In basketball, the Los Angeles Clippers advance to their first NBA Conference Finals after a 131–119 victory against the Utah Jazz in game 6. They will play the Phoenix Suns. During the game, Terance Mann scores a career-high 39 points. (AP)
New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard becomes the first transgender athlete chosen to compete in the Olympic Games, as the New Zealand Olympic Committee announces she is selected to compete in the Tokyo Olympics as part of the women's weightlifting team. (BBC News)
The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games announce that it will allow spectactors at the 2020 Summer Olympics with a 50% cap at venues and up to a maximum of 10,000 people. However, the fans would be restricted in the event of state of emergency or any other restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19. (CNN)
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Carl Nassib becomes the first active National Football League player to come out as gay. (NPR)
The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announces that the away goals rule will be abolished in all UEFA club competitions at the start of the 2021–22 season. (Sky Sports)
2020 Summer Olympics, 2020 Summer Paralympics, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games announce that the games will be held without spectators following a state of emergency declared in the Tokyo area beginning on July 12 following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the Japanese capital. (BBC News)
The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games announce that the games will be held without spectators following a state of emergency declared in the Tokyo area beginning on July 12 following an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in the Japanese capital. (BBC News)
2021 Copa América 2021 Copa América Final The 47th edition of the South American international men's football competition concludes in the Maracanã Stadium with Argentina beating hosts Brazil 1–0 in the final. (StadiumAstro)
2021 Copa América Final The 47th edition of the South American international men's football competition concludes in the Maracanã Stadium with Argentina beating hosts Brazil 1–0 in the final. (StadiumAstro)
The 47th edition of the South American international men's football competition concludes in the Maracanã Stadium with Argentina beating hosts Brazil 1–0 in the final. (StadiumAstro)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Tokyo enters a fourth state of emergency that will cover the duration of the 2020 Summer Olympics in an attempt to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases. The state of emergency will remain in place until August 22. (The Japan Times)
Tokyo enters a fourth state of emergency that will cover the duration of the 2020 Summer Olympics in an attempt to reduce the number of COVID-19 cases. The state of emergency will remain in place until August 22. (The Japan Times)
Israeli football club Beitar Jerusalem F.C. cancels a planned match with FC Barcelona after the latter refused to hold the match in Jerusalem, following a complaint sent by the Palestinian Football Association earlier this month. The planned location of the match would have been in Malha, which was a Palestinian Arab village prior to the establishment of Israel. (Al Jazeera)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, 2020 Summer Olympics, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports The first case of COVID-19 is reported in the Tokyo Olympic Village by the Tokyo Olympic organizer, in a person who is not an athlete but who is involved in organizing the games. (NBC)
The first case of COVID-19 is reported in the Tokyo Olympic Village by the Tokyo Olympic organizer, in a person who is not an athlete but who is involved in organizing the games. (NBC)
2021 NBA Finals In basketball, the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Phoenix Suns 105-98 in game 6 of the NBA Finals, making it their first NBA championship since 1971. Giannis Antetokounmpo is named NBA Finals MVP. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
In basketball, the Milwaukee Bucks defeat the Phoenix Suns 105-98 in game 6 of the NBA Finals, making it their first NBA championship since 1971. Giannis Antetokounmpo is named NBA Finals MVP. (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)
2020 Summer Olympics Emperor Naruhito officially declares the Summer Olympics open. The inaugural celebration was not hosted publicly due to COVID-19 concerns. (AP)
Emperor Naruhito officially declares the Summer Olympics open. The inaugural celebration was not hosted publicly due to COVID-19 concerns. (AP)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, 2021 NFL season The National Football League says that over 80% of its players have been vaccinated. (AP)
The National Football League says that over 80% of its players have been vaccinated. (AP)
2020 Summer Olympics Yang Qian of China's women's 10-meter rifle team wins the first gold medal of this year's Olympics. (Reuters)
Yang Qian of China's women's 10-meter rifle team wins the first gold medal of this year's Olympics. (Reuters)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, 2021 NFL season The National Football League announces that players not adhering to COVID-19 restrictions will be subjected to a fine of $14,650 during the season. (ESPN)
The National Football League announces that players not adhering to COVID-19 restrictions will be subjected to a fine of $14,650 during the season. (ESPN)
2020 Summer Olympics Netherlands at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games reports the first post-competition case of COVID-19 after Dutch rower Finn Florijn tested positive on Friday and self-isolated at a separate location. (The Japan Times) Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Skateboarding at the 2020 Summer Olympics Japanese skateboarder Yuto Horigome wins a gold medal in skateboarding, making him the first athlete to do so. (NPR)
Japan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Skateboarding at the 2020 Summer Olympics Japanese skateboarder Yuto Horigome wins a gold medal in skateboarding, making him the first athlete to do so. (NPR)
Netherlands at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games reports the first post-competition case of COVID-19 after Dutch rower Finn Florijn tested positive on Friday and self-isolated at a separate location. (The Japan Times)
