2020 Irish general election, Results
In terms of popular vote, despite their close second-place finish in terms of parliamentary seats, Sinn Féin received the most first-preference votes nationwide, though no single party secured more than 25% of the first-preference votes, nor more than 25% of the seats. According to Dublin City University political scientist Eoin O'Malley, it was the most fragmented Dáil ever, with the effective number of parties at 5.95.


2020 Irish general election, Results
Seán Ó Fearghaíl was returned automatically as outgoing Ceann Comhairle; as he was a Fianna Fáil member, this gave the party 38 TDs. That number dropped to 37 when Ó Fearghaíl was re-elected as Ceann Comhairle on the first day of the 33rd Dáil.


2020 Irish general election, Results
Journalists commented on the effects of Sinn Féin's late surge and unexpectedly high first-preference vote. John Drennan listed eleven constituencies where it might have won another seat had it run an extra candidate. Marie O'Halloran observed that Sinn Féin transfers affected the outcome of 21 constituencies, favouring other left-wing parties. Sean Murray noted that Solidarity–People Before Profit benefited most from Sinn Féin transfers.


2020 Irish general election, Results
The Social Democrats had their best-ever result, with 6 seats; they attributed this to focusing their efforts on winnable seats rather than fielding candidates in every constituency.


2020 Irish general election, Results
The Green Party also had their best-ever result, with 12 seats, reflecting increased interest in environmentalism and climate change in Ireland.


2020 Irish general election, Results
Minor far-right and anti-immigration parties (the National Party, Irish Freedom Party and Anti- Corruption Ireland) fared very poorly, winning less than two percent wherever they stood. However, some independent politicians who had expressed anti-immigration views were elected, like Verona Murphy and Noel Grealish.


2020 Irish general election, Government formation
As there are 160 members of Dáil Éireann (including the Ceann Comhairle who casts a vote only in the case of a tie), 80 TDs are needed to form a governing coalition. A smaller group could form a minority government if they can negotiate a confidence and supply agreement with another party.


2020 Irish general election, Government formation
During the campaign, the leaders of both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil ruled out forming a coalition government with Sinn Féin. Some in Fianna Fáil were reported to favour going into coalition with Sinn Féin over renewing an arrangement with Fine Gael. Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald announced her intention to try to form a coalition government without either Fine Gael or Fianna Fáil, but she did not rule out a coalition with either party.


2020 Irish general election, Government formation
After the results came in on 10–11 February, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar continued to rule out a Fine Gael coalition with Sinn Féin, while Micheál Martin changed tack and left open the possibility of a Fianna Fáil–Sinn Féin coalition or a "grand coalition" with Fine Gael. On 12 February, Varadkar conceded that Fine Gael would likely go into opposition. Varadkar argued that since Sinn Féin finished with the highest vote, it had the responsibility to build a coalition that allows it to keep its campaign promises, and that Fine Gael was "willing to step back" to allow Sinn Féin to do so.


2020 Irish general election, Government formation
Sinn Féin have also stated an intention to form a broad left coalition; combined, left-leaning parties have 67 seats (37 Sinn Féin, 12 Green, 6 Labour, 6 Social Democrats, 5 Solidarity–PBP, and 1 Independents 4 Change), but other parties of the left have raised doubts about such a prospect. In addition, Sinn Féin would need the support of at least 13 independents (out of 19 total) to form a government.


2020 Irish general election, Government formation
A Fianna Fáil–Fine Gael grand coalition would have 72 seats and so would need support from smaller parties or independents to form a government. A Fianna Fáil–Sinn Féin coalition would have 74 seats, which would also require smaller party or independent support. These three options in an opinion poll the week after the election received respective support from 26%, 26%, and 19% of voters, with 15% preferring another election.


2020 Irish general election, Government formation
On 20 February, Varadkar resigned, but he and the other members of the government continued to carry out their duties pending the appointment of their successors. It was reported that Fine Gael was prepared to go into opposition. On 11 March, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael entered detailed talks in order to establish a grand coalition, potentially with the Green Party, and deal with the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland. As of 17 March, those talks were still scheduled for later that week. However, the Green Party suggested that it would not join such a coalition, preferring a national unity government.


2020 Irish general election, Government formation
On 4 April, it was reported that FF and FG were making progress on their talks, and that the Labour Party was preferred to the Green Party as the third coalition partner due to internal divisions in the Green Party. However, the Labour Party stated that it preferred to go into opposition. Another option would be a grand coalition which could reach a majority with the support of independents, but such a coalition would be fragile. Some Fine Gael politicians predicted another election in September, which Fianna Fáil was eager to avoid.


2020 Irish general election, Government formation
On 14 April, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael reached a coalition agreement, which includes a rotation for taoiseach. However, they lack a majority and need to bring other parties or independents into the coalition in order to form a government. The Greens required an annual 7% cut to carbon emissions, among other demands, to participate as the third part of government formation; these demands did not include Green leader Eamon Ryan participating in the taoiseach rotation scheme, despite rumours to the contrary. The Social Democrats, Aontú, and technical groups of independents also expressed varying degrees of interest in entering into government formation negotiations with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael.


2020 Irish general election, Government formation
A draft programme for government was agreed between Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael, and the Green Party on 15 June 2020. It was determined that the position of Taoiseach would rotate between Micheál Martin and Leo Varadkar. The programme needed the approval by each party's membership. Fianna Fáil and the Green Party require a simple majority and a 67% majority, respectively, in a postal ballot of all members, while Fine Gael uses an electoral college system, with its parliamentary party making up 50% of the electorate, constituency delegates 25%, councillors 15% and the party's executive council filling the final 10%.


2020 Irish general election, Government formation
On 26 June, Fine Gael voted 80%, Fianna Fáil voted 74% and the Green Party voted 76% in favour of the programme. Clare Bailey, the leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland - a branch of the Irish Green Party - publicly rejected the idea of the Greens being part of the coalition deal with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. She said the coalition deal proposed the "most fiscally conservative arrangements in a generation". The coalition deal allowed for a government to be formed on 27 June, with Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin serving as Taoiseach until December 2022. Subsequently, the Dáil voted on 27 June to nominate Micheál Martin as Taoiseach. He was appointed afterward by President Michael D. Higgins and announced his cabinet later that day.


2020 Israel Start-Up Nation season
The 2020 cycling season for Israel Start-Up Nation began in January at the Tour Down Under in Australia.


2020 Israel Start-Up Nation season
The 2020 season is the team's first as a UCI WorldTeam. After the 2019 season, the team merged with the former Team Katusha–Alpecin team and took over the latter's WorldTeam license, stepping up from the UCI Professional Continental level. To coincide with this promotion, the team changed their name from Israel Cycling Academy to Israel Start-Up Nation, while the former name became the name of the team's Continental level development squad.


2020 Israel State Cup Final
The 2020 Israel State Cup Final decided the winner of the 2019–20 Israel State Cup, the 84th season of Israel's main football cup. It was played on  13 July 2020 at the Bloomfield Stadium in Tel Aviv, between Maccabi Petah Tikva and Hapoel Be'er Sheva.


2020 Israel State Cup Final, Background
Maccabi Petah Tikva had previously played 4 Israel cup Finals, had won the competition a record 2 time. Their most recent appearance in the final was in 2001, in which they lost 3–0 to  Maccabi Tel Aviv, and their most recent victory in the tournament was in 1952, beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 1–0.


2020 Israel State Cup Final, Background
Hapoel Be'er Sheva had previously played in 4 finals, winning one time. Their most recent appearance in the final was in 2015, in which they lost  6–2 to Maccabi Tel Aviv, and their most recent victory in the tournament was in 1997, beating Maccabi Tel Aviv 1–0.


2020 Israel Super Cup
The 2020 Israel Super Cup is the 25th Israel Super Cup (30th, including unofficial matches, as the competition wasn't played within the Israel Football Association in its first 5 editions, until 1969), an annual Israel football match played between the winners of the previous season's Top Division and Israel State Cup. This is the fifth time since 1990 that the match was staged after a planned resumption of the cup was canceled in 2014.


2020 Israel Super Cup
The games were played between Maccabi Tel Aviv, champions of the 2019–20 Israeli Premier League and Hapoel Be'er Sheva, winners of the 2019–20 Israeli State Cup.


2020 Israel Super Cup, Match details, First leg
MATCH OFFICIALS Assistant referees: David Biton Eli KaspoFourth official: Erez PapirVideo assistant referee: Orel GrinfeldAssistant video assistant referee: Adi Tom


2020 Israel Super Cup, Match details, Second leg
MATCH OFFICIALS Assistant referees: Dvir Shimon Roi HassanFourth official: Idan LeibaVideo assistant referee: Liran LianiAssistant video assistant referee: Idan Yarkoni


2020 Israeli Basketball League Cup
The 2020 Israeli Basketball League Cup, for sponsorships reasons the Winner League Cup, is the 15th edition of the pre-season tournament of the Israeli Basketball Premier League. All twelve Israeli Premier League  team's was participate except from Hapoel Tel Aviv because the participation at the Champions League


2020 Israeli legislative election
Legislative elections were held in Israel on 2 March 2020 to elect members of the twenty-third Knesset.


