IOC, WHO move to vaccinate athletes prior to Tokyo 2020

By Chris Price

Copyright 2021 All Rights Reserved

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND  (January 23, 2021) It is being reported by various media outlets, including Reuters, that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) is planning to vaccinate all athletes in order to avoid another postponement, or a possible cancelation of the Tokyo Games due to COVID-19.

Sources have stated that the IOC will work with the World Health Organization (WHO) to fast-tract the vaccine to athletes whose countries are experiencing difficulties in administering vaccinations.

The rescheduled Games of the XXXII Olympiad will occur from July 23 to August 8, 2021.

Baylor football players return to campus June 15

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

WACO, TEXAS (May 23, 2020) Baylor University announced today that they will welcome football players will return to campus on June 15 to begin workouts for the upcoming fall football season. Director of Athletics Mack Rhodes stated in a press release from the athletic department:

“We are grateful and excited for the return of our football student-athletes on June 15.  Over the past several weeks, our Health and Wellness team led by Kenny Boyd has worked in conjunction with University leadership, conference governance, and local health officials, to develop a comprehensive plan to support the safe return of our student-athletes, coaches, and staff. We will remain diligent in monitoring our various safety procedures and protocols to ensure a healthy and safe environment as we continue to navigate through this pandemic. We are very encouraged by this step forward and are grateful for the collective work of the Big 12 presidents, athletic directors, medical directors, and the leadership of Commissioner Bowlsby.”

Baylor head football coach Dave Aranda added:

“Our number one goal will always be the health and safety of our student-athletes and staff. With that said, I would like to thank the Big 12 presidents, athletic directors and conference staff for allowing voluntary in-person athletic activity on our campus to begin June 15. I would like to say a special thank you to our Director of Athletics Mack Rhoades and Senior Associate AD Kenny Boyd, and many others who have worked tirelessly through this process. This is an important step toward competition and I look forward to welcoming our student-athletes back to campus soon.”

Specifics related to the student-athletes returning to campus were not released.

Patrick Ewing tests positive for COVID-19

Photo courtesy of wikipedia.com

By Chris Price
Copyright 2020 All Rights Resereved

WASHINGTON DC (May 22, 2020) It is being reported by various news outlets, including NBCNews.com, that Georgetown University head basketball coach Patrick Ewing has tested positive  COVID-19. The former New York Knicks center stated, in a press release from Georgetown University:

"I have tested positive for COVID-19. This virus is serious and should not be taken lightly. I want to encourage everyone to stay safe and take care of yourselves and your loved ones."

No other member (athletes or staff) of the Hoyas basketball team has tested positive.

Ewing has been the head coach of the Hoyas since 2017 and won two Olympic gold medals as a member of the U.S. Olympic Basketball Team in 1984 and 1992.

Announcement of cancellation of 2020 Little League World Series

Video courtesy of Little League International, via Facebook Live 

Little League World Series cancelled for 2020

Photo by Darla Tamulitis
La Vita Loca Photography
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

WILLIAMSPORT, PENNSYLVANIA (April 30, 2929) Little League International announced today, via a Facebook Live broadcast, that the Little League World Series is cancelled for 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It also stated that regional and championship tournaments are also canceled.  The statement also included all Little League divisions, including softball. The cancellations, however did not include the 2020 regular seasons.

Little League president Stephen Keener stated there was reason for optimism that teams could play this spring and summer, depending on restrictions in states and localities.The Little League World Series has been played each year since the first tournament in 1947. The 202e dition was to be the 75th edition of the tournament.

In addition, he announced it  would be impossible to hold the events with the ongoing restrictions on large gatherings and travel.

The LLWS was scheduled for August 20-30, 2020.  All division tournaments, regional championships and world series are scheduled to resume in 2021.

St. Edwards Hilltoppers to drop six sports

Photo courtesy of wikipedia.com 

By Robert H Kelly
Copyright 2020 All Rights Reserved

AUSTIN, TEXAS (April 15, 2020) In what could be a prefix of things to come from other colleges and universities, St. Edward's University has announced in a prepared press release that the university will be dropping six sports from their athletic department due to financial and budgetary concerns due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sports that will be terminated at the end of the current spring semester include men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf, and men's soccer. Cheer will be dropped from the athletic department and resigned as a club in the RecWell department.

In the press release, Associate Vice President for Athletics Debbie Taylor stated, 

"As we make this difficult transition, I know that all of our coaches and staff members have our student-athletes as a top priority and will work closely with them to support their needs."

It also stated that all scholarship-eligible student-athletes impacted by this reduction will have their athletic scholarships honored for the duration of their undergraduate enrollment at the university. In addition, all athletes wishing to transfer and compete at another institution will be given their full and immediate release. 

With the reductions, the Hilltoppers will field four men's and six women's programs and one co-ed sport. The remaining men's sports include baseball, basketball, track and field, and cross country. Women's sports that will still be contested include basketball, volleyball, softball, track and field, cross country and soccer. The lone co-ed sport remaining will be esports.