The Premier League confirmed on Tuesday that 40 players and staff tested positive for coronavirus in two rounds of testing over the past week but insisted the season would continue as planned.
That figure is more than double the previous record of 18 positive cases and comes as England enters a nationwide lockdown to halt soaring infection rates.
Three matches were postponed last week due to outbreaks of Covid-19 at Manchester City and Fulham.
However, the British government has given the go-ahead for elite sport to continue despite the tighter restrictions.
Twice-weekly testing, used during the Project Restart plan to complete last season, has resumed in the Premier League after being scaled down to once-a-week at the start of the season.
In the first round of testing last week, 28 positive cases were detected from 1,311 tests, with a further 12 positives from 984 tests in the second round of testing.
Despite the postponements, rising case numbers and calls from some within the game for a circuit breaker to buy time and bring infection rates down, the Premier League said it remained confident the season could proceed as planned.
-With low numbers of positive tests across the overwhelming majority of clubs, the league continues to have confidence in its Covid-19 protocols, fully backed by the government, to enable fixtures to be played as scheduled- the league said in a statement on Tuesday.
The packed fixture schedule, with domestic leagues, cup and European competitions having to be finished before the delayed Euro 2020 starting on June 11, leaves little room for manoeuvre in the calendar.
A number of embarrassing incidents have come to light in which which prominent players have flouted coronavirus restrictions.
Pictures of Tottenham trio Erik Lamela, Sergio Reguilon and Giovani Lo Celso and West Ham's Manuel Lanzini attending a Christmas party with family and friends emerged over the weekend, prompting Spurs to promise internal disciplinary proceedings.
City have also launched an investigation after left-back Benjamin Mendy admitted to breaching Covid protocols by hosting a New Year's Eve party.
Reguilon and Mendy were included on the bench for Tottenham and City over the weekend, leading to calls for stricter sanctions against players who put the future of the season at risk by breaking the rules.
Despite City's issues with the virus, which left them without four first-team regulars for Sunday's 3-1 victory at Chelsea, manager Pep Guardiola called for more understanding for players.
-It would be better if, before we judge others, we judge ourselves- said Guardiola. -I'm not justifying that, he broke the rules. But don't give too many lessons to others.
--I don't think footballers are more important than doctors, architects or teachers for my kids. So, they only have the same responsibility as everyone else in the world.
--Mendy knows he made a big mistake, but it finishes here.-

That figure is more than double the previous record of 18 positive cases and comes as England enters a nationwide lockdown to halt soaring infection rates

18 positive cases of coronavirus have been detected in the latest weekly round of Premier League testing

Premier League records 40 positive coronavirus cases

Tyson Fury said on Monday he can knock out fellow British world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua inside two rounds due to his recent form.
WBC belt holder Fury said following Joshua's past two bouts -- a unanimous points decision over Andy Ruiz Junior in December 2019 and a ninth-round stoppage of Kubrat Pulev last month -- the fight would be a no contest.
Fury gained a unanimous points decision over Swede Otto Wallin in September 2019 before an impressive seventh-round knock-out to take the WBC title off Deontay Wilder last February.
-I don't believe he's (Joshua) as good as people crack him up to be, or he doesn't believe he is in his own self- Fury told Sky Sports.
-He's got a confidence issue. He's coming off two shaky performances and boxing is all about who is in form and who isn't. On his last two fights, he's not in form.-
-On mine, I am, so momentum is with me and I just believe take him out early, very early, maybe even one round or two rounds.-
Fury is optimistic the fight, which would be one of the biggest in British boxing history, will take place as soon as possible.
Potential hurdles in the way of the super-fight include Joshua's WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk and another possible meeting between Fury and Wilder.