2020 Israeli legislative election
The election result showed a political stalemate, which was resolved when Likud and Blue & White reached a coalition agreement. Under the terms of the agreement, the premiership would rotate between Benjamin Netanyahu and Benny Gantz, with Gantz given the new position of Alternate Prime Minister until November 2021. These elections followed continued political deadlock after the April and September 2019 Knesset elections.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Background
The extended period of political deadlock that led up to the election was the result of close races in April and September 2019 that left both incumbent Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and opposition favorite Benny Gantz unable to muster a 61-seat governing majority, in coalition with their respective blocs of smaller, ideologically-allied parties.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Background
As a result, Netanyahu and Gantz agreed in principle that the only solution was a national unity government between Netanyahu's Likud and Gantz's Blue and White parties. However, substantial disagreements over the terms of such a government prevented one from being formed, as Netanyahu demanded the inclusion of his allied right-wing, religious parties, and Gantz refused to cooperate with a Netanyahu-led Likud as long as he was under indictment for alleged bribery and fraud.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Background
Orly Adas, director of the Central Elections Committee, cautioned that she lacked the necessary funding and staff to conduct a third election, and President Reuven Rivlin stressed his desire to avoid calling one, repeatedly expressing his dismay at the failure to form a unity government. Nevertheless, as required by the Basic Law, he initiated on 21 November 2019 a 21-day period in which any member of the Knesset (MK) who received the support of 60 of their fellow lawmakers was allowed to try to form a government. After no MKs succeeded at this task by 11 December, Rivlin was forced to call the new election.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Electoral system
The 120 seats in the Knesset are elected by closed list proportional representation in a single nationwide constituency. The electoral threshold for the election is 3.25%. In most cases, this implies a minimum party size of four seats, but it is mathematically possible for a party to pass the electoral threshold and have only three seats (since 3.25% of 120 members = 3.9 members).


2020 Israeli legislative election, Electoral system, Surplus-vote agreements
Two parties can sign an agreement that allows them to compete for leftover seats as though they are running together on the same list. The Bader–Ofer method disproportionately favors larger lists, meaning that such an alliance is more likely to receive leftover seats than both of its comprising lists would be individually. If the alliance receives leftover seats, the Bader–Ofer calculation is then applied privately, to determine how the seats are divided among the two allied lists. The following agreements were signed by parties prior to the election:


2020 Israeli legislative election, Date
With the deadline to form a government ending at 11 December at midnight, elections called 90 days later should have been held on 10 March. However, as that date would have conflicted with the Jewish holiday of Purim, the election would have to be held either one week earlier on 3 March, or one week later on 17 March. A Knesset bill was required to be passed to allow the election date to be moved up to earlier in March.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Date
The date of 3 March conflicted with Israeli memorial day, so Likud pushed for an election date of 16 March, while Blue and White wanted an election held on 2 March. The two parties agreed to hold elections on 2 March 2020, and the required Knesset votes took place on 11 and 12 December to ratify 2 March.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Parties, Parliamentary factions
At the end of the 22nd Knesset, there were ten factions in parliament.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Opinion polls
This graph shows the polling trends from the 17 September 2019 Israeli legislative election until election day using 4-poll moving average. Scenario polls are not included here.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Opinion polls
For parties not crossing the electoral threshold (currently 3.25%) in any given poll, the number of seats is calculated as a percentage of the 120 total seats.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Opinion polls, Exit polls
Three television channels released exit polls shortly after polls closed at 22:00. Following their release, Netanyahu tweeted "Thanks" in Hebrew. Around three hours later, two of the channels released updated polls that took into account voting between 20:00 and 22:00, which showed a slight drop in predicted seats for the right-wing bloc.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
On 8 March 2020, Lieberman gave Gantz his backing to form a new government. The next day, the Joint List agreed to work with Gantz and Lieberman to oust Netanyahu. Orly Levy announced on 10 March that she would not support a minority government and had unofficially left the Labor–Gesher–Meretz alliance. Blue and White MKs Zvi Hauser and Yoaz Hendel had previously stated that they would not support a government that relied on the Joint List's support. An aide to Gantz also stated that he plans to form a government by 23 March. Lieberman and Labor party leader Amir Peretz also reaffirmed on 11 March that an alliance with the Joint List would not change their party's position on forming a political alliance with Gantz.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
The elected MKs were sworn in on 16 March 2020. On 15 March, Israeli President Reuven Rivlin announced that he had asked Gantz to form the new government after Gantz received support from 61 of the 120 MKs.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
Prior to the election, Gantz vowed to form a government that would not include Netanyahu. However, after the election and with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel, Gantz reversed his stance and announced he was willing to support an emergency coalition with Netanyahu. On 21 March, Netanyahu announced negotiations were completed for a national unity government with a rotating prime ministership where Netanyahu served first, to later be replaced by Gantz, although Gantz denied this and claimed negotiations were still ongoing.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
On 26 March, one day after Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein resigned, Gantz instead agreed to become Speaker of the Knesset. The fact that right-wingers in Netanyahu's coalition agreed to support Gantz's bid to become speaker put the future of the Blue and White alliance in jeopardy. The same day, MKs elected Gantz as the new Speaker of the Knesset by a margin of 74–18.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
On 27 March 2020, it was revealed that a major obstacle to a possible long-term alliance between Gantz and Netanyahu emerged with regards to implementing U.S. President Donald Trump's Middle East peace plan. Barak Ravid of Israel's Channel 13 news revealed that despite Gantz's previous claim that he wanted to implement the peace plan, Gantz still wanted to hold peace talks with the Palestinians, which Trump and Netanyahu still opposed. Ravid stated that this would likely make the upcoming deal between Gantz and Netanyahu short-lived.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
As part of the proposed coalition deal between Netanyahu and Gantz, Gantz would replace Netanyahu as Prime Minister of Israel in 18 months. On 12 April, Rivlin announced that he had denied Gantz's request for a two-week extension to form a government. Despite Likud requests for Rivlin to ask Netanyahu to form a new government, Rivlin hinted that he will also deny Netanyahu the right to a new government if no agreement between Gantz and Netanyahu was signed on 13 April 2020.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
If no deal is signed, and if the MKs do not change the PM recommendation numbers by midnight on 13 April, the Knesset will either hold a vote for PM candidates or approve another round of elections. Netanyahu acknowledged that he and Gantz were not close to signing a coalition deal. On 13 April 2020, Rivlin agreed to extend the mandate for Gantz by another 48 hours after Gantz and Netanyahu both agreed to continue negotiations for a coalition government.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
Negotiations between Gantz and Netanyahu expired after the two failed to produce a coalition government by the 15 April deadline. On 16 April, Rivlin responded by giving the Knesset a 21-day deadline to choose a new prime minister. If no candidate is selected, another round of elections will be held. The next election would likely be held by 4 August 2020. Despite not agreeing to a coalition government by the required deadline, Netanyahu and Gantz still pledged to continue talks.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
However, on 17 April, a source close to Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon and an anonymous high-ranking Likud minister who spoke with Shas Party chairman Aryeh Deri told Al-Monitor that Kahlon and Deri were showing signs of splitting with Netanyahu, with Kahlon planning to also resign as Finance Minister.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
It was also reported that Deri, who serves as the mediator of talks between Gantz and Netanyahu, "might even be open to a new alliance with Blue and White — now that its anti-clerical component, Yair Lapid, quit the party and went his own way", and would only continue to support Netanyahu until the next election.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
On 20 April, Netanyahu and Gantz signed the original coalition proposal which will see Netanyahu remain for power for only another 18 months was agreed to. After Netanyahu steps down, Gantz will take over as Israeli prime minister for at least 18 months. It was also agreed that the new Israeli government would have an equal number of cabinet ministers aligned with Likud and Blue and White. Blue and White received the Justice, Economy, Labor and Welfare, Communications, Agriculture, Culture and Sports, Absorption, Tourism, Minorities, Diaspora, Science and Space, Strategic Affairs, and Social Affairs ministries.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
The positions of foreign minister, energy minister and environmental protection minister will rotate upon the change of prime minister. The terms of the agreement also provide that Gantz serve as defense minister when the new government is sworn in, and would automatically become interim prime minister if early elections were to be called. The number of specific safeguarding clauses highlighted the mutual distrust of the two coalition partners.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
On 22 April, it was reported that the Netanyahu-aligned Yamina political alliance, headed by interim defence minister Naftali Bennett, had not yet agreed to join the new coalition government, and was now "considering all options", including breaking with Netanyahu and joining the opposition. Bennett was said to be unhappy with the new coalition government's decision to hold back on judicial reform. The same day, however, officials from both the United Torah Judaism (UTJ) and Labor parties signed the coalition deal.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
As conditions for signing the deal, members from UTJ will serve as health minister and Knesset Finance Committee chairmanship, and will also hold two deputy minister positions and another Knesset committee chair, while Labor leader Amir Peretz will serve as economic minister and will coordinate with Blue and White on parliamentary matters and policy issues. The Labor Party voted in favor of joining the government on 26 April 2020.


2020 Israeli legislative election, Aftermath
On 30 April, the bill approving the new coalition government was given its first approval in Knesset. On 6 May, the coalition agreement was approved by the Israeli Supreme Court. The same day, both Blue and White and Likud issued a joint statement claiming that the new unity government would be sworn in the following week. On 7 May, the bill approving the new government became law after it was given final approval in the Knesset. Netanyahu and the new Israeli government were sworn in on 17 May. On 23 December, the Knesset again dissolved, resulting in the need for new elections.


2020 Italian Athletics Championships
The 2020 Italian Athletics Championships are the 110th edition of the Italian Athletics Championships and took place in Padua — instead of La Spezia as initially scheduled before the COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 Italian Athletics Championships
10 running events are held later 17–18 October 2020, in Campo Scuola Atletica, Modena, for all the long-distance events (1500m and more, walking races), with the 10km (track) previously in Vittorio Veneto.


2020 Italian Athletics Championships
The only National Record set during these Championships was the Italian Junior record by Rachele Mori (born 2003) with 65.03 m, second at Hammer Throw, but the Championships Record of 21.99 m by Leonardo Fabbri was considered as the best mark of all the first phase.


2020 Italian Athletics Championships
The best performance of the second phase, called Festa dell’Endurance in Modena, was the National Best on 10 km walk (road) by Antonella Palmisano.


2020 Italian Athletics Championships, Champions
First title at senior level for Larissa Iapichino at the Italian championships 2020.


