Page 31 - bon-dia-aruba-20210721

A31
sports Diaranson 21 Juli 2021
An Olympics like no other, Tokyo perseveres to host Games

(AP) — It’s an Olympics celed. Mount Vesuvius because the
like no other — and the Italian government decided
Tokyo Games are sure- Another odd Olympic oc- its financial resources would
ly that — but this is an currence came at the 1956 be better spent on rebuilding
event that has persevered Melbourne Games, when the Naples.
through wars, boycotts equestrian events were held
and now a pandemic over in Stockholm because of ani- Rome finally hosted the
its 125-year modern his- mal quarantine regulations in Games in 1960.
tory. Australia.
One particular Olympics has
The Tokyo Olympics have And then there is the 1906 an especially controversial
already broken new ground Athens Olympics, or maybe past: the 1936 Berlin Games.
because of the 12-month de- the lack of a 1906 Olympics. Although the Games were
lay caused by the coronavirus awarded about two years
pandemic, pushing it into an Originally called the “Ath- before Adolf Hitler became
odd-numbered year for the ens International Olym- dictator, they went ahead un-
first time. But with no fans pic Games” and sanctioned der Nazism. Jesse Owens, an
permitted in Japan, foreign or invasion of Afghanistan. The Olympics in 1948, London by the IOC, they are now African American track great,
local, it has the distinction of Soviets and many of its allies was chosen as host. Tokyo known as the Intercalated (or went on to win four gold
being the first Games with- reciprocated four years later had to wait until 1964 to host Intermediary) Games of 1906 medals, but he was supposed
out spectators. by boycotting the 1984 Los the Games for the first time. — hosted halfway between to compete in only three
Angeles Olympics. the normal four-year Olym- events, the 100 meters, 200
“We’re in uncharted ter- And then there was 1920, an pic cycle. They were ruled meters and long jump.
ritory,” said Steve Wilson, Dozens of countries, mainly Olympics held in Antwerp, unofficial in 1949, according
the former president of the from Africa, boycotted the Belgium, that took place to Olympic historian David Marty Glickman and Sam
Olympic Journalists Associa- 1976 Montreal Games to as the world was emerging Wallechinsky. Stoller had been two of the
tion who covered the Olym- protest New Zealand’s sport- from both World War I and a presumed team members for
pic movement for The Asso- ing ties to the South African flu pandemic that killed more Tragedy has also marked the 4x100-meter relay. They
ciated Press for nearly three apartheid regime. South Af- than 50 million people. the Olympics, most notably were replaced by Owens and
decades until 2017. rica was banned from com- when 11 members of the Is- Ralph Metcalfe, who won the
peting from 1964 to 1988 be- “In a minimum of time, raeli team were murdered race alongside Frank Wykoff
“These will be Games with- cause of apartheid. they organized the Games, by the Palestinian terrorist and Foy Draper in world re-
out the carnival atmosphere, but they were relatively im- group Black September at cord time.
celebration and fun that World War I and World War provised Games,” Roland the 1972 Munich Games and
we’ve come to expect and II forced the Olympics to be Renson, a Belgian sports his- when a bomb exploded in the “What made the situation
look forward to. Definitely canceled altogether, so there torian, told the AP last year. Olympic Park at the 1996 At- ugly,” Wallechinsky wrote in
one for the history books.” were no 1916, 1940 or 1944 “They had to do it with the lanta Games. “The Complete Book of the
Games. The separate Win- means they had at their dis- Olympics” in 2012, “was that
There have been many oth- ter Olympics didn’t exist at posal, and they were at that Other host cities have turned Stoller and Glickman were
er unusual editions of the the time of World War I, but time far from abundant in a down the right to host the the only Jews on the U.S.
Olympics in the past, how- World War II forced two of city so heavily hit by war.” Games. The 1908 Olympics, track team, and they returned
ever. The United States and them to be called off. The coronavirus pandemic for instance, were originally to the United States as the
many of its allies boycotted awarded to Rome, but they only members of the squad
the 1980 Moscow Games to The 1940 Games were sup- even affected Antwerp’s 100- were relocated to London who didn’t compete.”
protest the Soviet Union’s posed to be held in Tokyo, year anniversary, forcing last following the eruption of
but upon the return of the year’s celebrations to be can-
Joshua defending heavyweight titles vs Usyk in September

(AP) — Anthony Joshua ness.”
will defend his WBA, IBF The mandatory WBO title
and WBO heavyweight fight fills a vacancy after Josh-
titles against former un- ua’s all-British blockbuster
disputed world cruiser- against Tyson Fury in Saudi
weight champion Olek- Arabia in August was scup-
sandr Usyk at Tottenham pered when a United States
Hotspur Stadium on Sept. arbitrator ordered the WBC
25. champion to take on Deontay
Wilder again. That contest is
The fight pits two 2012 Lon- in October.
don Olympic gold medallists
against each other: Joshua Renowned for his nimble
topped the podium in the su- footwork, exemplary hand
per-heavyweight division and speed and head movement,
Usyk reigned supreme in the Usyk collected all four major
heavyweight bracket. world belts at cruiserweight
and has won all 18 of his pro-
“We are two Olympic gold fessional contests, 13 of them
medallists who have fought inside the distance.
our way to the top and never 34, three years older than Pulev at Spurs’ home stadi- There were 1,000 fans grant-
avoided challenges,” Joshua Having had just two fights Joshua. um in June last year but the ed access to that fight, the
said in a statement on Tues- in boxing’s blue riband divi- Usyk’s most recent bout was coronavirus pandemic led to last time Joshua was in ac-
day. “The stadium is excep- sion since stepping up, there a points decision win over the contest being switched to tion, but his Matchroom
tional, the atmosphere will remains lingering questions Joshua’s compatriot, Derek Wembley Arena in Decem- promoter is gearing up to
be electric, I’m honored to about the Ukrainian’s punch Chisora, last October. ber, when the Briton retained welcome 60,000 spectators at
be the first person to fight in resistance and his ability to his titles with a ninth-round the 62,850-capacity outdoor
such an awe inspiring venue. trouble the top heavyweights Joshua (24-1, 22 KO) was knockout victory. stadium.
I am ready to handle busi- with his power. Usyk is also scheduled to fight Kubrat