Fury, 32, said now was the time for Joshua to back up his words by finally fighting him. 
-Whenever the world gets back to normal, whatever normal may consist of after this pandemic, then that's when this fight is going to happen- he said.
-This fight has been brewing for a long time. They've been avoiding me for a long time and now it's finally got to happen.
--They either run away from the fight and announce it publicly or they take the fight. Either way it's a lose-lose situation for him.-
Fury believes there is an imperative for the fight to happen sooner rather than later, comparing the bout to the one between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao that finally took place in 2015.
Mayweather won it on a unanimous decision.
-Boxing is one of those sports where rarely do you see the best fight the best- said Fury.
-It's always the champion picks his opponents and you never get the two top guys fighting each other.
--We saw the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, we were waiting for that fight for 10 years. When it finally happened, I believe Pacquiao was past his best. It maybe should have happened four or five years earlier.
--So hopefully we get to go one-on-one combat with not only the two best heavyweights out there but two heavyweights who are in their prime and not past it.-

Fury: I don't believe he's (Joshua) as good as people crack him up to be, or he doesn't believe he is in his own self

Fury says he is confident he can beat Joshua inside two rounds

Confident Fury says he will knock out Joshua inside two rounds

Tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, ranked second and fifth in the world respectively, have been re-elected to the ATP players' council, whose term runs until June 2022.
The council, as voted by ATP player members, also saw the re-election of Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, Australian John Millman, South African Kevin Anderson, Briton Andy Murray and Brazilian Bruno Soares.
In addition, France's Gilles Simon returns to the council having served previous terms, while newcomers Pablo Andujar of Spain and New Zealander Marcus Daniell will serve their first term.
Briton Colin Dowdeswell and Venezuela's Daniel Vallverdu were elected as representatives of retired players and coaches respectively.
The council's president and vice-president will be elected at its first meeting in 2021.
It was presided over until last year by world number one Novak Djokovic.
But the Serb broke away in August to establish a new players' association which he said would include women and was intended to bring players together to give them a louder voice in decision-making.
Federer and Nadal both spoke out against the proposal when it was announced, calling for "unity, not separation".

It was presided over until last year by world number one Novak Djokovic

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer are ranked second and fifth in the world respectively.

Federer and Nadal re-elected to ATP players' council

The men's World Cup super-G race at Bormio has been rescheduled for Tuesday after heavy snow made the fearsome Stelvio piste unmanageable on Monday.
The much awaited men's downhill race scheduled for Tuesday has also been pushed back by a single day to Wednesday.
The relentless heavy snow falling in the Italian Alps Monday is expected to give way Tuesday to light snowfall.
Reigning World Cup slalom and giant slalom champion Norway's Henrik Kristoffersen is the man to watch Tuesday after his slalom win at Madonna di Campiglio last Tuesday.

Race has been rescheduled for Tuesday after heavy snow

Switzerland's Carlo Janka speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men's World Cup downhill training, in Bormio, Italy, Sunday, Dec. 27, 2020.

Ski World Cup super-G at Bormio postponed

Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp moved to dismiss speculation over Egypt forward Mohamed Salah's future saying on Thursday he is happy at the Premier League champions.
The 28-year-old gave an interview in Spain last week in which he said Barcelona and Real Madrid were top clubs and "who knows what will happen in the future".
This led to speculation over whether he was seeking a new longer-term contract beyond 2023 or he was upset Trent Alexander-Arnold had been given the captain's armband for the Champions League group match with Midtjylland.
-We do not speak about deals -- well, not with you (the media). Why should we start now?- said Klopp at his press conference ahead of Sunday's game with struggling West Brom.
-Mo is in a good mood, always a good moment. He is in really good shape and that is the most important thing for me.
--We did not have pictures (from the training ground) this morning but if we did you would have seen him laughing, he enjoyed the session.
--All the rest is nice for all of you to write about but internally, no, nothing really.-
If Salah is unsettled it has not been reflected by his performances on the pitch this season.
He has scored 13 goals in as many league games, missing just one because of Covid-19 isolation.
It is his best start to a Premier League term, even better than his debut campaign when he went on to score 32 in 38 appearances having registered 12 goals at the same 14-match stage.
He came off the bench last Saturday to score a brace in the 7-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace.
-I think there are all these things to talk about: he didn't start the last game, all the things I heard after about what could be the reason and then he came on and scored two- said Klopp.
-I think in his first season he didn't start against Stoke, came on and scored two. He obviously doesn't need a long time.-
Klopp said he hoped his players would build on their lead over their rivals -- they presently have a four point advantage over Leicester.
The Reds have a hectic schedule over the festive period with a home game with Newcastle next Wednesday and Southampton the following Monday. 
-All the boys were in a good moment, that is why we have the points we have so far- he said.
-Now it is much more important we really keep going. Everyone knows the toughest point of the season is now ahead of us.-
-The Christmas period is always tough so we have to make sure we get through this with the right results.-

