This article was originally published on February 7th, 2020.
Here is this week's dose of “5-Point Friday”. A weekly round-up of the sports news and stories that I find most interesting and enjoyable.
Motorsport news I am paying attention to -
Formula E has called off next month's race in China amid the coronavirus outbreak. The sixth race of the 2019-20 season was due to be held in Sanya, around 1,000 miles from the center of the outbreak in Wuhan, on 21 March.
Formula 1 is currently waiting on their Chinese race promoter to make a decision on the fate of the Grand Prix, be held in Shanghai on 19 April, with the consideration of postponing the race to a later date in the year.
Soccer news I am excited about -
Bundesliga 2 club Hamburg is set to trial allowing fans to use pyrotechnics legally at a game for the first time this weekend. The club successfully applied to allow fans to set off 10 smoke devices before their home match with Karlsruher on Saturday.
DFB, German FA, announced that the smoke cans will be let off as the teams arrive on the pitch before kick-off under the supervision of a specialist company. Hamburg was fined more than $300,000 for the use of pyrotechnics last season.
Olympics news I am interested in -
In a highly anticipated decision in the running world, World Athletics announced that Nike’s Vaporfly shoe will be permitted during the Tokyo Olympics.
“It is not our job to regulate the entire sports shoe market but it is our duty to preserve the integrity of elite competition by ensuring that the shoes worn by elite athletes in competition do not offer any unfair assistance or advantage,” said Sebastian Coe, the World Athletics president, and Olympic champion.
Rugby news I'm looking forward to -
World Rugby, has announced plans to launch a global competition for emerging national teams in 2021 after its Nations Championship concept failed to get off the ground last year.
The tournament would provide a high-profile competition for countries competing outside of the two major annual national team competitions, the northern hemisphere's Six Nations and the Rugby Championship in the southern hemisphere.
World Rugby chairman, Bill Beaumont (@BillBeaumont), added: “Enhancing competition opportunity, meaning and competitiveness for our unions outside of the Six Nations and the Rugby Championship is critical to the future growth, prosperity and sustainability of the global game.”
Event I watched -
On Friday night, the Lakers got their first opportunity to honor Kobe Bryant's memory and legacy and they gave the late legend a touching tribute that concluded with a heartfelt speech from LeBron James.
"I look at this as a celebration tonight," James said. "This is a celebration of the 20 years of the blood, the sweat, the tears, the broken-down body...the determination to be as great as he could be. Tonight we celebrate the kid that came here at 18 years of age, retired at 38, and became probably the best dad that we've seen over the last three years. Tonight is a celebration."
Have a wonderful weekend, all!
Jonathan
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