2020 Italian Athletics Indoor Championships
2020 Italian Athletics Indoor Championships was the 51st edition of the Italian Athletics Indoor Championships and were held in Ancona.


2020 Italian Basketball Cup
The 2020 Italian Basketball Cup, known as the 2020 Zurich Connect Final Eight for sponsorship reasons, was the 52nd edition of Italy's national cup tournament. The competition is managed by the Lega Basket for LBA clubs. The tournament was played from 13 to 16 February 2020 in Pesaro, at the end of the first half of the 2019–20 LBA season.


2020 Italian Basketball Cup
Umana Reyer Venezia went to win its first Cup ever by beating Happy Casa Brindisi 73–67 in the Finals. Austin Daye was named Panasonic MVP of the competition.


2020 Italian Basketball Cup, Qualification
Qualified for the tournament are selected based on their position on the league table at the end of the first half of the 2019–20 LBA regular season.


2020 Italian Basketball Supercup
The 2020 Italian Basketball Supercup (Italian: Supercoppa di pallacanestro 2020), also known as Eurosport Supercoppa 2020 for sponsorship reasons, is the 26th edition of the super cup tournament, organized by the Lega Basket Serie A (LBA).


2020 Italian Basketball Supercup
For the first time in history, all the teams of LBA took part in the Supercup, due to the early conclusion of the 2019–20 season caused by COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 Italian F4 Championship
The 2020 Italian F4 Championship Powered by Abarth was the seventh season of the Italian F4 Championship. Gabriele Minì won the drivers' championship in his rookie season while his team Prema Powerteam won the teams' championship for the fifth time.


2020 Italian F4 Championship, Race calendar and results
The calendar was revealed on 16 September 2019. Following a delayed start to the season due to the 2019-20 coronavirus pandemic, a new calendar was announced on 19 May 2020. On 3 June 2020 it was announced that the season opener at Hungaroring was pushed back 2 weeks. The final calendar was released on 11 June 2020, with Hungaroring no longer on the schedule.


2020 Italian F4 Championship, Championship standings
Points were awarded to the top 10 classified finishers in each race. No points were awarded for pole position or fastest lap. The final classifications for the drivers' and rookies' standings were obtained by summing up the scores on the 16 best results obtained during the races held.


2020 Italian F4 Championship, Championship standings, Drivers' championship
Bold – PoleItalics – Fastest Lap† — Did not finish, but classified


2020 Italian F4 Championship, Championship standings, Teams' championship
Each team acquired the points earned by their two best drivers in each race.


2020 Italian GT Championship
The 2020 Italian GT Championship was the 29th season of the Italian GT Championship, the grand tourer-style sports car racing founded by the Italian automobile club (Automobile Club d'Italia). The Championship consists of four Sprint race events and four Endurance race events. At each Sprint race event there were held two races. The Season started on 19 July at Mugello and ended on 6 December at Vallelunga


2020 Italian GT Championship, Race calendar and results
All races were held in Italy. Overall winner is Bold.


2020 Italian Grand Prix
The 2020 Italian Grand Prix (officially known as the Formula 1 Gran Premio Heineken d'Italia 2020) was a Formula One motor race that was held on 6 September 2020 at the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza in Monza, Italy. The race was the eighth round in the 2020 Formula One World Championship.


2020 Italian Grand Prix
The race was won by Pierre Gasly of AlphaTauri-Honda, who took his first Formula One win and became the first French Formula One driver to win a race since Olivier Panis won the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix. Gasly started the race in tenth, but gained positions due to a well-timed pit-stop prior to a safety car, sent to retrieve the broken car of Kevin Magnussen. Lewis Hamilton, who led the race until this point, was given a penalty for entering the pit lane when it was closed, passing the lead to Gasly, who defended from McLaren's Carlos Sainz Jr. in the closing stages of the race. Racing Point's Lance Stroll completed the podium.


2020 Italian Grand Prix
This was the first race since the 2012 Hungarian Grand Prix to not have a Red Bull, Mercedes, or Ferrari driver on the podium and the first of those podiums to feature three different teams since the 2012 Canadian Grand Prix. It was also the first race not to be won by a driver from Red Bull, Mercedes, or Ferrari since the 2013 Australian Grand Prix. Lance Stroll also scored his first podium since 2017.


2020 Italian Grand Prix
It was the first instance of there being two standing starts since the 2001 Belgian Grand Prix, following a 2018 change in the regulations to allow for standing restarts after a red flag. This race was the last for both Claire Williams and Frank Williams, as they stepped down from their positions at Williams Racing.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Background, Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic
The opening rounds of the 2020 championship were heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Several Grands Prix were cancelled or postponed after the planned opening round in Australia was called off two days before the race was due to take place; prompting the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile to draft a new calendar. However, the Italian Grand Prix was not impacted by this change and kept its original date.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Background, Entrants
The drivers and teams were the same as the season entry list with no additional stand-in drivers for the race. Roy Nissany drove for Williams in the first practice session, replacing George Russell.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Background, Tyres
Pirelli brought the C2, C3 and C4 tyres for the race weekend, the second, third, and fourth hardest tyre compounds available.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Background, Regulation changes
Prior to the race, the governing body, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile, issued a technical directive banning qualifying-specific engine modes from the Italian Grand Prix onwards. The ban was initially planned for the 2020 Belgian Grand Prix but it was delayed by one race.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Practice
The first practice session was interrupted briefly when Max Verstappen crashed at the Ascari chicane. The session ended with Valtteri Bottas fastest ahead of Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton and Red Bull driver Alexander Albon third fastest. The second practice session ran without major incidents and concluded with Hamilton fastest, followed by Bottas and Lando Norris of McLaren.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Practice
Bottas was again fastest in third practice, followed by Carlos Sainz Jr. of McLaren and his teammate Norris. The session was briefly red flagged after Daniel Ricciardo stopped his Renault R.S.20 due to a mechanical failure.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Qualifying, Qualifying report
Lewis Hamilton took pole, 0.069s ahead of Mercedes teammate Valtteri Bottas. Hamilton's lap time of 1:18.887 is the fastest Formula One lap in history, with an average speed of 264.362 km/h (164.267 mph). It beat the lap record set by Kimi Räikkönen in 2018 by two tenths of a second. The final part of Q1 was marked by numerous cars starting their final flying lap at close distance, hampering each other's performance.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Race, Race report
Lewis Hamilton successfully retained the lead position on the start, while his teammate Valtteri Bottas gradually dropped to sixth place over the first two laps while reporting problems with his car. Carlos Sainz pulled away quickly to take Valtteri Bottas off the start claiming second. The McLaren driver went on to pull a gap to the cars behind. During lap six the left-rear brake on Sebastian Vettel's SF1000 overheated to the point that the brake assembly caught fire before disintegrating and flying off the car at the start of lap seven. This caused Vettel to miss a couple of corners (in the process he smashed through the polystyrene chicane direction indicator boxes at the first chicane) before limping to the pits to retire.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Race, Race report
On lap 18, Kevin Magnussen's Haas suffered a power unit failure and his car stranded to the side of the pit lane entrance. At the end of the next lap, Pierre Gasly elected to make his pitstop. The safety car was deployed shortly afterwards and the pit lane was closed to allow marshals to safely remove the stranded Haas from the track. Both Hamilton and Antonio Giovinazzi made a pit stop shortly after the safety car had been deployed despite the pit lane being closed.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Race, Race report
They were both given 10-second stop-and-go penalties for this infraction (Hamilton was given two penalty points on his FIA Super Licence as a result). When the pit lane was re-opened two laps later, most of the field entered to make their pit stop. This allowed Gasly to move into third place behind Hamilton and Lance Stroll, the only driver who did not stop.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Race, Race report
The safety car was withdrawn at the end of the next lap, allowing normal race conditions to resume on lap 23. Hamilton held on to the lead ahead of Stroll and Gasly. Charles Leclerc crashed heavily after the restart in the Parabolica corner as the car lost its rear end, entered the gravel trap and collided with the barrier, significantly damaging the tyre barriers and his car in the process. Leclerc experienced some pain in his back following the incident, but a medical examination showed he did not have any injuries. The safety car was deployed initially, but the red flags were brought out shortly afterwards to suspend the race to allow repairs to be made to the tyre barriers.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Race, Race report
The race resumed later with a standing restart on lap 28. Stroll went wide at turn four dropping to fifth place in the process, with Gasly inheriting second place. Hamilton served his stop-and-go penalty at the end of the lap while Giovinazzi served his one lap later dropping them to the back of the field. This allowed Gasly to take the lead of the race ahead of Kimi Räikkönen and Carlos Sainz Jr. Over the next 25 laps Gasly held off Räikkönen, who gradually fell back to an eventual 13th-place finish, and Sainz to secure victory. Stroll meanwhile fought back to third place to complete the podium.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Race, Race report
Gasly took his first Formula One victory and gave AlphaTauri their first win as a constructor and second win as a team, over 12 years since Vettel won the 2008 Italian Grand Prix when the team was known as Toro Rosso. Gasly's victory was the first for a French driver in Formula One since Olivier Panis at the 1996 Monaco Grand Prix, and the 80th F1 World Championship race win for a French driver overall. The win also made Honda the first engine manufacturer to win with two different teams in the sport's V6 turbo-hybrid era.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Race, Race report
The result marked the first time that Ferrari, Mercedes and Red Bull all failed to score a podium finish since the 2012 Hungarian Grand Prix. It was also the first time since Räikkönen won the 2013 Australian Grand Prix driving for Lotus F1 that the race winner did not drive for Ferrari, Mercedes or Red Bull. The race contributed to discussions over potential future changes to Formula One race weekend formats.


2020 Italian Grand Prix, Race, Race report
As Claire and Frank Williams ceased their involvement with the Williams team after this Grand Prix, tributes were paid to the pair from around the paddock, including from George Russell and Nicholas Latifi, the Williams drivers, as they crossed the line.