The 28-year-old gave an interview in Spain last week in which he said Barcelona and Real Madrid were top clubs and "who knows what will happen in the future"

Mohamed Salah has scored five goals in his past four Premier League appearances

Salah is happy at Liverpool, says Klopp

Roger Federer and Serena Williams were among the entries announced Thursday for the coronavirus-disrupted Australian Open, with tournament director Craig Tiley vowing a "happy Slam" after months of painstaking planning.
All the world's top players have signed on, led by world number ones Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty.
There was a question mark over Swiss great Federer, who warned this month he was in a "race against time" to be fit after two rounds of knee surgery.
But he has begun training in Dubai and was among those entered to play at Melbourne Park as he targets a seventh title.
US superstar Williams, who like Federer turns 40 next year, is also committed as she once again attempts to pull level with Margaret Court as a 24-time Grand Slam champion.
Her last triumph at the majors came in Australia in 2017 when she was pregnant.
-There are so many great storylines for AO 2021- said Tiley. 
-Serena is gunning for her eighth title while Novak, who often seems invincible at Melbourne Park, is going for a record ninth title.-"Our own world No.1 Ash Barty will return to Grand Slam competition, as will Roger Federer as he comes back from injury."
The opening Grand Slam of the year, which will be played in front of at least 50 percent of normal crowds, has been pushed back three weeks until February 8.
All players must undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival, during which they will constantly be tested for Covid-19 but allowed to train for five hours a day in a bio-secure bubble.
-Although the AO will look a bit different to previous years, the safety of everyone is our top priority- said Tiley. 
-We have the opportunity to stage a very safe, and happy Slam, and give the players the experience of competing in front of crowds again, something they've missed for most of this year.-
The men's and women's qualifiers will be held in Doha and Dubai respectively from January 10-13, with players arriving in Melbourne from January 15 on special charter flights.
A slimmed-down, 12-team ATP Cup, the relocated Adelaide International, and a ATP 250 tournament will all be played in Melbourne once players are out of isolation.
Two WTA 500 tournaments are also planned to be held concurrently at Melbourne Park on January 31-February 7.
Melbourne only emerged from a months-long lockdown in October following a second wave of Covid-19, complicating planning for the Grand Slam and how to allow so many players and support staff to enter the country safely.
Australia has largely contained the coronavirus although a new outbreak in Sydney last week has sparked fresh restrictions in parts of the city and even state border closures.

All the world's top players have signed on

Roger Federer and Serena Williams are among the entries for the delayed Australian Open, which will begin three weeks later than scheduled on February 8

Federer, Serena among entries for Australian Open

Former Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas is returning to the club to take up a role within its foundation, the 13-times European champions announced in a statement on Tuesday.
Casillas came through the club's youth ranks and went on to play in the first team from 1999 to 2015, winning 19 titles including three Champions Leagues and five Spanish championships. 
-Real Madrid CF have announced that Iker Casillas has joined the Real Madrid Foundation as assistant to the general director- the club announced without detailing the extent of Casillas' new role.
-Iker Casillas is a Real Madrid legend who represents the values of our club and is the best goalkeeper in our history.-
The foundation carries out football-related actions, such as recently funding internships for young players in China and organising workshops on sports psychology. 
Capped 167 times by Spain with whom he won the World Cup in 2010 as well as the 2008 and 2012 Euros, Casillas returns to the club five years after leaving it to end his career at Porto.
-Proud to come home. I face this new challenge with all the desire and all the enthusiasm possible, thank you for the welcome!- Casillas said on Twitter.
He suffered a heart attack in training in May 2019 and officially retired from playing on August 4 at the age of 39. 
-We know the person he is, what he has accomplished, what he represents for Real Madrid supporters- said coach Zinedine Zidane on Tuesday. 
-It is good news that he is coming back to his favourite club, to work and bring everything he knows.-

