Sports Shorts: BWF cancels Taipei Open 2020, Korea Open

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) on Wednesday cancelled four tournaments, including Taipei Open 2020 and Korea Open, due to coronavirus.

The Taipei Open was slated to take place from September 1 to September 6 while the Korea Open was scheduled to be held from September 8 to September 13.

"These decisions to cancel tournaments are made in the best interest of the health of the players, spectators, volunteers, and Member Associations. We are deeply disappointed to have to cancel tournaments, but feel that the well-being of everyone involved is most important at this time," said Thomas Lund, BWF Secretary-General in an official statement.

The two other tournaments cancelled are China Open and Japan Open which were scheduled for the second half of September.

"I would like to acknowledge the significant efforts made by our Member Associations in the regions throughout this process for their patience and commitment to the BWF," said Thomas Lund.

"The BWF will continue to adjust to changes to ensure any badminton activity 100% complies to the rules and regulations of the World Health Organization (WHO), local health authorities, and international and domestic travel restrictions," he added.

The badminton governing body had earlier frozen the world rankings and World Junior Rankings and had said that ranking lists issued on March 17 will be going to serve as a basis for entry and seeding into the next international tournaments.

2021 Tour de France moved forward to avoid Tokyo Olympics clash

The start of next year's Tour de France has been brought forward by a week to avoid clashing with the men's road race at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics, the International Cycling Union (UCI) has said.

The 2021 Tour will begin on June 26 and end on July 18, six days before the start of the Mount Fuji road race. It was originally scheduled to begin on July 2 in Copenhagen, Denmark.

The Tokyo Games were scheduled to take place from July 24-August 9 this year but have been postponed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

"With the Tokyo Olympic Games being held from July 23 to Aug. 8 2021, the dates of several events have been adapted," the UCI said in a statement unveiling its calendar for the season.

"It is of note that to avoid an overlapping of the Olympic road cycling races (July 24, 25 and 28) with the Tour de France (initially envisaged for July 2-25), the French stage race will finish on July 18, the weekend before the first weekend of the Olympics."

The UCI also said the Tour of California and the RideLondon-Surrey Classic would not be a part of its new calendar, which consists of 35 events.