Sports News Roundup: Hill just what Saints need to top Falcons; NBA players meet Pope Francis to discuss social justice issues and more

Steelers in doubt The Baltimore Ravens held virtual team activities on Tuesday amid an NFL Network report of 10 confirmed new positive COVID-19 tests in the organization, leaving the status of the club's scheduled Thursday game at Pittsburgh uncertain. The Ravens closed, and then reopened, their team facility on Monday following positive COVID-19 tests involving running backs Mark Ingram and rookie J.K. Dobbins.


Reuters | Updated: 25-11-2020 10:52 IST | Created: 25-11-2020 10:27 IST
Sports News Roundup: Hill just what Saints need to top Falcons; NBA players meet Pope Francis to discuss social justice issues and more
Representative image Image Credit: Pixabay

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

The best-case scenario for the Games is venues full of spectators: Tokyo governor

Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike said on Tuesday that the best-case scenario for the 2020 Olympics postponed until next year is to have venues full of spectators, as organizers wrestle with how to plan for the Games amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. With COVID-19 infections on the rise in many countries around the world, Olympics organizers have yet to decide whether to allow spectators into venues next year and if so, how many.

NFL Roundup: Hill just what Saints need to top Falcons

Taysom Hill rushed for two touchdowns and the host New Orleans Saints won their seventh consecutive game by defeating the Atlanta Falcons 24-9 on Sunday afternoon. Hill made his first NFL start at quarterback as Drew Brees began at least a three-game absence due to rib and lung injuries. Hill completed 18 of 23 passes for 233 yards and had scoring runs of 2 and 10 yards among his team-high 51 rushing yards as the NFC South-leading Saints improved to 8-2.

NBA players meet Pope Francis to discuss social justice issues

Five NBA players met with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Monday to discuss social justice issues following a season where combating racial inequality was a dominant theme. The players who met the Pope were Anthony Tolliver, Kyle Korver, Sterling Brown, Jonathan Isaac and Marco Belinelli as well as National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) executive director Michele Roberts.

Diamond League announces calendar for 2021 season

The Diamond League on Tuesday released its provisional calendar for the 2021 season, which will consist of 14 athletics meetings beginning in Rabat in May and ending in Zurich in September. Doha will stage a meeting on May 28 after which Rome will host the first European event of the season on June 4, with Oslo hosting a week later. Meetings in Stockholm, Monaco, and London are scheduled for the first two weeks of July.

Masks required for players on sidelines as league enhances COVID-19 protocols

Players in the National Football League (NFL) must wear masks on the sidelines unless they have their helmet on and are preparing to enter the game, the league said on Monday as it unveiled an enhanced set of COVID-19 protocols. In a memo distributed to teams, the NFL also outlined increased safety regulations for play-callers and said post-game interactions between players and staff would be limited.

Saudi Arabia to host Formula E's first night race

Saudi Arabia will host Formula E's first-ever night race with a double-header in Diriyah next February, the all-electric series announced on Tuesday. Organizers said low consumption LED floodlights would be powered by fully renewable energy, using low-carbon certified hydrogenated vegetable oil made from sustainable materials.

Lakers sign 'Sixth Man of the Year' Harrell from Clippers

NBA champions Los Angeles Lakers have signed 'Sixth Man of the Year' Montrezl Harrell from the Clippers, the league said. The switch comes after a stellar season from Harrell, who averaged career-highs of 18.6 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

As Ravens work virtually, game vs. Steelers in doubt

The Baltimore Ravens held virtual team activities on Tuesday amid an NFL Network report of 10 confirmed new positive COVID-19 tests in the organization, leaving the status of the club's scheduled Thursday game at Pittsburgh uncertain. The Ravens closed and then reopened, their team facility on Monday following positive COVID-19 tests involving running backs Mark Ingram and rookie J.K. Dobbins. Defensive tackle Brandon Williams was deemed a close contact, and all three players were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

No honeymoon period for new Canada Soccer boss

There will be no honeymoon period for Nick Bontis who steps into the top job at Canada Soccer facing a budget crunch brought on by COVID-19 and a scramble to get the national teams back into action ahead of the Tokyo Olympics and World Cup qualifying. Bontis, elected Soccer Canada president on Friday, takes over from the outgoing Steven Reed, who had served the remaining three years of Victor Montagliani’s four-year term after the latter became top man at regional governing body CONCACAF.

Australian Open delay 'most likely', says state minister

The Australian Open is likely to be delayed by a week or two as negotiations between organizers, the tennis tours, and the Victoria government over health measures continue, the state's sports minister said on Wednesday. Tennis Australia (TA) on Saturday dismissed as "speculation" a report that the Grand Slam would be moved back from its scheduled Jan. 18-31 spot in the calendar.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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