Zinedine Zidane: We know the person he is, what he has accomplished, what he represents for Real Madrid supporters

Casillas returns to Real Madrid in foundation role

All the world's top players, including 20-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer, are expected to be in Melbourne for the coronavirus-disrupted Australian Open, tournament organiser Craig Tiley said.
The opening Grand Slam of the year, in front of at least 50 percent of normal crowds, has been pushed back three weeks until February 8 with all players to undergo a mandatory 14-day quarantine on arrival.
The delay could be pivotal for Federer, who admitted last week he was in a "race against time" to be fit as his recovery from two rounds of knee surgery takes longer than expected.
Tiley said he had been in touch with the 39-year-old and he was going through his normal pre-season training routine in Dubai.
-Every player, including Roger, has made a commitment to travel to Melbourne to play- he said after confirming the new start date on Saturday.
-We have been in touch with him and his team and it's been three days now, he's hit for the first time in Dubai. He's in his normal pre-season training routine.
--He did say to us that February 8 was a more suitable date for him in terms of preparing for the Australian Open- Tiley added. -But a lot will depend on how he responds to his surgery in the next two to three weeks of training."
Federer has won the Australian Open six times. But after losing in the semi-finals to Novak Djokovic, missed the rest of the Covid-interrupted 2020 season following surgery and could only watch as Rafael Nadal matched his record 20 Grand Slam titles with a 13th victory at the French Open.
The men's and women's qualifiers will be held in Doha and Dubai respectively from January 10-13, with players arriving in Melbourne from January 15 on special charter flights for their quarantine.
Tiley said they would constantly be tested for Covid-19 but allowed to train for five hours a day in a bio-secure bubble, although with just one other player.
They will be shuttled between designated hotels and Melbourne Park, where the tournament is held and if anyone tests positive, they will need to isolate in their room.
-If there are any breaches (of quarantine) the player will be immediately removed from the country as well as being fined- Tiley warned. 
A slimmed-down, 12-team ATP Cup, the relocated Adelaide International, and a ATP 250 tournament will all be played in Melbourne once players are out of isolation.
Two WTA 500 tournaments are also planned to be held concurrently at Melbourne Park on January 31-February 7.
Melbourne only emerged from a months-long lockdown in October following a second wave of Covid-19, complicating planning for the Grand Slam and how to allow so many players and support staff to enter the country safely.
Australia has largely contained the coronavirus although a new outbreak in Sydney over recent days has sparked fresh restrictions in parts of the city and even state border closures.

Craig Tiley: If there are any breaches (of quarantine) the player will be immediately removed from the country as well as being fined

Roger Federer (right) was beaten by Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals this year

Federer training, committed to playing Australian Open

Eden Hazard will soon resume his injury-plagued Real Madrid career after recovering from a thigh problem, coach Zinedine Zidane said on Saturday.
Hazard has missed nearly 50 matches since joining Real from Chelsea in a deal worth up to 150 million euros ($184 million) in July 2019.
-We hope he will be back very soon- Zidane said in a press conference before the champions face Eibar on Sunday.
-He is fine and he is almost completely recovered. He just needs a little more time. But he is training with us and he is very close to being able to get into the team and play.-
Hazard, who was voted the Premier League's player of the year by his fellow players in 2015, was injured on November 28.
Zidane said it had been a difficult experience for the 29-year-old Belgian forward.
-These are difficult things to live with and I don't like to see that (players injured). But before these injuries at Real, he never had anything and he played very regularly.-

