The French Grand Prix scheduled for May 17 in Le Mans has been postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak
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The Latest on the effects of the new coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:
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The French Grand Prix scheduled for May 17 in Le Mans has been postponed, becoming the sixth MotoGP race to be called off because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The motorcycling series has yet to start its season.
The season-opener in Qatar was canceled, the Thailand, Americas and Argentina races were postponed to October-November, and the Spanish MotoGP has yet to find new dates.
The next race at risk is the Italian MotoGP on May 31.
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World Sailing has canceled the World Cup Series Final in Enoshima, Japan, in June because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The regatta was to give valuable competition for the Olympic classes just over a month before the start of the Tokyo Games.
The Olympics have been postponed to 2021.
World Sailing and Japanese officials were in talks to return to Enoshima in 2021 before the rescheduled Olympics.
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Brescia president Massimo Cellino says he will forfeit his team’s remaining Serie A matches if the Italian soccer league resumes.
Brescia is the third-worst hit province in Italy with more than 8,500 coronavirus cases and more than 1,300 deaths.
In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, Cellino says “this season doesn’t make sense anymore.”
He says “returning to activity is pure craziness. If they force us to I am ready to not put out the team and lose the matches 3-0 by default out of respect for the citizens of Brescia and their loved ones who aren’t here anymore.”
Brescia is in last place in the league standings. The president of Lazio recently accused Cellino of trying to avoid relegation.
Cellino says “I don’t care at all about relegation. So far we have deserved it and I have my blame in that, too.”
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Potential hosts of soccer‘s 2027 Asian Cup have been given more time to enter the contest by the Asian Football Confederation.
The AFC says the March deadline to show interest was extended by three months to June because many of its member federations have been affected by the coronavirus pandemic.
The Saudi Arabian soccer body said in February it wanted to host the 24-team tournament.
China will host the 2023 edition. A return to western Asia is possible after the United Arab Emirates staged the 2019 tournament.
The AFC is planning for a 2027 tournament but a FIFA task force drafting a future calendar of matches and tournaments will likely be asked to align continental championships. The European Championship and South America’s Copa America are on track to kick off in June 2028.
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