Sports News Roundup: Olympics-Japan win softball opener as Games 'of hope' begin; Tom Brady jokes with Biden at White House about Trump's false election claims and more

Speaking to the International Olympic Committee members at their session in the Japanese capital, Tedros said the world needed the Olympics now "as a celebration of hope". NBA-Antetokounmpo leads Milwaukee to first NBA title since 1971 The Milwaukee Bucks, powered by a masterpiece from Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, captured the franchise's first NBA championship in 50 years with a 105-98 win over the visiting Phoenix Suns on Tuesday.

Following is a summary of current sports news briefs.

Olympics-Japan win softball opener as Games 'of hope' begin

Japan's women's softball team got the Tokyo 2020 Olympics off to a winning start for the hosts on Wednesday, a boost for the pandemic-postponed Games that the World Health Organization sees as "a celebration of hope" even as COVID-19 cases surge. Olympics and Japanese officials have forged ahead with the sports spectacle despite opposition in the country to hosting more than 11,000 athletes, staff, and media.

Tom Brady jokes with Biden at White House about Trump's false election claims

Tom Brady, a U.S. football legend and longtime friend of Donald Trump, gently ribbed the former president and his false claims of election fraud in a White House visit Tuesday. The 43-year-old quarterback joined the rest of his Tampa Bay Buccaneers at the White House on Tuesday to celebrate their Super Bowl victory with President Joe Biden.

Olympics-WHO head Tedros backs Tokyo Games amid pandemic

The Tokyo Olympics should go ahead to demonstrate to the world what can be achieved with the right plan and measures amid the COVID-19 pandemic, World Health Organisation (WHO) head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Wednesday. Speaking to the International Olympic Committee members at their session in the Japanese capital, Tedros said the world needed the Olympics now "as a celebration of hope".

NBA-Antetokounmpo leads Milwaukee to first NBA title since 1971

The Milwaukee Bucks, powered by a masterpiece from Greek forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, captured the franchise's first NBA championship in 50 years with a 105-98 win over the visiting Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. With the victory, the Bucks clinched the NBA Finals 4-2 and became only the fifth team to win the best-of-seven championship series after losing the first two games.

NBA-Bucks' Antetokounmpo named NBA Finals Most Valuable Player

Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo was named the NBA Finals Most Valuable Player after leading his team to a 4-2 series victory over the visiting Phoenix Suns on Tuesday. Antetokounmpo, who was born and raised in Athens to Nigerian parents, joins Dirk Nowitzki (2011), Tony Parker (2007), Tim Duncan (2005 and 2003), and Hakeem Olajuwon (1994 and 1995) as the only international players to be named NBA Finals MVP.

Olympics-Beijing 2022 winter Games will need spectators-IOC

The Beijing Winter Olympics, which start in less than 200 days, will need spectators to be successful, the International Olympic Committee said on Wednesday, the day the Tokyo Games kicked off amid empty stands due to the coronavirus pandemic. "We would like to have the international community there," said Juan Antonio Samaranch Jr, who heads the IOC's coordination commission, overseeing preparations for the Beijing Games.

ATP roundup: Federico Delbonis cruises in Switzerland

No. 5 seed Federico Delbonis of Argentina won 29 of 34 first-serve points and saved both break points he faced en route to a quick 6-3, 6-3 win over Swiss wild card Leandro Riedi on Tuesday in the first round of the Swiss Open Gstaad. Joining Delbonis was No. 7 seed Laslo Djere. The Serbian defeated Thiago Seyboth Wild of Brazil 6-4, 6-3, winning 22 of 26 first-serve points and committing no double faults.

Olympics-Tokyo opening ceremony will be 'sobering' show, not flashy

Forget the mass choreography, the huge props, and the cornucopia of dancers, actors, and lights associated with an Olympic Games opening ceremony. Tokyo's grand opening on Friday will have none of that splendor or grandiosity. Instead, it will be a scaled-down affair, a "sobering" performance, Marco Balich, longtime opening ceremonies executive producer, and now a senior advisor to the Tokyo ceremonies executive producer told Reuters in an interview.

Olympics-Brisbane set to celebrate 2032 Games coronation

Australia waited in anticipation on Wednesday ahead of an International Olympic Committee vote in Tokyo expected to confirm preferred bidder Brisbane as host of the 2032 Summer Games. Queensland state Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and the Australian delegation will provide a final presentation to IOC members in Tokyo before the vote at around 5:10 p.m. (0810 GMT)

Olympics-Athletics-Lyles goes for golden finish after gloomy start

A long-held Olympic dream is about to become a reality for Noah Lyles, but the road to his first Games has not been a smooth one. Five years after he narrowly missed the Rio Games as a teenager, the 24-year-old was finally able to call himself an Olympian after qualifying for the delayed Tokyo 2020 Games at U.S. trials last month. He did so in style, clocking a world-leading 200 meters time of 19.74 seconds.

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