Hazard has missed nearly 50 matches since joining Real

Eden Hazard set to return 'very soon' for Real Madrid

The search for a new selector of the B&amp;H national football team continues, or rather Emir Spahić and Zvjezdan Misimović are doing their part of the job. After they had talks with two Sergej, Barbarez and Jakirović, in the Football Association of B&amp;H yesterday, and, as we find out, a new conversation took place at the B&amp;H football house today.
About what they offer, and what they expect, the former B&amp;H national team members talked to another candidate, Husref Musemić. After all, he confirmed to us that there was a conversation and, as he says, he is very satisfied.
- I'm pleasantly surprised. It was a very correct conversation, Musemić said briefly.
The work done by Spahić and Misimović will be presented to the members of the Executive Board of the National Assembly of B&amp;H Football Association at the session scheduled for Tuesday, but a final decision on who will lead the B&amp;H team will probably not be made.

The search for the selector continues

"Avaz" finds out: Spahić and Misimović had a conversation with Husref Musemić

The 2021 WTA season will start in Abu Dhabi on January 5, the governing body of women's tennis said, as it unveiled an early-season calendar that revolves around the Australian Open.
The season will kick off with the Abu Dhabi WTA Women’s Tennis Open, a WTA 500 level event on January 5-13, while qualifying for the Australian Open will take place in Dubai on January 10-13.
Players and their support staff will then travel to Australia where they will complete the mandatory two-week Covid-19 quarantine period. 
The Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the season, has already been delayed from its normal January slot and will take place on February 8-21.
In the build-up to the tournament in Melbourne, two WTA 500 tournaments will be held concurrently in Melbourne Park on January 31-February 7.
WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon said on Friday the early-season events "will operate in an environment that puts health and safety at the forefront".
-The hard work will continue as we look further ahead into 2021 to ensure a safe and robust calendar- he said in a statement.
The WTA 250 tournaments in Auckland and Shenzhen will not be held in 2021 due to travel restrictions but the WTA said it hoped to restore them to the calendar in 2022.

Qualifying for the Australian Open will take place in Dubai on January 10-13

The WTA 250 tournaments in Auckland and Shenzhen will not be held in 2021 due to travel restrictions

Women's 2021 tennis season to start in Abu Dhabi on Jan 5

Diego Maradona's death last month shook the world of sport in a year which began with the tragic loss of basketball hero Kobe Bryant in a helicopter crash.
AFP Sport looks at some of the sporting figures who passed away in 2020:

Maradona's death brought Argentina to a standstill and caused a wave of grief in his adopted home of Naples. He brought joy to the southern Italian city by leading unfashionable Napoli to two Serie A titles and the 1989 UEFA Cup.
The passing of Maradona, who dragged Argentina to glory at the 1986 World Cup where he scored the 'Goal of the Century' against England -- as well as the infamous 'Hand of God' goal, led to three days of national mourning in his home country.

Bryant was killed in January alongside his 13-year-old daughter in a helicopter crash outside Los Angeles that also took the lives of seven other people.
LA Lakers icon Bryant was a five-time NBA champion in a career that began in 1996 straight out of a high school.
He was a two-time Olympic gold medallist, helping spark the US squad to titles in 2008 and 2012.

Rossi is a national hero in Italy for firing the 'Azzurri' to World Cup triumph in 1982.
He finished the tournament as top scorer after scoring six goals, including a hat-trick in a 3-2 win over flamboyant Brazil, both goals against Poland in the semi-finals and the opener in the final win over West Germany.
'Pablito' only played in Spain after returning from a ban for his part in the betting scandal.

France rugby great Dominici personified the fabled French flair with the oval ball, scoring 25 tries in 67 Tests for France, including eight tries across three World Cups.
His second half try in the thrilling 1999 World Cup semi-final win over New Zealand is one of the most iconic in the history of French Rugby even though Les Bleus were soundly beaten by Australia in the final.
A long-time sufferer of severe depression, his suspected suicide shook the rugby world.

Two-time Grand Slam champion Buxton, who had Jewish heritage and was refused entry to tennis clubs her entire career, was a doubles partner and lifelong friend of Althea Gibson, whose 1956 French Open title was the first Grand Slam singles triumph by a black American player.
Buxton won the women's doubles alongside Gibson at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon in 1956, the latter of which was the first All England Club title to be won by a British-Jewish playe

Nkanunu was called the 'Mandela' of South African rugby, became the first black head of the game in the country in 1998 and was widely respected at a time of great internal conflict.

