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Organizers hope the rescheduled FIBA men鈥檚 Olympic basketball qualifying tournament at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre will serve as a celebration in a time when the pandemic is under control.

Cathy Noel said her children asked if they are finally getting turkey dinner for Thanksgiving this year. They will be.

Victoria basketball legend Steve Nash said he was 鈥測oung and dumb鈥� in making a rookie fan boy mistake in the NBA by asking an opposing player for his sneakers following a game.

Coaches need to be in command. It is virtually written into the job description, if not their DNA. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken that away from them. 鈥淐oaches are control freaks.

An Olympic year amid a pandemic is nothing new for Bob McLaren, part of the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2020 announced on Saturday. The 1967 Pan Am Games double-medallist hurdler competed in the 1968 Mexico City Summer Olympics.

Sports officials on the Island hailed the federal government鈥檚 announcement Friday of $72 million in COVID-19 relief funding. 鈥淚t sees sport as a critical part of what makes sa国际传媒 what it is,鈥� said Terry Dillon, CEO of Elk Lake-based Rowing sa国际传媒.

The picture on Twitter of Victoria HarbourCats mascot Harvey sitting alone in the grandstand of Royal Athletic Park, bowed head forlornly cupped in his hands, said it all.

Dr. Bonnie Henry held out hope on Thursday for Island-based athletes preparing for the postponed Tokyo Olympics in 2021. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 think this will be an issue next summer,鈥� sa国际传媒鈥檚 health officer said during her daily briefing on the COVID-19 pandemic.

If the Pacific FC soccer, Victoria HarbourCats baseball, Victoria Shamrocks and Nanaimo Timbermen lacrosse and Westshore Rebels and VI Raiders football seasons begin this summer, they will do so without fans in attendance.

Island hockey players are facing a whole new meaning of what it feels like to be put on ice. The same with those in baseball and soccer. Olympic hopefuls have an extra year to ready for Tokyo.