The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games reports the first post-competition case of COVID-19 after Dutch rower Finn Florijn tested positive on Friday and self-isolated at a separate location. (The Japan Times)
Japanese skateboarder Yuto Horigome wins a gold medal in skateboarding, making him the first athlete to do so. (NPR)
2020 Summer Olympics Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, Netherlands at the 2020 Summer Olympics The Dutch rowing team self-isolates after rower Finn Florijn and team coach Josy Verdonkschot tested positive for COVID-19. (Barron's) Philippines at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz wins the Women's 55 kg event, receiving the Philippines' first-ever Olympic gold medal. (Reuters)
Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz wins the Women's 55 kg event, receiving the Philippines' first-ever Olympic gold medal. (Reuters)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, Netherlands at the 2020 Summer Olympics The Dutch rowing team self-isolates after rower Finn Florijn and team coach Josy Verdonkschot tested positive for COVID-19. (Barron's)
Philippines at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics Filipino weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz wins the Women's 55 kg event, receiving the Philippines' first-ever Olympic gold medal. (Reuters)
Bermuda at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Triathlon at the 2020 Summer Olympics Bermudian triathlete Flora Duffy wins the Women's event, giving Bermuda its first Olympic gold metal. (Reuters)
Bermudian triathlete Flora Duffy wins the Women's event, giving Bermuda its first Olympic gold metal. (Reuters)
Macedonian professional Taekwondo practitioner Dejan Georgievski wins second place in the Men's +80 kg, earning North Macedonia its first Olympic silver medal. It is also the first medal the country has won after its renaming in 2018 as well as the country's second medal overall. (Associated Press)
North Macedonia at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Taekwondo at the 2020 Summer Olympics Macedonian professional Taekwondo practitioner Dejan Georgievski wins second place in the Men's +80 kg, earning North Macedonia its first Olympic silver medal. It is also the first medal the country has won after its renaming in 2018 as well as the country's second medal overall. (Associated Press)
Turkmen weightlifter Polina Guryeva gets second place in the Women's 59 kg event, winning Turkmenistan its first Olympic medal. (AP News)
Turkmenistan at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics Turkmen weightlifter Polina Guryeva gets second place in the Women's 59 kg event, winning Turkmenistan its first Olympic medal. (AP News)
2020 Summer Olympics Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics American pole vaulter Sam Kendricks withdraws from the Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19. (The Washington Post) San Marino at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Shooting at the 2020 Summer Olympics Sammarinese shooter Alessandra Perilli takes third place in the Women's trap event, winning San Marino its first Olympic medal and making it the least populous nation to have won a medal. (CNN)
American pole vaulter Sam Kendricks withdraws from the Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19. (The Washington Post)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics American pole vaulter Sam Kendricks withdraws from the Olympics after testing positive for COVID-19. (The Washington Post)
Sammarinese shooter Alessandra Perilli takes third place in the Women's trap event, winning San Marino its first Olympic medal and making it the least populous nation to have won a medal. (CNN)
San Marino at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Shooting at the 2020 Summer Olympics Sammarinese shooter Alessandra Perilli takes third place in the Women's trap event, winning San Marino its first Olympic medal and making it the least populous nation to have won a medal. (CNN)
Police arrest a 40-year-old man at a mall for booing the Chinese national anthem during the ceremony for Hong Kong's first gold medal at the 2020 Summer Olympics. Police added that the man also carried a Hong Kong colonial flag and that he was arrested on grounds of the man's aim to "incite hatred and politicize sports". (Reuters)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, Georgia at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Judo at the 2020 Summer Olympics The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games revokes accreditation for two Georgian judokas for violating COVID-19 protocols by leaving the athletes village for a sightseeing trip to meet "one of their good acquaintances" who lives in Japan. (BBC Sport)
Qatar at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics Qatari weightlifter Fares El-Bakh wins the men's 96 kg event, receiving Qatar's first-ever Olympic gold medal. (The Peninsula)
Qatari weightlifter Fares El-Bakh wins the men's 96 kg event, receiving Qatar's first-ever Olympic gold medal. (The Peninsula)
The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games revokes accreditation for two Georgian judokas for violating COVID-19 protocols by leaving the athletes village for a sightseeing trip to meet "one of their good acquaintances" who lives in Japan. (BBC Sport)
American shot putter Raven Saunders raises and crosses her arms in the shape of an X while participating in the Women's shot put medal ceremony. Podium demonstrations are banned by the International Olympic Committee, with the IOC announcing an investigation to the incident. (CNN)
Belarus at the 2020 Summer Olympics Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya is forcibly removed from the Games by the Belarus Olympic Committee after criticizing officials for entering her in the 4 by 400 meter relay race without her consent. Tsimanouskaya has appealed to the IOC for support and asked Japanese police for protection at Haneda Airport after she refused to board a flight to Belarus. (Deutsche Welle)
Belarusian sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya is forcibly removed from the Games by the Belarus Olympic Committee after criticizing officials for entering her in the 4 by 400 meter relay race without her consent. Tsimanouskaya has appealed to the IOC for support and asked Japanese police for protection at Haneda Airport after she refused to board a flight to Belarus. (Deutsche Welle)
