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SPORTS Thursday 13 February 2020

In this Sunday, April 14, 2019, file photo, drivers prepare for the
start of the Chinese Formula One Grand Prix at the Shanghai
International Circuit in Shanghai, China.
Associated Press
Formula One's Chinese

Grand Prix postponed

due to virus

By ROB HARRIS are going through at the
AP Sports Writer moment with the virus. But
LONDON (AP) — Formula on the flip side, I'm glad
One organizers on Wednes- that some initiative has
day postponed the Chi- been taken and that we're In this Sunday, July 7, 2019 file photo, United States' Megan Rapinoe poses with her individual
nese Grand Prix that was not putting anyone else at awards at the end of the Women's World Cup final soccer match between US and The Netherlands
due to be staged in Shang- risk." at the Stade de Lyon in Decines, outside Lyon, France. Associated Press
hai in April, the latest sport- Speaking at the launch of
ing event impacted by the the Renault team's F1 car U.S. soccer men’s union says
fast-spreading viral infec- for 2020, Ricciardo said that
tion in the country. a decision was needed women’s pay should be tripled
More than 1,100 people now because teams have
have died in China from to send in equipment and By RONALD BLUM ing very hard to sell a false narrative to the
the virus, which has been personnel well in advance AP Sports Writer public and even to members of Congress.
named COVID-19 by the of races. NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. men's national They have been using this false narrative
World Health Organization. "(The virus) still hasn't been team urged the U.S. Soccer Federation as a weapon against current and former
One of 22 races on the controlled to full effect," to sharply increase pay of the American members of the United States women's na-
F1 calendar for 2020 that the Australian said at Re- women and accused the governing body tional team."
opens in Melbourne next nault's showcase store on of making low-ball offers in negotiations Molly Levinson, a spokesperson for the
month, the Chinese Grand the Champs-Élysées. "The with the men. The union for the women's players involved in the lawsuit, issued
Prix was due to be staged problem is freight and all team filed a gender discrimination lawsuit a statement on behalf of women's star
on April 19. that would have to go this against the USSF that is scheduled for trial Megan Rapinoe: "Our great hope is that
The decision to postpone week, and they had to starting May 5 in U.S. District Court in Los 2020 will be the year of equal pay. We are
the race was taken after make an early call on it. Angeles. The women agreed to a collec- grateful for the support of our male col-
a request from the Shang- Hopefully by April, things tive bargaining agreement in April 2017 leagues, and also for the overwhelming
hai promoter to "ensure the are controlled but this is a that extends through 2021. The men's la- solidarity from millions of fans and sponsors
health and safety of the decision that needed to bor contract expired at the end of 2018. around the world who have stood with us
travelling staff, champion- come soon." "The women's 2017-2021 deal is worse than to fight USSF's discrimination.
ship participants and fans," "All parties will take the ap- the men's 2011-2018 deal," the men's union "Achieving equal pay is so much bigger
F1 said in a statement. propriate amount of time said in a statement Wednesday. "The fed- than our team and our playing fields —
It is the first time a race has to study the viability of po- eration continues to discriminate against women in work forces everywhere de-
been called off since po- tential alternative dates for the women in their wages and working serve equality now."
litical unrest led to the can- the grand prix later in the conditions. ... What we believe should The men claimed "the federation insisted
celation of the 2011 Bah- year should the situation happen is simple. Pay the women sig- the women sign a 2017-21 deal that was
rain Grand Prix. improve," F1 said. nificantly more than our recently expired worse financially than the men's soon-to-
"It's tough," Renault driver Other virus-enforced can- men's deal. In our estimation, the women expire 2011-18 CBA that had been negoti-
Daniel Ricciardo said short- cellations or postpone- were due at least triple what our expired ated six years earlier." They said "the cor-
ly after the F1 announce- ments range from soccer deal was worth in player compensation." rect comparison should be between what
ment on China. "Obviously and Olympic qualifying The men claimed the federation wants the women got with their 2017-21 deal
mixed feelings because events to golf tournaments. their pay to stay at the same level as in and triple what the federation agreed to
personally I really enjoy the The Tokyo Olympics open their expired contract. pay the men in 2011 or whatever the men
circuit, I had success there. on July 24 and organizers "It's a desperate attempt to cover up the negotiate in their new CBA that will be ret-
I had a win in 2018 and I have repeatedly said the fact that what they did to the women in roactive to Jan. 1, 2019."
got my first points with Re- games will not be can- 2017 is indefensible," the statement said. They urged fans to write to Congress and
nault there last year. So it's celled or postponed. But Carlos Cordeiro, who succeeded Sunil Gu- to "tell the federation's sponsors you will not
been positive for me. many Olympic qualifying lati as USSF president in February 2018, did support them until the federation starts do-
"I feel for the fans and ev- events are in disarray, with not respond to an email from The Associ- ing the right thing and gives the women a
eryone that's going to miss Chinese athletes not free ated Press seeking comment. new CBA that pays a fair share of the gate
out, but more importantly to travel outside the coun- The men said they issued their statement receipts and television and that sponsor-
I feel for China, what they try to participate.q because "the federation has been work- ship revenue to the players."q