2020 Italian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship
The 2020 Italian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship (Italian: Campionati Mixed Doubles - Anno Sportivo 2019-2020) was held from October 28, 2019 to January 26, 2020 in two stages: the group stage (round robin) from October 28, 2019 to January 17, 2020 and the playoff stage from January 24 to 26, 2020.


2020 Italian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship
21 teams took part in the championship, with the 8 best teams promoted to the playoff stage.


2020 Italian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship
The winners of the championship were the Amos Mosaner / Alice Cobelli team, who beat the Joël Retornaz / Angela Romei team in the final. The bronze medal was won by the Giacomo Colli / Diana Gaspari team, who won the bronze match against the Mattia Giovanella / Chiara Zanotelli team.


2020 Italian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship
Team Amos Mosaner / Alice Cobelli will represent Italy at the 2020 World Mixed Doubles Curling Championship.


2020 Italian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, Round Robin, Group A
(Qualificazione - Girone Pinerolo)Was held in Pinerolo from October 28 to December 27, 2019


2020 Italian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, Round Robin, Group B
(Qualificazione - Girone Cembra)Was held in Cembra from November 29 to December 15, 2019


2020 Italian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, Round Robin, Group C
(Qualificazione - Girone Cortina)Was held in Cortina d'Ampezzo from November 13, 2019 to January 17, 2020


2020 Italian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, Round Robin, Group D
(Qualificazione - Girone Sesto S. Giovanni)Was held in Pinerolo from November 30 to December 1, 2019


2020 Italian Mixed Doubles Curling Championship, Playoffs
(Finale)Was held as "double knockout" in Cembra from January 24 to 26, 2020


2020 Italian Open (tennis)
The 2020 Italian Open (also known as the Rome Masters or the Internazionali BNL d'Italia for sponsorship reasons) is a professional tennis tournament played on outdoor clay courts at the Foro Italico in Rome, Italy.


2020 Italian Open (tennis)
Originally scheduled for 11–17 May 2020, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was initially rescheduled to 20–26 September 2020, a week before the 2020 French Open. When the ATP schedule was later revised in August 2020, following the cancellation of this year's Mutua Madrid Open due to the resurgence of virus cases in Spain, organizers had to move the tournament earlier than planned by a week, and it is rescheduled to 14–21 September 2020. That leaves the dates were later placed for this year's Hamburg European Open (men) and Internationaux de Strasbourg (women). It is the 77th edition of the Italian Open and is classified as an ATP Tour Masters 1000 event on the 2020 ATP Tour and a Premier 5 event on the 2020 WTA Tour.


2020 Italian Open (tennis), ATP singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wild cards into the main singles draw:


2020 Italian Open (tennis), ATP singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following player used a protected ranking into the main singles draw:


2020 Italian Open (tennis), ATP singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received entry from the singles qualifying draw:


2020 Italian Open (tennis), ATP doubles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following pairs received wildcards into the doubles main draw:


2020 Italian Open (tennis), WTA singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wild cards into the main singles draw:


2020 Italian Open (tennis), WTA singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received entry from the singles qualifying draw:


2020 Italian Open (tennis), WTA doubles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following pairs received wildcards into the doubles main draw:


2020 Italian Open (tennis), Champions, Men's singles
This was Djokovic's 81st ATP Tour singles title, and fourth of the year.


2020 Italian Open (tennis), Champions, Women's singles
This was Halep's 22nd WTA Tour singles title, and third of the year. With this victory, Halep extended her winning streak to 14 matches.


2020 Italian Open (tennis), Champions, Men's doubles
This was Granollers' 21st ATP Tour doubles title, and third of the year, and was Zeballos' 16th ATP Tour doubles title, and third of the year. This was also their fourth doubles title together as a pair.


2020 Italian Open (tennis), Champions, Women's doubles
This was Hsieh's 28th WTA Tour doubles title, and fourth of the year, and was Strýcová's 31st WTA Tour doubles title, and fourth of the year. This was also their 9th doubles title together as a pair.


2020 Italian Open – Men's Doubles
Juan Sebastián Cabal and Robert Farah were the two-time defending champions, but lost in the second round to Rohan Bopanna and Denis Shapovalov.


2020 Italian Open – Men's Doubles
Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos won the title, defeating Jérémy Chardy and Fabrice Martin in the final, 6–4, 5–7, [10–8].


2020 Italian Open – Men's Singles
Novak Djokovic defeated Diego Schwartzman in the final, 7–5, 6–3 to win the Men's Singles title at the 2020 Italian Open. It was his fifth Rome Masters title and record 36th ATP Masters 1000 title overall. Djokovic also extended his winning streak in completed matches to 34, and entered his 287th week as world No. 1 (surpassing Pete Sampras in second place) following the tournament.


2020 Italian Open – Men's Singles
Rafael Nadal was the two-time defending champion, but lost to Schwartzman in the quarterfinals.


2020 Italian Open – Men's Singles
Casper Ruud became the first Norwegian to advance to a semifinal at an ATP Masters 1000 event, surpassing his father Christian Ruud, who reached the quarterfinals of Monte Carlo in 1997.


2020 Italian Open – Men's Singles, Seeds
The top eight seeds received a bye into the second round.


2020 Italian Open – Men's Singles, Seeds
Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.


2020 Italian Open – Men's Singles, Seeds
The players who also received a bye into the second round were as follows, corresponding each semifinalist from the US Open:


2020 Italian Open – Men's Singles, Seeds
The other seven byes were removed and therefore seven players were added into the main draw.


2020 Italian Open – Women's Doubles
Victoria Azarenka and Ashleigh Barty are the defending champions but neither player chose to participate.


2020 Italian Open – Women's Doubles
Hsieh Su-wei and Barbora Strýcová won the title, defeating Anna-Lena Friedsam and Raluca Olaru in the final, 6–2, 6–2.


2020 Italian Open – Women's Doubles, Seeds
The top four seeds received a bye into the second round.


2020 Italian Open – Women's Singles
Simona Halep won her first Italian Open title, after the defending champion Karolína Plíšková retired from the final, with the scoreline at 6–0, 2–1.


2020 Italian Open – Women's Singles
Sofia Kenin became the first top five player and reigning Grand Slam champion to be defeated by a 'double bagel' (6–0, 6–0) scoreline since Lindsay Davenport defeated Maria Sharapova at the 2005 Indian Wells tournament. Kenin was defeated by Victoria Azarenka in the second round.


2020 Italian Open – Women's Singles, Seeds
The top eight seeds received a bye into the second round.


2020 Italian Open – Women's Singles, Seeds
Click on the seed number of a player to go to their draw section.


2020 Italian by-elections
The 2020 Italian by-elections are called to fill seats in the Parliament that became vacant after the 2018 general elections. In 2020, by-elections will be held in the Chamber of Deputies constituency of Rome Trionfale, and in the Senate constituencies of Naples San Carlo All'Arena and Terni.


2020 Italian by-elections, Overview
The new Italian electoral law approved in 2017 and nicknamed Rosatellum, provides the election of members of Parliament in 232 single-member districts for the Chamber of Deputies and in 116 for the Senate of the Republic. Whenever a seat of this kind becomes vacant, a by-election is called, and a new representative is elected.


2020 Italian by-elections, Chamber of Deputies, Lazio 1: Rome, Trionfale
The by-election in the constituency of Trionfale (Rome) was held on 1 March 2020 to elect a deputy for the seat left vacant by Paolo Gentiloni (PD). He was selected as the new commissioner for Economy in the Von der Leyen Commission, and resigned from the Chamber of Deputies on 2 December 2019.


2020 Italian by-elections, Chamber of Deputies, Lazio 1: Rome, Trionfale
The centre-left coalition nominated Roberto Gualtieri, former member of the European Parliament for the PD, and economy minister of the Conte II Cabinet. The centre-right nominated Maurizio Leo.


2020 Italian by-elections, Chamber of Deputies, Lazio 1: Rome, Trionfale
The election had a low turnout of 17.7%, and the elected candidate was Gualtieri, with 62.2% of the votes.


2020 Italian by-elections, Senate of the Republic, Campania 7: Naples, San Carlo all'Arena
The by-election in the constituency of San Carlo all'Arena (Naples) was held on 23 February to elect a senator for the seat left vacant by Franco Ortolani (M5S), who died on 23 November 2019.


2020 Italian by-elections, Senate of the Republic, Campania 7: Naples, San Carlo all'Arena
The Five Star Movement, in an internal vote, nominated engineer Luigi Napolitano, former M5S candidate in the 2019 European election. After his nomination, Napolitano was accused by Neapolitan M5S activists of having been nominated for being a close friend of the M5S leader Luigi Di Maio during university.


2020 Italian by-elections, Senate of the Republic, Campania 7: Naples, San Carlo all'Arena
The centre-right coalition confirmed the candidacy of Salvatore Guangi (FI), Vice President of the City Council of Naples and former centre-right candidate in the same constituency in the 2018 general election.


2020 Italian by-elections, Senate of the Republic, Campania 7: Naples, San Carlo all'Arena
The centre-left coalition reached an agreement with DemA, the party of Mayot of Naples Luigi De Magistris, by nominating the journalist Sandro Ruotolo, former candidate for Civil Revolution in the 2013 Lazio regional election (running for president) and in the 2013 general election. Ruotolo stated that in case of victory he would seat in the Mixed Group.


2020 Italian by-elections, Senate of the Republic, Campania 7: Naples, San Carlo all'Arena
The left-wing party Power to the People ran with Professor Giuseppe Aragno, former candidate for the same party in the same constituency in the 2018 general election. Riccardo Guarino, president of the party "Neapolitan Renaissance", announced his intention to run for the election.


