.

As of July 17, 53 of 57 Winter Olympic projects in both the downtown Beijing and Yanqing competition zones were completed. The remaining four projects, including the National Stadium's renovation, will be completed this year.

Earlier this year, the Beijing 2022 Organizing Committee (BOCOG) confirmed the completion of the Beijing Winter Olympic Village, the Main Media Center, the National Sliding Center, the National Alpine Skiing Center and Yanqing Winter Olympic Village.

Athletes' positive tests raise fears of outbreak

Two athletes have tested positive for the coronavirus in the Tokyo Olympic Village after a team colleague was also infected, officials said on Sunday, raising fears of a cluster just days before the opening ceremony.

The first cases involving athletes in the village come a day after a member of their entourage returned the first positive test in the complex, which will house thousands of athletes. The three infections were revealed as competitors fly in from around the world for the pandemic-delayed Olympics, which are facing significant opposition in Japan due to their COVID-19 risks.

Tokyo 2020 spokesman Masa Takaya said the three cases "were from the same country and sport". They are "isolated in their rooms and Tokyo 2020 is delivering meals to them", he said, adding that the rest of the team have also been tested. The team was not identified.

On Saturday, a South Korean International Olympic Committee member, Ryu Seung-min, was diagnosed with the coronavirus after arriving at Narita International Airport. Late Sunday, South Africa confirmed three positive cases, including two players, in its soccer squad upon arrival in Tokyo. South Africa plays host Japan on Thursday.

IOC backs transgender weightlifter selection

The International Olympic Committee on Saturday backed New Zealand's selection of transgender weightlifter Laurel Hubbard for the Tokyo Olympics despite criticism, saying that under the current rules－which will be reviewed in future－she can compete.

Hubbard is set to become the first transgender athlete to compete at the Games after she was selected for the New Zealand team in the women's super heavyweight +87-kilogram category.

The 43-year-old's inclusion has been divisive, with her supporters welcoming the decision while critics have questioned the fairness of transgender athletes competing against women.

"The rules for qualification have been established by the International Weightlifting Federation before the qualifications started," said IOC president Thomas Bach. "These rules apply, and you cannot change rules during ongoing competitions."

BASKETBALL

Jrue grit puts Bucks on brink of NBA glory

Jrue Holiday seized his chance to give the Milwaukee Bucks the lead in the NBA Finals. Took it right out of Devin Booker's hands, actually.

Holiday's steal and alley-oop pass to Giannis Antetokounmpo for a dunk sealed a wild Game 5 and gave the Bucks a 123-119 victory over the Phoenix Suns on Saturday night.

Antetokounmpo had 32 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Khris Middleton added 29 points, and Holiday had 27 points and 13 assists.

The Bucks fought their way out of an early 16-point hole by flirting with the best-shooting night in NBA Finals history, but then won it by making a huge defensive play.

They can win their first title since 1971 in Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

"One more to go. One more to go," Antetokounmpo said. "We've got to keep playing good basketball."

Booker had 40 points, but with the Suns down one with 16 seconds left, Holiday wrestled the ball out of his hands before finding Antetokounmpo with a lob pass that the 'Greek Freak' slammed down to make it 122-119.

Antetokounmpo missed a subsequent free throw, but the Bucks grabbed the rebound and Middleton made one free throw for the final point of the night.

Xinhua - Agencies