Italian sprinter Marcell Jacobs wins the men's 100-metres final in an Olympics upset, tying as the 10th-fastest man of all time. (Reuters)
Italy at the 2020 Summer Olympics Italian sprinter Marcell Jacobs wins the men's 100-metres final in an Olympics upset, tying as the 10th-fastest man of all time. (Reuters)
United States at the 2020 Summer Olympics American shot putter Raven Saunders raises and crosses her arms in the shape of an X while participating in the Women's shot put medal ceremony. Podium demonstrations are banned by the International Olympic Committee, with the IOC announcing an investigation to the incident. (CNN)
2021 Formula One World Championship 2021 Hungarian Grand Prix French racing driver Esteban Ocon of Alpine wins the first Formula One race of his career. (CNN)
Chiba, Kanagawa, Osaka, and Saitama prefectures enter a state of emergency due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases during the 2020 Summer Olympics. A quasi-state of emergency is also being imposed in Hokkaido, Ishikawa, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures with both measures being in effect until August 31. (Kyodo News)
COVID-19 pandemic in Japan Chiba, Kanagawa, Osaka, and Saitama prefectures enter a state of emergency due to an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases during the 2020 Summer Olympics. A quasi-state of emergency is also being imposed in Hokkaido, Ishikawa, Kyoto, Hyogo and Fukuoka prefectures with both measures being in effect until August 31. (Kyodo News)
Indonesia at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Badminton at the 2020 Summer Olympics Indonesian Badminton players Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu win the country's first gold medal for the Women's Doubles category of badminton. This makes Indonesia the second country, after China, to have won a gold medal in all five categories of Badminton. (South China Morning Post)
New Zealand at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Weightlifting at the 2020 Summer Olympics, LGBT athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic Games New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard becomes the first transgender woman to compete in the Olympics. (Associated Press)
New Zealand weightlifter Laurel Hubbard becomes the first transgender woman to compete in the Olympics. (Associated Press)
Indonesian Badminton players Greysia Polii and Apriyani Rahayu win the country's first gold medal for the Women's Doubles category of badminton. This makes Indonesia the second country, after China, to have won a gold medal in all five categories of Badminton. (South China Morning Post)
2020 Summer Olympics Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, Greece at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Artistic swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics The Hellenic Olympic Committee withdraws its entire synchronized swimming team from the duo and group artistic swimming competitions after four of the team's athletes tested positive for COVID-19. (NPR)
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports, Greece at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Artistic swimming at the 2020 Summer Olympics The Hellenic Olympic Committee withdraws its entire synchronized swimming team from the duo and group artistic swimming competitions after four of the team's athletes tested positive for COVID-19. (NPR)
The Hellenic Olympic Committee withdraws its entire synchronized swimming team from the duo and group artistic swimming competitions after four of the team's athletes tested positive for COVID-19. (NPR)
The Tokyo Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games confirms the first COVID-19 cluster infection since the Games began, after four athletes and one team official from the Greek artistic swimming group test positive. The five individuals, in addition to the seven other members of the team who tested negative, were moved away from the Olympic village and isolated. (United Press International)
2020 Summer Olympics Burkina Faso at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics Burkinabé athlete Hugues Fabrice Zango gets third place in the men’s triple jump event, winning Burkina Faso its first Olympic medal. (The Punch)
Burkina Faso at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Athletics at the 2020 Summer Olympics Burkinabé athlete Hugues Fabrice Zango gets third place in the men’s triple jump event, winning Burkina Faso its first Olympic medal. (The Punch)
Burkinabé athlete Hugues Fabrice Zango gets third place in the men’s triple jump event, winning Burkina Faso its first Olympic medal. (The Punch)
2020 Summer Olympics Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Football at the 2020 Summer Olympics, LGBT athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic Games Canadian soccer player Quinn becomes the first out, transgender, non-binary athlete to earn an Olympic medal, after winning gold in the women's tournament with the Canadian national soccer team. (NBC News)
Canada at the 2020 Summer Olympics, Football at the 2020 Summer Olympics, LGBT athletes in the Olympic and Paralympic Games Canadian soccer player Quinn becomes the first out, transgender, non-binary athlete to earn an Olympic medal, after winning gold in the women's tournament with the Canadian national soccer team. (NBC News)
Canadian soccer player Quinn becomes the first out, transgender, non-binary athlete to earn an Olympic medal, after winning gold in the women's tournament with the Canadian national soccer team. (NBC News)
2020 Summer Olympics The Summer Olympics officially end in Tokyo with the closing ceremony. The United States won the most medals and also won the most gold medals, with 113 total medals and 39 gold medals. The Olympic Flag is handed over to the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo in preparation for the 2024 Games. (NBC News)
The Summer Olympics officially end in Tokyo with the closing ceremony. The United States won the most medals and also won the most gold medals, with 113 total medals and 39 gold medals. The Olympic Flag is handed over to the Mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo in preparation for the 2024 Games. (NBC News)