2020 Italian by-elections, Senate of the Republic, Campania 7: Naples, San Carlo all'Arena
The election was characterized by a very low turnout of only 9.52%, and saw the victory of the centre-left candidate Sandro Ruotolo with 48.5% of the votes.


2020 Italian by-elections, Senate of the Republic, Umbria 2: Terni
The by-election in the constituency of Terni was held on 8 March to elect a senator for the seat left vacant by Donatella Tesei (Lega). She was elected as the new President of the Region of Umbria after the 2019 regional election, and resigned on 2 December from her Senate seat.


2020 Italian by-elections, Senate of the Republic, Sardinia 3: Sassari
A by-election in the constituency of Sassari was held on 20–21 September 2020, to elect a senator for the seat left vacant by Vittoria Bogo Deledda (M5S), who died on 17 March 2020. The centre-left coalition and the Five Star Movement reached an agreement with the engineer Lorenzo Corda, while the center-right coalition supported the regional councillor Antonello Peru. Italia Viva, Italia in Comune, More Europe and Italian Liberal Party instead chose to run with their own candidate, the lawyer Agostinangelo Marras.


2020 Italian by-elections, Senate of the Republic, Veneto 9: Villafranca di Verona
A by-election in the constituency of Villafranca di Verona was held in 20–21 September 2020, to elect a senator for the seat left vacant by Stefano Bertacco (FdI), who died on 14 June.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum
A constitutional referendum about the reduction of the size of the Italian Parliament was held in Italy on 20 and 21 September 2020. Initially scheduled to be held on 29 March, the referendum was postponed following the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in Italy, and the consequent lockdown.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum
Voters were asked whether they approved a constitutional law that would amend the Italian Constitution in various aspects, most notably by reducing the number of MPs in the Parliament from 630 to 400 in the Chamber of Deputies and from 315 to 200 in the Senate. The proposed changes were approved, with 69.96% voting in favour. The reduction of the number of MPs is expected to happen with the next Italian general election, which is scheduled to take place no later than 28 May 2023.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum
Only once before in Italian history the constitution had been amended as the result of a popular vote, when a referendum was held in 2001. Two previous constitutional reforms had been rejected by referendums in 2006 and 2016.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum, Political background
In 2016, the Partito Democratico-led (PD) coalition government proposed a series of constitutional reforms with the aim of reducing the total number of parliamentarians, simplifying the legislative process, limiting the operating costs of the institutions, the disestablishment of the National Council for Economics and Labour (CNEL), and removing the perfect bicameralism in particular by greatly reducing the size and scope of the Senate. The proposal was rejected by 59% of voters through a constitutional referendum, prompting the resignation of the Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum, Political background
In 2019, the PD-M5S coalition government proposed new constitutional reforms which simply called for the reduction of the number of parliamentarians by a third; the bill was approved with the support of all the major political parties on 8 October 2019. The proposal was a main 2018 campaign promise by the Five Star Movement in an effort to reduce the costs of politics and to slash privileges for lawmakers, with the total reduction in costs for the taxpayers being estimated between 285 and 500 million euros per five-year parliamentary term.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum, Political background
Pursuing the reform was also made a part of the coalition deal between the parties. However, critics have slammed these numbers as petty figures, and argue that the reduction in the number of lawmakers would decrease democratic representation, lowering the number of lawmakers per 100,000 inhabitants from 1.6 to 1. This compares to Germany's 0.9 ratio, France's 1.4 ratio, and the United Kingdom's 2.1 ratio.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum, Proposed changes
The proposed constitutional law would amend Article 56 of the Constitution by reducing the number of deputies from 630, twelve of which are elected in the overseas constituencies, to 400, with eight to be elected in the overseas constituencies.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum, Proposed changes
According to Paragraph 3 of the Article, the subdivision of seats among the electoral districts is obtained by dividing the number of inhabitants of the country – given by the latest general census of the population – by a factor of 392 (also changed by the new law from the previous factor of 618) and distributing the seats in proportion to the population in each electoral district, on the basis of whole shares and the highest remainders. The number of seats assigned to the overseas constituencies forms an exception to this rule.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum, Proposed changes
The new law would also amend Article 57 of the Constitution by reducing the number of senators from 315, six of which are elected in the overseas constituencies, to 200, with four to be elected in the overseas constituencies. The senators are elected on a regional basis and no region or autonomous province would have fewer than 3 (down from 7) senators, with the exception of Molise and Aosta Valley, which will respectively have two and one senators.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum, Proposed changes
Paragraph 4 would also be changed, to state that the subdivision of seats among the regions and autonomous provinces – in accordance with the provisions of the preceding paragraph – is made in proportion to their population given by the latest general census of the population, on the basis of whole shares and the highest remainders.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum, Proposed changes
Article 59 of the Constitution would be changed by limiting the total number of incumbent life senators who can be appointed by the President of Italy to five. Previously, the provision governing the number of life senators was ambiguous, and had been interpreted as allowing each president to appoint five each, cumulating to a total above five.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum, Proposed changes
The changes to Articles 56 and 57 would take effect after either the end of the current legislature, or at the next dissolution of Parliament, and not earlier than 60 days after the promulgation of the constitutional law.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum, Campaign positions
As discussed above, the proposed changes to the constitution would reduce the number of seats per electoral district for both chambers of Parliament and thus increase the number of votes required to win a seat. This explains why they are opposed by most minor parties, with the exception of those that can count on a small but solid electoral base, such as the regional South Tyrolean People's Party, which would see their influence in Parliament increase.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum, Results
The referendum resulted in a victory of the "Yes" with a majority of 70.0% of the vote. The voter turnout was 51.12%. The "Yes" was the winning choice by a large margin in all Italian regions. As a result, the next Italian legislature will have 400 members of the Chamber of Deputies and 200 Senators, and a maximum of five appointed senators for life, plus the former presidents of Italy.


2020 Italian constitutional referendum, Results
Luigi Di Maio, foreign minister and former leader of the M5S, defined the results "a historical result". The secretary of the PD, Nicola Zingaretti, said that "the victory of the 'Yes' opens up a season of reforms". Riccardo Molinari, party leader of the League in the Chamber of Deputies, asked for the parliament to be dissolved and new elections to be held, in order to fulfill the objective of the constitutional law.


2020 Italian local elections
The 2020 Italian local elections were held on different dates; they were originally scheduled to take place in May 2020, together with the 2020 regional elections, with a second round on June, but they were delayed on 20 and 21 September with a second round on 4 and 5 October due to the coronavirus pandemic in Italy. Direct elections were held in 1,172 out of 7,904 municipalities; in each of these, the mayor and the members of the City Council are going to be elected. Of the 1,172 municipalities, 18 are provincial capitals.


2020 Italian local elections
The elections in Trentino - Alto Adige/Südtirol were planned to be held on 3 May, with a second ballot on 17 May, while the elections in Aosta Valley were planned on 17 May, with a second ballot on 31 May, but they were delayed following the coronavirus pandemic. In Sicily the elections were planned to be held on 24 May but they were first postponed on 14 June with a second round on 28 June and then they were delayed again sometime between 11 October and 6 December.


2020 Italian local elections
Municipal councillors and mayors ordinarily serve a term of five years.


2020 Italian local elections, Voting system
All mayoral elections in Italy in cities with a population higher than 15,000 use the same voting system. Under this system, voters express a direct choice for the mayor or an indirect choice voting for the party of the candidate's coalition. If no candidate receives at least 50% of votes, the top two candidates go to a second round after two weeks. This gives a result whereby the winning candidate may be able to claim majority support, although it is not guaranteed.


2020 Italian local elections, Voting system
The election of the City Council is based on a direct choice for the candidate with a preference vote: the candidate with the majority of the preferences is elected. The number of seats for each party is determined proportionally.


2020 Italian local elections, Results, Coalition results
Majority of each coalition in the municipalities which have a population higher than 15,000 inhabitants:


2020 Italian regional elections
Regional elections in Italy took place during 2020 in nine regions out of twenty. Elections took place in Emilia-Romagna and Calabria on 26 January, and in Aosta Valley, Campania, Liguria, Marche, Apulia, Tuscany, and Veneto on 20 and 21 September. The September elections took place concurrently with the 2020 Italian constitutional referendum.


2020 Italy men's OQT basketball team
The 2020 Italy men's OQT basketball team will represent Italy at the 2020 FIBA Men's Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Belgrade, Serbia in June 2021. They were qualified for the Qualification tournament by taking the 10th place at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup. The team has been coached by Meo Sacchetti.


2020 Italy men's OQT basketball team, Overview
The tournament was originally scheduled to take place from 23 to 28 June 2020, but it was shifted to 29 June to 4 July due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Italy won the competition after an historic victory in the finals against the favourite Serbian team. This way, the Italian team qualified to the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo.


2020 Italy men's OQT basketball team, Roster
The following 12 players were called by coach Romeo Sacchetti for the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments.


2020 Italy men's OQT basketball team, Staff
After the EuroBasket 2022 qualification tournament the staff team was updated: Piero Bucchi, Paolo Galbiati and Riccardo Fois were hired as assistant coaches and replaced Massimo Maffezzoli and Paolo Conti. Only Emanuele Molin was confirmed amongst the assistant coaches.


2020 Italy men's OQT basketball team, Tournament, Preliminary round, Senegal v Italy
The Senegal roster did not participate in the Qualifying Tournament. On June 28, they informed FIBA about COVID-19 related disruptions to their preparations in Germany. Afterwards, their scheduled games did not take place and Senegal lost by forfeit 0–20.


2020 Italy men's Olympic basketball team
The Italy men's national basketball team is scheduled to play at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo in July 2021.


2020 Italy men's Olympic basketball team, Overview
Italy qualified to the Olympics after an unexpected win against Serbia during the Qualifying Tournament.