Stiles was described as the "heart and soul" of England's 1966 World Cup-winning team. Stiles was a tough-tackling midfielder and an integral part of the Manchester United side who in 1968 became the first English club to win the European Cup.
His family claim the dementia he suffered was caused by the repeated heading of a ball.

Moss was widely regarded as the greatest driver never to win the Formula One drivers’ world championship. He competed successfully in sports cars, touring cars and rallying, as well as the top levels of single-seaters. 
A fearless driver, Moss began competing in F1 in 1951 and was forced to retire after a huge crash in a race at Goodwood in April 1962 which left him in a coma for a month and partially paralysed for six.

Ford was the New York Yankees' all-time wins leader, a six-time World Series champion and Hall of Fame pitcher. New Yorker Ford died in October reportedly surrounded by his family watching his beloved Yankees, a team he had supported since he was five.

Lewis was one of the men behind the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern method used in weather-affected limited-overs cricket matches. He devised the method alongside fellow mathematician Frank Duckworth.

The Frenchman put Liverpool back on track to domestic and European glory as manager from 1998 to 2004, winning a treble of trophies in 2001 and paving the way for the long-term recovery of a club he cherished.

Hidalgo is best remembered for his eight years in charge of France, which culminated with the stylish team of Michel Platini, Alain Giresse and Jean Tigana winning Euro 84 on home soil. It was France's first ever major tournament success.&nbsp;

The former Australian, Wimbledon and US singles titleholder was part of the golden era of Australian men's tennis in the 1950s, winning four major singles titles and four in doubles.

Stern masterminded the NBA's growth into a global sports powerhouse while serving as commissioner from 1984 to 2014.The NBA's championship games were not televised live in the USA when Stern's 30-year tenure began, but New Yorker Stern took the league to new heights and oversaw NBA stars taking part in the Olympics.

Former England and Liverpool goalkeeper Clemence was one of the finest stoppers of his generation, winning three European Cups and five First Division titles during 14 years.

Russian Ponedelnik scored the goal which won the Soviet Union the inaugural European championships in 1960, heading home in extra time to give the Soviets a 2-1 victory over Yugoslavia in the final in Paris.

They shook the world of sport

Maradona's death at the age of 60 brought his native Argentina to a standstill

Maradona mourned, Kobe's tragedy: Sports deaths in 2020

The Football Association has decided not to take action against two clubs after fans booed the taking of a knee as the players' union reported "overwhelmingly support" for the gesture.
Teams at Premier League and English Football League (EFL) games have been going down on one knee in support of the fight against racial injustice since June.
Millwall's Championship loss to Derby and Colchester's win over Grimsby in League Two on December 5 were overshadowed by some supporters booing the gesture.
Despite a strong backlash, the FA has ruled against formal disciplinary action against either club.
-The FA will continue to monitor and investigate should similar crowd-related incidents occur- the governing body said in a statement on Friday.
-The FA continues to support all players and clubs that wish to take a stand against any form of discrimination, and will always condemn the behaviours of anyone that chooses to actively oppose these values.-
The Professional Footballers' Association revealed earlier on Friday that players "overwhelmingly" supported continuing to take a knee and accused the EFL of showing "a lack of leadership" over the issue.
-This powerful symbol of solidarity represents the players' commitment to anti-racism and is not an endorsement of any political position- the PFA said in a statement.
-It is a peaceful act of unity that highlights a persistent and systemic issue.-Millwall Supporters' Club said their protest was targeted at the political views of the Black Lives Matter organisation, and was not motivated by racism.
QPR director of football Les Ferdinand has previously spoken about how he feels the gesture has become "diluted" and is now "little more than good PR".
But the PFA feels the continued support for the gesture among players provides the mandate for competitions to give it their full backing.
-While the Premier League has already committed to teams taking the knee for the duration of the season, players across the EFL have been left in a difficult position following a lack of leadership on the issue- the PFA said.
A spokesman for the EFL, which covers tiers two, three and four of the English game, said it respected "players' freedom of expression on this issue".
-By definition it has to be an individuals' choice as to whether they wish to take a knee before a match if it is to remain an effective stance- he added.

