31 10 月, 2020

Refunds offered for Tokyo 2020

TOKYO • Japan-based ticket holders for the postponed Tokyo Olympics will be able to apply for refunds from Nov 10, Games organisers said yesterday. With the Games delayed until next July because of the Covid-19 pandemic, organisers added that ticket holders can get a refund if they no longer wished to attend. Organisers said they would accept refund requests for tickets from those residing in Japan from Nov 10-30 and for Paralympics ticket holders from Dec 1-21. Organisers have sold over five million tickets for the Olympics and Paralympics domestically, but have yet to decide whether spectators will be allowed into venues, with a decision expected by the end of this year. "If we are not able to provide an opportunity to spectate the Games due to the Covid-19 situation, then we will offer an additional opportunity to apply for a refund," Tokyo 2020 marketing director Hidenori Suzuki said. Those living outside Japan had to purchase their tickets from authorised ticket resellers (ATRs) and each ATR would be individually responsible for their own refund procedures, according to organisers. The latest version of the Tokyo 2020 organising committee budget, released in December 2019, saw US$800 million (S$1.09 billion) coming in from ticket sales. On the impact potential refunds would have, organisers said no details will be released until the budget is announced. The International Olympic Committee has already said that the delay will cost it approximately US$800 million, while Japanese organisers have yet to announce what their share will be. Separately, the marching order of parade at the Tokyo 2020 opening ceremony will be decided by the Japanese names of nations and Japan's "fifty sound" phonetic order, Kyodo news agency reported. The decision was made in the hope of promoting Japanese culture when the Games start. Athletes from participating nations in the country's past three Olympics - the 1964 Summer Games in Tokyo, the 1972 Winter Games in Sapporo and the 1998 Winter Games in Nagano - all marched according to English alphabetical order. REUTERS, XINHUA

30 10 月, 2020

Barca’s best riposte to off-pitch woes

TURIN • Barcelona's 2-0 win away to Juventus in the Champions League was the perfect reply to the club's boardroom crisis, Sergi Roberto said on Wednesday. The club were rocked when their president Josep Maria Bartomeu resigned on Tuesday to avoid facing a vote of no confidence after some 20,000 fans signed a petition demanding that he step down. "The best answer was today's game. We want to win titles and matches as we showed today," said home-grown midfielder Sergi Roberto. "It's all in the past, we're concentrating on our job." Coach Ronald Koeman said his team had tried to put the boardroom issue out of their minds. "I think we have to concentrate on the sporting side," he said. "It doesn't affect us and it doesn't worry me. We put our energy into football." Barcelona have won both their games in the Champions League, a sharp contrast to their La Liga form. They are winless in their last three league games. "This was our best game all season. This is a big win against an important European side and we were able to play the football we're trying to impose," Koeman added. "It is always important to create chances. We were superior by playing our game. It was the right result." Juve's Cristiano Ronaldo missed the clash, two weeks after testing positive for coronavirus. More on this topic Related Story Football: Covid-19 case Ronaldo angry at being left out by Juventus for Barcelona game Related Story Football: Barcelona overcome Juventus as Morata has three goals disallowed The Portuguese superstar, 35, could not provide a negative test 24 hours before the game and has reportedly tested positive 18 times. His great rival Lionel Messi, 33, set up back-in-favour Ousmane Dembele to put Barca in front after a quarter of an hour in Turin, adding a second himself from the penalty spot in stoppage time. Alvaro Morata had three goals ruled out for offside for Juve, who played the final five minutes a man down after Merih Demiral was sent off for a second yellow card. Barcelona are top of Group G with six points after two games with Juventus on three. The reverse fixture takes place at the Nou Camp on Dec 8. It was a first defeat for new Juventus coach Andrea Pirlo, whose last game as a player for the Turin giants was a loss to Barcelona in the 2015 Champions League final. "We knew it would be a difficult game, they are further along the path, they have players more experienced in these games, while we are under construction," he said. "We need to grow. I hope to have the other players back soon. "I have no other solutions, those who play have to stay 90 minutes, so it's difficult when there are matches close together." AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE, REUTERS

21 10 月, 2020

Primary, secondary school students may be taught ‘dangers of loot boxes’ in games from 2021

SINGAPORE - From next year, primary and secondary school students here may be taught about the ills of the gambling-like elements, commonly called loot boxes, that are present in many video games now, especially free mobile titles. This comes even as concerns mount that games with such features could be gaining mainstream prominence, with large advertisements for them in MRT stations - such as those for the popular mobile game Genshin Impact which was launched late last month. Please subscribe or log in to continue reading the full article. Get unlimited access to all stories at $0.99/month Latest headlines and exclusive stories In-depth analyses and award-winning multimedia content Get access to all with our no-contract promotional package at only $0.99/month for the first 3 months* Subscribe now *Terms and conditions apply.