Mediawatch: Sport Needs Spectators

(ATR)One of the major decisions still to be made ahead of the Tokyo Olympics is whether spectators will be allowed to attend the postponed Games this July.

The Australian Open began last week with fans back in the stands, though at reduced capacity. But a snap lockdown due to a resurgence in COVID-19 cases a few days later meant the world’s best tennis players were playing in empty arenas.

Matthew Futterman of the New York Times, reportingfrom Melbourne, says he has learned from the past few days that sports just isn't sports without the fan in the stands.

Simone Biles Speaks Out

Simone Biles believes her dominance in gymnastics happened despite some of the training she received earlier in her career.

In an interview with60 Minutes, the venerable television newsmagazine show, Biles also reflected on waiting another year to make her final Olympics appearance in Tokyo and on USA Gymnastics’ response to the Larry Nassar scandal.

Click hereto watch the interview.

U.S. Congressman Threatens Beijing 2022 Boycott

U.S. Representative Mike Waltz has introduced a resolution urging a boycott of Beijing 2022 by the United States if the Games are not moved out of China.

Waltz, a Republican from Florida, is going a step further than his Senate colleagues.

Six U.S. Senators led by Rick Scott, also of Florida, earlier this month introduced a resolution calling for the IOC to move the Olympics and rebid it to another country unless human rights abuses are addressed. But they are not calling for a boycott.

Waltz said his resolution is focused on the Chinese Communist Party and the list of grievances includes more than just human rights abuses.

Click here to read the story from Fox News.

Compiled by Gerard Farek

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