The FA will continue to monitor and investigate should similar crowd-related incidents occur

Millwall fans booed their players taking the knee against Derby on December 5

English clubs avoid punishment over booing of players taking a knee

eSports has been named as a full medal event for the 2022 Asian Games, in a major step towards the mainstream for a sport that has long harboured Olympic ambitions.
eSports and breakdancing were both included on the programme for the Games in Hangzhou, China, at the Olympic Council of Asia's general assembly in Muscat this week.
-I hope that electronic sports will add value to the Asian Games –- and I am sure it will in the future, during the Asian Games 2022 and even beyond that- the OCA's Asian Games director, Haider Farman, said in a statement on Friday.
eSports was a popular demonstration event at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, and a medal sport at last year's Southeast Asian Games in the Philippines.
Efforts to include eSports in the Olympics have so far faltered, but the coronavirus pandemic appeared to trigger a shift this year as organisers explored new ideas.
In April, International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach called for the movement to "urgently" investigate electronic versions of sports and to approach game publishers.
This month breakdancing, skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing were approved for the Paris 2024 Olympics, as the Games strive to appeal to younger audiences.

Haider Farman: I hope that electronic sports will add value to the Asian Games

eSports was a demonstration sport at the 2018 Asian Games

eSports becomes medal event at 2022 Asian Games

Sport's highest court on Thursday banned Russia from the international stage for two years including the rearranged Tokyo Olympics and Beijing Winter Games, but the halving of the initial punishment was described by a leading US official as "a catastrophic blow to clean athletes and the integrity of sport".
The Court of Arbitration for Sport's ruling cut a four-year ban for systematic doping imposed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
-This Panel has imposed consequences to reflect the nature and seriousness of the non-compliance...and to ensure that the integrity of sport against the scourge of doping is maintained- said CAS in its judgement.
The statement added: "The consequences which the Panel has decided to impose are not as extensive as those sought by WADA. 
-This should not, however, be read as any validation of the conduct of RUSADA (Russia's anti-doping watchdog) or the Russian authorities.-
The ban runs until December 16, 2022, so includes the FIFA World Cup finals in Qatar which ends two days later.
Under the decision Russians will still be allowed to compete, but only as neutrals if they can prove no connection to doping.
WADA President Witold Banka hailed the ruling from the Lausanne-based CAS.
-WADA is pleased to have won this landmark case," Banka said adding that the verdict has "clearly upheld our findings that the Russian authorities brazenly and illegally manipulated the Moscow Laboratory data in an effort to cover up an institutionalised doping scheme.-

But there was a markedly different reaction from the US Anti-Doping Agency chief executive officer Travis T. Tygart.
-USADA acknowledges the devastating decision...in the Russia case that hands WADA and clean athletes a significant loss- Tygart said in a statement. 
-At this stage in this sordid Russian state-sponsored doping affair, now spanning close to a decade, there is no consolation in this weak, watered-down outcome- he added.
He called it "a catastrophic blow to clean athletes, the integrity of sport, and the rule of law". 
The CAS verdict followed a four-day arbitration hearing between WADA and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) at a secret location last month.
The showdown, in front of three CAS judges took place following WADA's decision last year to declare RUSADA non-compliant after the Russian body was accused of manipulating drug testing data.
Russia considered its ban to be legally indefensible. Russian President Vladimir Putin slammed the decision at the time as a "politically motivated" ruling that "contradicted" the Olympic Charter.
Former prime minister Dmitry Medvedev described the suspension as "chronic anti-Russian hysteria".
The Russian saga erupted in 2016 when Grigory Rodchenkov, the former head of Moscow's anti-doping laboratory, blew the whistle over state-backed doping at the 2014 Winter Olympics hosted in the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi.
Rodchenkov's lawyer slammed the halving of Russia's sporting ban, describing the ruling as "nonsensical."
In a statement, Jim Walden said CAS decision's to cut Russia's ban from four years to two showed the tribunal was "unwilling and unable to meaningfully deal with systematic and long-standing criminality by Russia."
After Rodchenkov's bombshell accusations and barely two weeks before the 2016 Rio Olympics in July that year, WADA called for Russia to be banned from those Games.
The IOC, however, stopped short of an outright ban and said individual federations would decide whether to allow Russian athletes to compete.
In 2017, the IOC banned the Russian Olympic Committee from the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Games, but allowed clean Russian athletes to take part as neutral competitors.
A total of 168 Russians eventually competed.

