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sports Diahuebs 26 November 2020

As season nears, Europe ponders skiing during pandemic

(AP) — Though the first out plans Tuesday night for a sort of St. Moritz, a favorite
real snow has yet to fall gradual easing of the current destination for well-heeled
across much of Europe, ski lockdown. Italians, is set to open about
buffs are imagining with 60% of slopes this weekend.
dread a once-unthinkable Plans for reopening also re- But much of the fun of ski-
scene: Skiing in Zermatt main on ice in the eastern ing getaways is missing: Zer-
in Switzerland while lifts countries of Poland, Slove- matt's slopes may be open,
idle across the border in nia, Slovakia and the Czech but its restaurants are not
Italy's Aosta valley. Republic — although Ser- — meaning a warm cocoa,
bia is prepping for the win- mulled wine or cold beer at
The leaders of Italy and ter season in full swing, as pubs or eateries after moun-
France are resisting pressure if COVID-19 did not exist, tain runs is out.
to reopen ski resorts before counting on both domestic
Christmas, pushing for Eu- and foreign visitors. So far, just 10% of the coun-
ropean coordination so their Austria, whose current lock- try’s 250 ski stations are open
industries don’t suffer dur- down runs through Dec. 6, as only the highest altitudes
ing the pandemic while oth- has been for months saying have gotten enough snow, ac-
ers flourish. But the Alpine permitted to open this sea- in a 24-hour period. that it hoped to reopen the cording to Switzerland Tour-
countries of Switzerland and son. “I admit I have a difficult slopes this season and re- ism spokeswoman Veronique
Austria could well be spoil- Both Italian Premier Gi- time inside commenting on jected Italy’s idea of keeping Kanel. She said she didn't ex-
ers. useppe Conte and French arguments relating to ski ar- them closed until Jan. 10. On pect a flood of foreign skiers,
Ski resorts were one of the President Emmanuel Ma- eas and what will happen at Wednesday, Austrian Chan- noting strict travel rules still
major sources of contagion cron said this week that Christmas, thinking about cellor Sebastian Kurz pushed in place in many countries.
in the deadly spring surge of pre-Christmas openings are these numbers,’’ said Dr. back against calls to write off An official in the Swiss health
COVID-19. unthinkable. While such ski- Franco Locatelli, head of It- this year’s ski season because ministry said Switzerland
So far, restrictions to slow the ing luminaries as world and aly’s national scientific coun- of the pandemic. plans to join a discussion
curve of infections have kept Olympic champion Alberto cil. In Bavaria, Germany’s larg- among officials from Alpine
lifts closed in Italy, France, Tomba argue that it is an in- est ski destination, Governor countries in the coming days
Germany and Austria, as well dividual sport conducted in French mountain industry Markus Soeder supported on coordinating a plan for re-
as countries further east. But the open air, the leaders point representatives met with the the idea, saying that if Eu- launching the ski season.
skiers are already heading to to the risks of contagion in French prime minister Mon- rope’s borders are to remain “Clearly the situation is com-
mountains in Switzerland, crowded lift lines and lodges, day to press to be able to re- open through the Christmas plicated: It’s difficult to have
drawing an envious gaze as well as closed cable cars. open, but apparently their season there will have to be only one country open its
from ski industry and local Top health officials in Italy pleas weren’t heard. some sort of a blanket rule on ski slopes when others close
officials in mountain regions appeared aghast when they “It seems impossible to me keeping resorts closed. theirs. There needs to be co-
elsewhere on the continent were asked at a briefing Tues- to imagine a reopening for In Switzerland, lifts are in- ordination,” said the official
who lost most of last season day about the prospects for the holidays, and much more deed in operation on Zer- on condition of anonymity
due to the virus. They are opening ski season, minutes preferable to favor reopening matt, next to the famed Mat- because he was not autho-
warning of irreversible eco- after they had just reported a in January, in good condi- terhorn, and eastern Davos, rized to speak publicly on the
nomic damage if they are not resurgence-high 853 deaths tions,’’ Macron said as he laid near Austria. The famed re- matter.

No. 1 South Carolina women rout Charleston in season opener

(AP) — No. 1 South Caro- made it 24-5 with 1:37 left in the powerhouse program
lina picked up where it left the opening quarter. drawing 12,218 fans a game.
off last season, opening a It got more lopsided from The school had sellouts
17-0 lead and blowing past there as South Carolina con- against UConn and Texas
Charleston 119-38 in the tinued to push the pace in A&M and had the top-three
season opener Wednesday its first game since defeating most attended games of last
for its 27th straight vic- Mississippi State 72-62 for its season.
tory. fifth SEC Tournament title in Instead of fans, there were
six years. smiling cutouts spaced
Victaria Saxton had 19 points The Gamecocks led 62-20 around the arena and the fans
and 12 rebounds and Zia at the half and Laeticia Ami- who were there sat far apart.
Cooke scored 18 points as the here's free throw with 7:47 The benches were spaced
Gamecocks overwhelmed left got them to 100 points out, too, with individual
the Cougars for their 10th for the eighth time in coach chairs for coaches and players
straight series win. Dawn Staley's 13 seasons. at least 6 feet away from each
South Carolina ended last They soon topped their best- other.Artificial crowd noise
season at No. 1 as the South- ever showing under Staley, made it sound fuller than it
eastern Conference regu- accomplished last year in a was. South Carolina does not
lar season and tournament 112-32 victory over SC Up- play at home again until Dec.
champion. The Gamecocks state. 3, when it faces No. 8 North
were strong favorites for a South Carolina had seven Carolina State.
national title when the coro- players score in double fig-
navirus pandemic shut down ures and four had double- The big picture Oklahoma and No. 21 Gon- racism in the United States.
college sports last March. doubles, including Aliyah Charleston: The Cougars zaga in a tournament in Sioux Only junior forward Elysa
The team's goal this season Boston with 11 points and 12 went 13-17 in coach Robin Falls, South Dakota. Wesolek stood, along with
— finish what it couldn't last rebounds. Harmony's first season, an Staley and her staff.
spring. Williams led Charleston with improvement of six games Anthem statement
Destanni Henderson made nine points. from a season earlier. Still, Ten of 11 players for South Up next
a layup 5 seconds into the There was an eerie atmo- Charleston had little chance Carolina sat in their chairs Charleston opens its home
game and the Gamecocks sphere with only 3,500 peo- against the quicker, stronger, during the playing of the na- season against Wofford on
never looked back. Taylor ple permitted inside 18,000- more athletic Gamecocks. tional anthem. A team state- Sunday.
Williams got the Cougars' seat Colonial Life Arena. South Carolina: The Game- ment said the players did it to South Carolina will play
first point with a foul shot. South Carolina led the cocks will likely have more bring awareness to the need South Dakota on Saturday,
After the team missed its first NCAA in average attendance difficult tests ahead. They for racial equality, social jus- the first of its three games in
17 shots, Williams' jumper for women's hoops last year, are set to play South Dakota, tice and an end to systemic Sioux Falls.