Russian Grand Prix organisers Rosgonki said they are open to hosting back-to-back races in Sochi this season adding to the F1 calendar shortened due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Russian Grand Prix is due to be held on September 27 – Straits Times/Reuters
The Asian Football Confederation has awarded the hosting rights of the 2022 Women’s Asian Cup to India for the first time since 1979. The tournament will feature 12 teams, expanded from the previous slot of eight teams. India qualify directly as hosts – India Today
The Asian Golf Tour, suspended since March 7, is aiming to tee off again at the Shinhan Donghae Open from September 10-13 in South Korea, under Covid-19 travel and distancing protocols which could mean few spectators and players using local caddies -RTHK/AFP
Six Nations teams could be joined by world champions South Africa and Japan in London in November in a one-off “Festival of Rugby” event to help boost Rugby Union’s finances which have taken a knock due to the Covid-19 pandemic – RugbyPass/Daily Mail
New dates for the 2022 World Cup and 2023 Asian Cup qualifiers, which were scheduled for March and June, before being halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic have been announced. Match days 7 and 8 will take place on October 8 and 13 respectively, while match days 9 and 10 are due to kick off on November 12 and 17 to ensure the second round of joint qualifications is completed by November this year. The fixtures will depend upon how well the Covid-19 virus is contained in Asia in the coming months and whether travel restrictions are eased – AFC
New Zealand will become the first country to resume professional rugby union games next weekend when the 10-week Super Rugby Aotearoa competition organised by New Zealand Rugby kicks off. The tournament is aimed at filling the gap left by the postponement of the international competition Super Rugby – which is unlikely to restart this season. Super Rugby Aotearoa is likely to take place initially without fans present – SuperSport
FIFA president Gianni Infantino wants discussions over proposals to introduce salary and transfer fee caps to football in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. World football’s governing body intends to finalise plans in the coming weeks for a financial relief package following the economic damage caused to the sport by the global health crisis – Channel News Asia/AFP
Cricket Australia has explained why it is being “prudent”. In an email sent to the Australian Cricketers Association CA said its revenue projection was based on the possibility that India may not be able to play the lucrative Test and one-day international series this summer – WAtoday
With three months until the planned return of the WRC event on September 3-6, Rally New Zealand organisers have confirmed that September’s FIA World Rally Championship event in and around Auckland has been cancelled due to the challenges of the Covid-19 virus. With the New Zealand borders remaining closed to international visitors for the foreseeable future, the organisers had reached their final deadline – WRC
Michael Jordan has pledged a $100m (€88.3m) donation to groups fighting for racial equality and social justice amid a wave of protests across the US. The undertaking is thought to be the largest financial contribution to non-profit groups by a sports figure. Jordan said in a statement his Jordan Brand would distribute the money over 10 years to different organisations in a bid to stamp out “ingrained racism.” – Bangkok Post/AFP
LaLiga will use virtual images of stands in television broadcasts with added ‘fan audio’, produced by the makers of the Fifa video game, when it returns to action on Thursday. LaLiga said in a statement on Sunday (June 7) that the use of technology “will allow matches to be seen in an attractive way that closely resembles how they looked and sounded before the competition was postponed.” – Reuters
