Digest

SOCCER

Pele: Marta 'much more than footballer'

Brazilian legend Pele hailed Marta as "much more than a footballer" and an "inspiration" after she scored in a fifth Olympic Games on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old netted twice as Brazil opened its Tokyo Olympics campaign with a 5-0 rout of China.

"I hope you're dreaming about what you did a few hours ago. Speaking of which, how many dreams do you think you inspired today?" three-time World Cup winner Pele wrote on Instagram.

"Your achievement means much more than a personal record. This moment inspires millions of athletes from so many other sports, from all over the world, who fight for recognition. "Congratulations on your trajectory. Congratulations, you are much more than a football player. You help build a better world with your talent, in which women gain more space."

China was denied on several occasions by the woodwork in Wednesday's opener, and star player Wang Shuang said: "Obviously luck was not on our side. There are two matches remaining and we will work on our target to qualify for the next round."

OPENING CEREMONY

Show director fired over Holocaust joke

The Tokyo Olympics organizing committee fired the director of the opening ceremony on Thursday because of a Holocaust joke he made during a comedy show in 1998.

Organizing committee president Seiko Hashimoto said a day ahead of the opening ceremony that director Kentaro Kobayashi has been dismissed. He was accused of using a joke about the Holocaust in his comedy act, including the phrase "Let's play Holocaust".

"We found out that Mr. Kobayashi, in his own performance, has used a phrase ridiculing a historical tragedy," Hashimoto said. "We deeply apologize for causing such a development the day before the opening ceremony and for causing troubles and concerns to many involved parties as well as the people in Tokyo and the rest of the country."

The opening ceremony of the pandemic-delayed Games is scheduled for Friday. The ceremony will be held without spectators as a measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus infections, although some officials, guests and media will attend.

SWIMMING

Spanish star slams breast-feeding rules

Spanish synchronized swimmer Ona Carbonell said she is disappointed and disillusioned that she cannot take her breast-feeding son with her to the Olympics, because her family would be subject to such drastic restrictions in Japan.

Her husband and son Kai, who is nearly 1, would have to stay in quarantine in a separate hotel and would not be able to leave their room for the 20 or so days she would be in Japan, Carbonell said on her Instagram page.

"For me to go and breast-feed Kai whenever he needs it during the day I would have to leave the Olympic villa, the team's bubble, and go to the hotel, risking my team's health,"Carbonell said.

"I had to make a really tough decision ... because the Japanese government's impositions are not compatible with my athletic performance and being with my family at the same time.

"I hope other athletes can get along with these conditions and still take their kids with them. Personally I can't accept these conditions. I won't be OK, I would have to use the breast pump for 20 days hoping that Kai still wants to be breast-fed, something which is very important for me."

BOXING

Cuba's La Cruz eyeing heavyweight gold

Cuban boxer Julio Cesar La Cruz has set his sights on winning a second Olympic gold medal in Tokyo.

La Cruz won the light heavyweight title in Rio five years ago, and is stepping up a division to heavyweight in Tokyo.

"I am going to fight to win the gold medal as I have trained very hard. I have developed some other skills and incorporated new elements to improve my performance, apart from my abilities," he said.

The 31-year-old took advantage of the postponement of the Tokyo Games last year to recover from a bout of chickenpox.

At the moment, he and his six Cuban boxing teammates are observing COVID-19 screening procedures and abiding by physical distancing guidelines.

"Besides strength, bearing a positive and winning mindset is fundamental," he said.

La Cruz hopes Tokyo will not be his last Olympics, saying he plans to hang up his gloves after the Paris 2024 Games.

Xinhua - Agencies