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Qatar emerges as 2021 F1 race alternative

Qatar has emerged as a potential replacement race in 2021, as dark clouds gather over several scheduled grands prix in the second half of the season.

Qatar has emerged as a potential replacement race in 2021, as dark clouds gather over several scheduled grands prix in the second half of the season.

Even at Zandvoort, where Dutch authorities have already given race organisers all the necessary permits to plan for a full house of 105,000 spectators per day in early September, new uncertainty is now arising.

That is despite the fact that De Telegraaf reports that workers are currently "busy building and preparing all the temporary hospitality areas and stands".

"However, there is uncertainty due to the high rate of coronavirus infections and the current multi-day event pause until August 14," the Dutch newspaper added.

With Australia already cancelled, there are also fears about Japan - especially as a world endurance championship race scheduled for September at Fuji has been scrapped.

Also cancelled in Japan, where spectators will be mostly barred from the Olympics, is October's MotoGP race at Motegi.

"According to our information, a decision about Suzuka has to be made by August 10," claims Auto Motor und Sport correspondent Tobias Gruner.

A second race in Austin may be one solution, but there are also fears about Brazil - where there are up to 50,000 covid cases and 1500 deaths per day.

"However, Sao Paulo absolutely wants to hold the grand prix," Gruner claims. "For contractual reasons, that makes it difficult for Formula 1 to take the race off the calendar."

Nevertheless, Formula 1 is working on a back-up plan - for another race in the less restricted Middle East region.

"That would make logical sense," said Gruner. "Not just logistically, but there is a low risk of cancellation in the region when it comes to corona."

Another race in Bahrain is one option, but a new candidate is Qatar. According to Auto Motor und Sport, Saudi Arabia's neighbour has been "trying to get a grand prix for a long time".

"We hear that large sums of money have already been offered in the negotiations to persuade the sport to race at the Losail International Circuit on the outskirts of Doha," he said.

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Olympic medal table header
CountryGold medalSilver MedalBronze MedalT
ChinaChina1891138
JapanJapan174627
United StatesUnited States14161141
Olympics flagOlympic Athletes from Russia10141034
AustraliaAustralia921122
Great BritainGreat Britain69924
Today's Olympic highlights header

Friday's key events


ATHLETICS
· The athletics schedule begins, with 100m sprinter Dina Asher-Smith among the names in action on the opening day. The men's 10,000m final concludes the action, with Team GB's Sam Atkin and Marc Scott taking part in the absence of 2012 and 2016 champion Sir Mo Farah (1am-2.30pm)

ROWING
· Victoria Thornley is Team GB's representative in the women's single sculls final (1.33am)
· Great Britain will be going for gold in the men's eight final (2.25am)

SWIMMING
· Team GB duo Molly Renshaw and Abbie Wood take part in the women's 200m breaststroke final, but new Olympic record-holder Tatjana Schoenmaker of South Africa is the hot favourite (2.41am)
· Luke Greenbank has very realistic ambitions of picking up a medal in the men's 200m backstroke final (2.50am)
· There is also British representation in the women's 100m freestyle final, although any medal for Anna Hopkin would be a surprise (2.59am)
· With one gold and one silver already under his belt at these Games, Duncan Scott goes again in the men's 200m individual medley final (3.16am)

TRAMPOLINE
· Bryony Page will be looking to repeat her 2016 heroics in the women's event (5am-7.30pm)

CANOE SLALOM
· Bradley Forbes-Cryans will be looking to emulate Rio gold medallist Joe Clarke in the men's kayak event (6am-9am)

FOOTBALL
· The women's tournament enters the quarter-finals, with Great Britain facing Australia at the Ibaraki Kashima Stadium (10am)

> Today's schedule in full
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