2020 Italy men's Olympic basketball team, Overview
Only Danilo Gallinari was added to the team who replaced Awudu Abass.


2020 Italy men's Olympic basketball team, Overview
Italy qualified to the playoff stage losing only against Australia in the qualifying stage. They lost against France in the quarterfinals and ended the competition in the 5th position.


2020 Italy men's Olympic basketball team, Roster
The following 12 players were called by coach Meo Sacchetti for the Olympics.


2020 Italy men's Olympic basketball team, Staff
After the EuroBasket 2022 qualification tournament the staff team was updated: Piero Bucchi, Paolo Galbiati and Riccardo Fois were hired as assistant coaches and replaced Massimo Maffezzoli and Paolo Conti. Only Emanuele Molin was confirmed amongst the assistant coaches.


2020 Ivorian presidential election
Presidential elections were held in Ivory Coast on 31 October 2020. Incumbent president Alassane Ouattara was re-elected with 95% of the vote amidst an opposition boycott.


2020 Ivorian presidential election, Background
In January 2017 incumbent President Alassane Ouattara of the Rally of Houphouëtists for Democracy and Peace (RHDP) announced that he would not run again after being president for two terms (2010–2015 and 2015–2020). On 5 March 2020, he publicly reiterated his intent not to be candidate during an address to Congress. Ouattara imposed Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly as the RHDP candidate of the ruling party over other potential candidates, including Vice President Daniel Kablan Duncan, who later resigned. However, in May Coulibaly was hospitalised for heart complications and had a stent fitted.


2020 Ivorian presidential election, Background
He returned to Ivory Coast on 2 July, but died six days later after falling ill during a meeting of the Council of Ministers. The event left the RHDP without a candidate, and Ouattara considered putting forward Defense Minister Hamed Bakayoko, before renouncing due to alleged links to drug trafficking. In late July 2020, Ouattara rescinded his initial decision and announced his candidacy for a third term. The candidacy was made possible despite his previous terms as they did not count toward the two-term limit in the new constitution introduced in 2016, the elections having taken place under a different constitution.


2020 Ivorian presidential election, Background
Ouattara argued that because a new constitution was promulgated after a constitutional referendum in 2016, term limits (normally 2 for a President) were effectively reset, which would allow him to run for a controversial third term. Opposition parties argued that the move was unconstitutional, and some protests ensued, but Ouattara was allowed to run again regardless by the Independent Electoral Commission and the Constitutional Court. Despite seeing good economic growth, critics have argued that vast inequality remains, and that Ouattara is developing authoritarian tendencies. Despite opposition parties calling for a boycott, two of his opponents have allowed their names to remain on the ballot (Kouadio Konan Bertin did not support the boycott).


2020 Ivorian presidential election, Electoral system
The President of Ivory Coast will be elected for a five-year term using the two-round system. If no candidate receives a majority of the vote, a second round will be held.


2020 Ivorian presidential election, Candidates
Former Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, who was living in France, announced that he would contest the elections. However, on 29 April 2020 he was sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison and given a $7.6 million (£6.1 million) fine. Soro's lawyers claimed this was an attempt to prevent him taking part in the election.


2020 Ivorian presidential election, Candidates
On 14 September, the Constitutional Council approved four candidates; Ouattara, former president Henri Konan Bédié from the PDCI, former prime minister Pascal Affi N'Guessan and Kouadio Konan Bertin, a dissident from the PDCI. Former president Laurent Gbagbo and former Prime Minister Guillaume Soro, both critics of incumbent Ouattara, were barred as they were facing criminal charges. The ruling led to violent protests.


2020 Ivorian presidential election, Conduct
The opposition announced that it would not recognise the validity of the election, saying it was "marred by many irregularities and a low turnout," and called for "the start of a civilian transition in order to create the conditions for a fair, transparent and inclusive election".


2020 Ivorian presidential election, Conduct
However, several members of the opposition have had disagreements, with the PDCI, Guillaume Soro, Simone Gbagbo, and Pascal Affi N'Guessan saying that a transitional government should immediately be named, while the FPI party argued that it was too early to form one in the current environment, saying a civil disobedience movement needed to force Ouattara to negotiate in a legal manner. Several localities, including several in Yamoussoukro, had seen traffic prevented from reaching some neighborhoods, and that the entry points to the city were blocked by barricades.


2020 Ivorian presidential election, Conduct
Election monitors from ECOWAS had to travel by helicopter to reach Abidjan due to difficulties entering the city. Opposition supporters attacked several motorcades of pro-government figures, in some cases shooting at them, or setting vehicles on fire. Several people were also killed in clashes in Toumodi, as well as Tiébissou. Indigo, an Ivorian NGO backed by the National Democratic Institute, estimated that 23% of polling stations were shuttered, and 6% had to close early before the counting process and announcement of results were completed.


2020 Ivorian protests
The 2020 Ivorian protests were a series of massive rioting and increasingly violent street demonstrations adding to the growing massive street protests and civil disorder sweeping Ivory Coast. The protests were against the results and the re-run of president Alassane Ouattara. These protests were major anti-government opposition protests, and consisted of supporters of opposition protests in Abidjan and other cities in support of democratic reforms. Protesters used nonviolent tactics but met with intense violence back from the riot police.


2020 Ivorian protests, Background
The protests surrounded president's Alassane Ouattara bid for a third term in running for the 2020 Ivorian presidential election, which reignited weeks of violent demonstrations that lest six dead. As the popular uprising intensified, the government began to ignore and target opposition members and opposition supporters, calling them criminals and targeting a violent crackdown on the demonstrators and even burning the homes of opposition member participating in the 31 October elections.


2020 Ivorian protests, Protests
Pro -democracy riots first began as strikes in March and April, against lockdown in Cote d’Ivoire as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Anti - Alassane Ouattara protests rocked the country, mainly the Christian south, sparking fears of a civil war. Thousands rallied on 12–21 September in Abidjan, which is where all the protests began and were taking place.


2020 Ivorian protests, Protests
After the civil unrest and opposition protests, the government crackdown became severe, with at least 85 killed in the protest movement altogether. Protesters gathered and called for free elections and the resignation of president Alassane Ouattara. The violence that marred the nation was one of the largest opposition demonstrations and bloodiest actions since the 2010-2011 Ivorian crisis.


2020 Ivorian protests, Protests
Hundreds of thousands took to the streets in popular civil disobedience in October, before the 2020 Ivorian presidential election. Election protests erupted and bloody crackdowns and vigilante mob attacks were carried out against protesters as the opposition called on strikes to be held nationwide after the results of the election were announced. After 5 days of violent clashes and intense remonstrances, 30+ protesters were killed. Protests ceased shortly thereafter.


2020 Ivy League Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2020 Ivy League Men's Basketball Tournament was the scheduled postseason men's basketball tournament for the Ivy League of the 2019–20 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. It was scheduled for March 14 and 15, 2020, at the Lavietes Pavilion on the campus of Harvard University in Boston. On March 10, 2020, the Ivy League announced it had cancelled the tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Ivy League awarded Yale, which finished the season in first place, the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.


2020 Ivy League Men's Basketball Tournament, Seeds
The top four teams in the Ivy League regular-season standings qualify for the tournament and are seeded according to their records in conference play, resulting in a Shaughnessy playoff. If a tie for any of the top four positions exists, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:


2020 Ivy League Men's Basketball Tournament, Bracket
Had the tournament gone on as scheduled, this would have been the bracket:


2020 Ivy League Women's Basketball Tournament
The 2020 Ivy League Women's Basketball Tournament was scheduled to be the women's college conference tournament held March 13 and 14, 2020, at the Lavietes Pavilion on the campus of Harvard University in Boston. The winner was to earn the Ivy League's automatic bid to the 2020 NCAA Tournament. On March 10, 2020, the Ivy League announced it had cancelled the tournament due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result of winning the regular season title, Princeton was named the Ivy League's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Tournament.


2020 Ivy League Women's Basketball Tournament, Seeds
Only the top four teams in the 2019–20 Ivy League regular-season standings were to participate in the tournament and be seeded according to their records in conference play, resulting in a Shaughnessy playoff.


2020 Ivy League men's soccer season
The 2020 Ivy League men's soccer season was to be the 66th season of the conference sponsoring men's varsity soccer. The season initially was scheduled to begin on August 28, 2020 and conclude on November 14, 2020, but has postponed to begin on February 3, 2021 and conclude on April 17, 2021.


2020 Ivy League men's soccer season
On July 8, 2020, the Ivy League announced that no sports would be played until January 1, 2021, at the earliest, because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It has not yet been determined whether men's soccer will take place in the spring or not at all. On September 16, 2020, the NCAA announced that the season will resume on February 3, 2021.


2020 Ivy League men's soccer season
On November 13, 2020, the Ivy League announced that spring sports, including men's soccer, will be cancelled, making it the first year since 1954 that men's soccer will not be played.


2020 Ivy League men's soccer season
Yale were going to enter the season as the defending champions.


2020 Ivy League men's soccer season, Background, Previous season
The 2019 season was the conference's 65th season sponsoring men's varsity soccer. Yale won the Ivy League championship with a 6–1–0 conference record, at one point being ranked as high as 24th in the nation. In the first round, Princeton played Boston College, where they were defeated 0–3.


2020 Ivy League men's soccer season, Background, Coaching changes
Following the conclusion of the 2019 season, Harvard head coach, Pieter Lehrer, was fired. Lehrer was replaced by Josh Shapiro on January 13, 2020.


2020 Ivy League men's soccer season, MLS SuperDraft
The MLS SuperDraft was held on January 21, 2021 and we held virtually through its website. One player from the Ivy League was selected in the draft.


2020 Ivy League men's soccer season, MLS SuperDraft, Notable undrafted players
The following are notable players who went pro following the end of the season that were not selected in the 2021 MLS SuperDraft.