In September 2018, WADA controversially lifted its ban on RUSADA, despite not having been granted access to its doping-tainted Moscow laboratory.
Russia finally handed over lab data to WADA in January 2019.
In yet another twist, in September last year WADA gave Russia three weeks to explain "inconsistencies" in the data.
Sport's global doping policeman then hit Russia with the four-year ban over the manipulated data last December.
Athletics' global governing body meanwhile has given the Russian federation until March next year to produce a comprehensive plan to fight doping and be reinstated to the sport or face expulsion.
While Thursday's CAS verdict was of paramount importance to Russia, WADA also had plenty on the line.
The organisation, founded in 1999, has been criticised by US lawmakers over its handling of the scandal and failure to implement governance reforms.
The US as a result has threatened to pull its annual $2.7 million financing.
Thursday's announcement was being awaited with interest by the International Olympic Committee and sports federations who were expecting clear directives from CAS, eight months before the Tokyo Olympics.

Former prime minister Dmitry Medvedev described the suspension as "chronic anti-Russian hysteria"

Russia banned for two years in 'catastrophic blow to clean sport'

The Premier League said Thursday that it had agreed to permit permanent concussion substitutes from next month after football's lawmakers authorised extensive trials using them.
However in a meeting on Thursday club bosses in England's top flight voted for a third time against increasing the number of allowed substitutes from three to five despite the International Football Association Board (IFAB) also extending that rule on Wednesday.
IFAB said the trials using concussion substitutes could begin in January, and the Premier League bosses decided they would be looking at a maximum of two per side per match. 
-With player welfare the Premier League's priority, clubs agreed in principle to introduce additional permanent concussion substitutions following approval of the trial by the International Football Association Board yesterday- the Premier League said.
-The Premier League will look to implement protocols which will allow a maximum of two concussion substitutes to be used per team, with the opposition side able to use the equivalent number.
--The additional concussion substitutions may be made regardless of the number of substitutions a team has made already.-
Concussion has become an increasingly hot issue in the sport -- rugby union has used head injury replacements for a while -- with increasing concern over the amount of former footballers who develop dementia later in life.
Although Premier League clubs once again repudiated moves to allow five substitutes they did agree to allow nine players on the bench as opposed to the present seven.
The measure will come into effect from this weekend's round of games beginning on Saturday.
Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp had been especially vociferous in his wanting five substitutes due to a lengthening injury list and concerns over the hectic fixture schedule.
Others such as Sheffield United's Chris Wilder argued against it believing that it would only favour those teams with big squads.

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Sports

Premier League records 40 positive coronavirus cases

Confident Fury says he will knock out Joshua inside two rounds

Federer and Nadal re-elected to ATP players' council

Ski World Cup super-G at Bormio postponed

Salah is happy at Liverpool, says Klopp

Federer, Serena among entries for Australian Open

Casillas returns to Real Madrid in foundation role

Federer training, committed to playing Australian Open

Eden Hazard set to return 'very soon' for Real Madrid

"Avaz" finds out: Spahić and Misimović had a conversation with Husref Musemić

Women's 2021 tennis season to start in Abu Dhabi on Jan 5

Maradona mourned, Kobe's tragedy: Sports deaths in 2020

English clubs avoid punishment over booing of players taking a knee

eSports becomes medal event at 2022 Asian Games

Russia banned for two years in 'catastrophic blow to clean sport'

Premier League agrees to concussion substitutes