2020 Olympics: Tokyo will build a new volleyball arena for the 2020 Olympics in the capital rather than using an existing facility in nearby Yokohama despite being under pressure to cut costs, the city government said yesterday. The construction of the Ariake Arena was part of the original plans for the Games but taken under review as the price tag for many venues soared after Tokyo won the race to host the Games in 2013. Tokyo 2020 organisers have vowed to keep costs below $20 billion but the International Olympic Committee feels even that amount is too high.
Basket, NBA: The Golden State Warriors passed circles around the New York Knicks on Thursday night, assisting on their first 36 baskets over 35 minutes in a 103-90 victory over the undermanned Eastern Conference squad. Klay Thompson had a game-high 25 points and JaVale McGee dropped in 17 in a rare start, helping Golden State improve to 7-0 against Eastern teams this season with a fifth straight win over the Knicks.
Sports Funding: Sport England’s strategy for getting the country more active is taking shape after it announced £90 million in grass-roots funding for 26 national governing bodies to spend on coaching, competitions and facilities. The government agency has £1billion to invest over the next four years, similar to the sum it had for 2013-17. The investments announced yesterday are targeted at sport’s “core market” – the 14.9 million adults in England who play regular sport – and include £17.3 million for British Cycling, £9 million for England Hockey, £8.3 million for British Gymnastics and £7.6million for the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).
Swimming: A British man aiming to become the first person to swim across the Atlantic said yesterday that he has called off his attempt after a support vessel suffered extensive damage. Former policeman Ben Hooper, 38, left Senegal on Nov. 13 in a bid to swim 3,200 km to Brazil. Friends and former crew members said the bid was foolhardy and Hooper quickly fell far behind schedule as he encountered sharks in choppy waters, suffered from jellyfish stings and insufficient rations.