2020 Ivy League men's soccer season, Homegrown players
The Homegrown Player Rule is a Major League Soccer program that allows MLS teams to sign local players from their own development academies directly to MLS first team rosters. Before the creation of the rule in 2008, every player entering Major League Soccer had to be assigned through one of the existing MLS player allocation processes, such as the MLS SuperDraft.


2020 Ivy League men's soccer season, Homegrown players
To place a player on its homegrown player list, making him eligible to sign as a homegrown player, players must have resided in that club's home territory and participated in the club's youth development system for at least one year. Players can play college soccer and still be eligible to sign a homegrown contract.


2020 J&T Banka Ostrava Open
The 2020 J&T Banka Ostrava Open is a WTA tournament organised for female professional tennis players, held in Ostrava, Czech Republic, in mid-October 2020 on indoor hard courts. It was primarily organised due to the cancellation of many tournaments during the 2020 season, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 J&T Banka Ostrava Open, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2020 J&T Banka Ostrava Open, Doubles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following pair received a wildcard into the doubles main draw:


2020 J&T Banka Ostrava Open, Finals
All dates and times are CEST (UTC+2) to 24 October and CET (UTC+1) from 25 October


2020 J&T Banka Ostrava Open, Finals, Singles
It was Sabalenka's 7th WTA singles title, and second of the year. This was the first WTA singles final in history to be completed between two Belarusian players.


2020 J&T Banka Ostrava Open, Finals, Doubles
This was Mertens' 10th WTA doubles title, and first of the year, and was Sabalenka's 4th WTA doubles title, and first of the year. This was their 4th WTA doubles title as a pair.


2020 J&T Banka Ostrava Open – Doubles
Elise Mertens and Aryna Sabalenka won the title, defeating Gabriela Dabrowski and Luisa Stefani in the final, 6–1, 6–3.


2020 J&T Banka Ostrava Open – Singles
This was the first edition of the tournament, primarily organised due to the cancellation of many tournaments during the 2020 season, because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 J&T Banka Ostrava Open – Singles
Aryna Sabalenka won the title, defeating Victoria Azarenka in the final, 6–2, 6–2. The final of this event was the first WTA singles final to be contested between two Belarusian players. Sabalenka won the title after being 6–0, 4–0 down, and facing break points to go 5–0 down, in her quarterfinal match against Sara Sorribes Tormo. After losing 10 games in a row, Sabalenka then won 12 games in a row.


2020 J&T Banka Ostrava Open – Singles, Seeds
The top four seeds received a bye into the second round.


2020 J.League Cup
The 2020 J.League Cup, known as the 2020 J.League YBC Levain Cup (Japanese: 2020 JリーグYBCルヴァンカップ) for sponsorship reasons, was the 28th edition of J.League Cup, a Japanese association football cup competition. It began on 16 February 2020 and ended on 4 January 2021.


2020 J.League Cup, Format
All 18 teams playing in the 2020 J1 League participated. In addition, depending on the result of the 2020 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs, one or two teams from 2020 J2 League with the best performance in the previous season (i.e. Matsumoto Yamaga and Júbilo Iwata, the 17th- and 18th-placed teams in 2019 J1 League, respectively) may participate. As FC Tokyo qualified for the AFC Champions League group stage, only Matsumoto Yamaga were invited.


2020 J.League Cup, Format, Group stage
Participants of 2020 AFC Champions League group stage received byes for the group stage.


2020 J.League Cup, Format, Group stage
Sixteen teams played the group stage. They were divided into four groups of four teams by their finish on the 2019 J1 and J2 Leagues (parenthesized below).


2020 J.League Cup, Format, Group stage
Each group was played on a home-and-away round-robin basis. Each match would be played in 90 minutes.


2020 J.League Cup, Format, Group stage, Group stage tiebreakers
In the group stage, teams in a group were ranked by points (3 points for a win, 1 point for a draw, 0 points for a loss). If the points were tied, the following tiebreakers were applied:


2020 J.League Cup, Format, Group stage, Group stage tiebreakers
In case of ranking third-placed teams across the groups, the following criteria was used:


2020 J.League Cup, Format, Play-off stage
The number of play-off stage participants depends on the number of teams advanced to ACL group stage.


2020 J.League Cup, Format, Play-off stage
The play-off stage was played as two-legged ties of two teams each. The away goals rule, an extra time (away goals rule is not applied for the scores in the extra time), and a penalty shoot-out were used if needed.


2020 J.League Cup, Format, Prime stage (Knockout stage)
The prime stage (knockout stage) was played by 8 teams who advanced to ACL group stage and won the play-off stage.


2020 J.League Cup, Format, Prime stage (Knockout stage)
The quarter-finals and the semi-finals were played as two-legged ties (same as the play-off stage). The final was a single game.


2020 J.League Cup, Format, Prime stage (Knockout stage)
The video assistant referee (VAR) system would be used during this stage.


2020 J.League Cup, Format, Regulation changes
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the extraordinary board held a meeting on 5 June 2020 to change the tournament method as follows:


2020 J.League Cup, Format, Regulation changes
On 23 June, J.League announced that it would not use the video assistant referee (VAR) system.


2020 J.League Cup, Prime stage (Knockout stage)
Prime stage is the single-leg knockout tournament contested between the 5 clubs that qualified from the group stage and the 3 AFC Champions League participants.


2020 J.League Cup, Prime stage (Knockout stage)
The draw for the prime stage took place on 13 August 2020.


2020 J.League Cup, Prime stage (Knockout stage), Final
Originally scheduled for 7 November 2020, the final was postponed 3 days prior after 13 of the Kashiwa Reysol club members, including their 70-year-old manager Nelsinho Baptista and three players, were tested positive for COVID-19. It was then scheduled to play on 4 January 2021, three days after the 2020 Emperor's Cup final.


2020 J1 League
The 2020 J1 League, also known as the 2020 Meiji Yasuda J1 League (Japanese: 2020 明治安田生命J1リーグ, Hepburn: 2020 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J1 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, was the 28th season of the J1 League, the top Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1993. The league began on 21 February and eventually ended on 19 December 2020. The league was planned to have a season break to avoid clashing with the 2020 Summer Olympics, but the Olympics were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan.


2020 J1 League
Yokohama F. Marinos were the defending champions while Kashiwa Reysol and Yokohama FC entered the league as promoted teams from the 2019 J2 League, replacing Júbilo Iwata and Matsumoto Yamaga who were relegated to the 2020 J2 League.


2020 J1 League, Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
On 25 February, all J.League matches until 15 March were postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. After that, it was announced that it would be postponed until 29 March. On 19 March, the J.League announced no relegation would take place for the 2020 season, with the J1 League expanding to 20 clubs for the 2021 season. On 25 March, the league announced that it would be suspended 3 April to 6 May.


2020 J1 League, Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
On 3 April, the Japan Professional Football League decided to resume the league, gradually resumed J3 from 25 April, J2 from 2 May, and J1 from 9 May. However the league was postponed again.


2020 J1 League, Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
On 29 May, the JPFL decided to resume the season on 27 June. The season is projected to resume on 4 July. On 9 June, the JPFL announced the new schedule of the 2020 season. On 15 June, it was announced that the first 2 matches in each league (J1, J2, and J3) would be held without spectators. After 10 July, as a general rule, the maximum number of people allowed is 5,000. The stadiums with less than 10,000 capacity would have up to 50% of the capacity. Away supporters are not allowed. After August, the maximum stadium capacity was 50%, and there would be "high alert spectator matches".


2020 J1 League, Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic
After the 11th J.League extraordinary executive committee meeting on 20 July, it was announced that the "super strict alert audience game" extended to 10 August in view of the spread of coronavirus infection.


2020 J1 League, Clubs
For the 2020 season, there were only two changes in the league. Kashiwa Reysol returned as the 2019 J2 League champions and Yokohama FC as runners-up after 13 seasons absence from the top tier of Japanese football. They replaced Matsumoto Yamaga (one season in J1) and Júbilo Iwata (four seasons in J1), who were relegated to the 2020 J2 League.


2020 J1 League, Clubs
Meanwhile, Shonan Bellmare remained in the J1 League after defeating Tokushima Vortis in the 2019 J2 League play-off final.


2020 J1 League, Foreign players
As of 2020 season, there are no more restrictions on a number of signed foreign players, but clubs can only register up to five foreign players for a single match-day squad. Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Qatar) are exempt from these restrictions.


2020 J1 League, League table
It was decided on 19 March to change the format regarding the rules for promotion/relegation for the end of the season for the J1, J2 and J3 leagues, such that there would be no relegation this season, that two clubs from the J2 League would be promoted to the 2021 J1 League, and that two clubs from the J3 League would be promoted to the 2021 J2 League (subject to licensing regulations).


2020 J1 League, Attendances
Updated to games played on 18 October 2020Source: Notes:† Promoted from J2


2020 J2 League
The 2020 J2 League, also known as the 2020 Meiji Yasuda J2 League (Japanese: 2020 明治安田生命J2リーグ, Hepburn: 2020 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J2 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, will be the 28th season of J2 League, the top Japanese professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1993. The league will start on 21 February 2020. For this season, the league was planned to have season break to avoid clash with 2020 Summer Olympics due to be starting from June to August, as the Olympics have been postponed to a year.


2020 J2 League, Effects of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
On February 25, all J.League matches until March 15 were postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After that, it was announced that it would be postponed until March 29. On March 19, the J.League announced no relegation would take place for the 2020 season, with the J1 League expanding to 20 clubs for the 2021 season. On March 25, a further announcement declared that the league would be suspended from April 3 to May 6.


2020 J2 League, Effects of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
On April 3, a decision to start over the official game schedule, which aims to gradually resume J3 from April 25, J2 from May 2, and J1 from May 9. Note that, considering a new schedule in the future, but it will resume it at least one month later and later in the month.


