Basketball Australia "slammed" suggestions by a Filipino photojournalist that "racist taunts by Australian players contributed to last week's brawl" during the World Cup qualifier in the Philippines. Winston Baltasar, who was covering the match, said that racist taunts "may have contributed to the physical boilover." He alleged the word "monkey" was used by Australians, "although he could not attribute the taunt to a specific player." In a joint statement, Basketball Australia and the Australian Basketballers' Association "categorically rejected the allegations" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 7/8).
Ironman added the 2019 Ironman 70.3 Bangsaen to its Asia calendar. The inaugural race will take place in Bangsaen, Thailand, on Feb. 24 (Ironman).
Japanese developer Capcom revealed the Street Fighter tournament at this year's Tokyo Game Show will be a Capcom Pro Tour premier event, featuring a 10M yen ($90,600) prize pool. Japanese players who place in the Top 8 "will also have the opportunity" to receive a Japan eSports Union pro player license. For an open bracket event in Japan sponsored by a game developer, "this is a landmark move." Until recently, Japanese gambling laws placed a 100,000 yen ($906) "cap on cash prizes for events which are designed to sell a product, esports included" (THE ESPORTS OBSERVER, 7/6).
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