2020 J2 League, Effects of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
On May 29, the J.LEAGUE announced to resume matches on June 27. On June 9, a further  announcement about the schedule of the 2020 season. On June 15, a new announcement about the New dates. The first 2 rounds of matches in each league (J2 2nd-3rd series) will be held without spectators. After July 10, as a rule, the maximum number of people will be 5,000, (stadiums with less capacity are those with less than 50% of the capacity of people, will forbid away supporters). After August, the maximum stadium capacity will be 50%, and it will be a “high alert spectator match”.


2020 J2 League, Effects of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic
After the 11th J.League extraordinary executive committee on July 20, it was announced that the "super strict alert audience game" would be extended to August 10 in view of the spread of coronavirus infection.


2020 J2 League, Clubs
After spending only one season in J2, Kashiwa Reysol were crowned champions and were promoted to 2020 J1 League along with the runners-up Yokohama FC. The 2019 J3 League champions Giravanz Kitakyushu and runners-up Thespakusatsu Gunma entered the league as the promoted teams, replacing Kagoshima United and FC Gifu who were relegated to 2020 J3 League. Those teams that qualified for promotion playoffs in 2019 were unable to defeat their opponent and thus remain in 2020 J1 League season.


2020 J2 League, Clubs
Giravanz Kitakyushu return to J2 after spending three seasons in J3, while Thespakusatsu Gunma return after spending two seasons.


2020 J2 League, Clubs
Meanwhile, Matsumoto Yamaga and Júbilo Iwata will join 2020 J2 League as relegated teams from 2019 J1 League having placed 17th and 18th respectively.


2020 J2 League, Foreign players
As of 2020 season, there are no more restrictions on a number of signed foreign players, but clubs can only register up to five foreign players for a single match-day squad. Players from J.League partner nations (Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Cambodia, Singapore, Indonesia and Qatar) are exempt from these restrictions.


2020 J2 League, League table
It was decided on 19 March to change the format regarding the rules for promotion/relegation for the end of the season for the J1, J2 and J3 leagues, such that there would be no relegation this season, that two clubs from the J2 League would be promoted to the 2021 J1 League, and that two clubs from the J3 League would be promoted to the 2021 J2 League (subject to licensing regulations). It was also announced that the J1/J2 play-offs will not be held.


2020 J2 League, Attendances
Updated to games played on 14 October 2020Source: Notes:† Last year in J1 League‡ Last year in J3 League。


2020 J3 League
The 2020 J3 League, referred to as the 2020 Meiji Yasuda J3 League (Japanese: 2020 明治安田生命J3リーグ, Hepburn: 2020 Meiji Yasuda Seimei J3 Rīgu) for sponsorship reasons, was the 7th season of J3 League under its current name.


2020 J3 League
On 19 March, the J.League announced no relegation would take place for the 2020 season, with the J1 League expanding to 20 clubs for the 2021 season.


2020 J3 League, Postponement of the beginning of the season
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic-related concerns, the Japan Football Association (JFA) opted to postpone the beginning of the season, firstly established for 7 March.


2020 J3 League, Postponement of the beginning of the season
On 25 February, all J.League matches until 15 March were postponed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. After that, it was announced that it would be postponed until 29 March. On March 19, the J.League announced no relegation would take place for the 2020 season, with the J1 League expanding to 20 clubs for the 2021 season. On 25 March, the league announced that the season would be suspended between 3 April and 6 May.


2020 J3 League, Postponement of the beginning of the season
On 3 April, it was decided to start over with the official game schedule, which aimed to gradually resume J3 from 25 April, J2 from 2 May, and J1 from 9 May. Note that, considering a new schedule in the future, the schedule would have called for the season's resumption at least one month later and later in the month.


2020 J3 League, Postponement of the beginning of the season
On 29 May, J.League announced its decision to resume on 27 June. On 9 June, the schedules of the 2020 season were published. On 15 June, new dates were also published. The first 2 matches in each league (J3 1st-2nd section) were held without spectators. After 10 July, as a general rule, the maximum number of people were 5,000 (stadiums with lower capacity are those with less than 50% of the capacity of people watching; no away supporters allowed). After August, the maximum stadium capacity was 50%, and there would be "high alert spectator matches".


2020 J3 League, Postponement of the beginning of the season
After that, at the 11th J.League extraordinary executive committee meeting on 20 July, it was announced that the "super strict alert audience game" was extended to 10 August in view of the spread of coronavirus infection.


2020 J3 League, Clubs
2019 season saw two teams promoted to J2 League: Giravanz Kitakyushu won the championship after being for three seasons in the third tier, while Thespakusatsu Gunma won promotion just in the last game of the season. From second division, there was a double automatic relegation for the second time: FC Gifu played their first season in J3 after being in the second division for the last 12 years, when J3 League wasn't even on the cards.


2020 J3 League, Clubs
Alongside them, an incredible final day of the 2019 season pushed Kagoshima United FC immediately back to J3, just one year after sealing their first-ever participation to the second tier. This is the last J3 League season that featured the U-23 teams from J1 League. On 5 June, FC Tokyo U-23 withdrew from the league.


2020 J3 League, Clubs
Also, Japan Football League saw the promotion of another club: after two fifth-placed performances, FC Imabari came third in 2019 and booked their first professional season in their history.


2020 J3 League, League table
It was decided on 19 March to change the format regarding the rules for promotion/relegation for the end of the season for the J1, J2 and J3 leagues, such that there would be no relegation this season, that two clubs from the J2 League would be promoted to the 2021 J1 League, and that two clubs from the J3 League would be promoted to the 2021 J2 League (subject to licensing regulations).


2020 J3 League, League table
FC Tokyo U-23's withdrawal was approved at a board meeting held on 5 June, leaving the J3 League with 18 teams.


2020 J3 League, Attendances
Updated to games played on 20 December 2020Source: Notes:† Last year in J2 League‡ Last year in Japan Football League.


2020 JC Ferrero Challenger Open
The 2020 JC Ferrero Challenger Open was a professional tennis tournament played on clay courts. It was the third edition of the tournament which was part of the 2020 ATP Challenger Tour. It took place in Alicante, Spain between 12 and 18 October 2020. Carlos Alcaraz was the singles winner; the pair of Enzo Couacaud and Albano Olivetti won doubles.


2020 JC Ferrero Challenger Open, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following players received wildcards into the singles main draw:


2020 JC Ferrero Challenger Open, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following player received entry into the singles main draw using a protected ranking:


2020 JC Ferrero Challenger Open, Singles main draw entrants, Other entrants
The following player received entry into the singles main draw as a special exempt:


2020 JC Ferrero Challenger Open – Doubles
Thomaz Bellucci and Guillermo Durán were the defending champions but chose not to defend their title.


2020 JC Ferrero Challenger Open – Doubles
Enzo Couacaud and Albano Olivetti won the title after defeating Íñigo Cervantes and Oriol Roca Batalla 4–6, 6–4, [10–2] in the final.


2020 JC Ferrero Challenger Open – Singles
Pablo Andújar was the defending champion but chose not to defend his title.


2020 JC Ferrero Challenger Open – Singles
Carlos Alcaraz won the title after defeating Pedro Martínez 7–6(8–6), 6–3 in the final.


2020 JJ
2020 JJ is a tiny near-Earth asteroid of the Apollo group that passed 7,000 kilometres (4,300 mi) from the surface of Earth on 4 May 2020. It is estimated to be between 3 and 6 meters in diameter.


2020 JJ, Orbit and classification
2020 JJ orbits the Sun at a distance of 0.9–2.1 AU once every 1 years and 10 months (675 days; semi-major axis of 1.51 AU). Its orbit has an eccentricity of 0.42 and an inclination of 11° with respect to the ecliptic.


2020 JJ, Flyby
On 4 May 2020, it passed 7,000 km above the southern Pacific Ocean. It was the closest since 2019 UN13 on 31 October 2019.


2020 Jackson State Tigers football team
The 2020 Jackson State Tigers football team represented Jackson State University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Tigers were led by Pro Football Hall of Famer and first-year head coach Deion Sanders and played their home games at Mississippi Veterans Memorial Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi as members of the East Division of the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).


2020 Jackson State Tigers football team
On July 20, 2020, the Southwestern Athletic Conference announced that it would not play fall sports due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which includes the football program. The conference ultimately moved its football schedule to the 2021 spring semester.


2020 Jackson State Tigers football team, Schedule
Due to the SWAC's postponement of the 2020 football season to spring 2021, games against Florida A&M, Langston, Southern Miss, and Tennessee State were canceled. The SWAC released updated spring schedules on August 17.


2020 Jacksonville Jaguars season
The 2020 season was the Jacksonville Jaguars' 26th season in the National Football League, their eighth and final season under general manager David Caldwell and their fourth and final season under head coach Doug Marrone. With a Week 11 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Jaguars dropped to 1–9 resulting in their third consecutive losing season and their ninth in ten seasons. After a loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week 12, the Jaguars both failed to improve on their 6–10 record from the previous season and were eliminated from playoff contention for the third consecutive season. They surpassed their loss total from the previous season after an overtime loss to the Minnesota Vikings.


2020 Jacksonville Jaguars season
On November 29, 2020, the Jaguars fired general manager David Caldwell following a 1–10 start to the season.


2020 Jacksonville Jaguars season
The Jaguars had the worst record in the 2020 season, and thereby earned the first overall draft pick for the first time in franchise history after a Week 16 loss to the Chicago Bears coupled with a win by the New York Jets. Following their week 17 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, the Jaguars became the fourth team in NFL history (and the second since the 16-game expansion) to win their season opener but lose their remaining games; the only other teams that accomplished this were the 1936 Philadelphia Eagles, the 1969 Pittsburgh Steelers, and the 2001 Carolina Panthers. The 1–15 record was also the worst in franchise history.


2020 Jacksonville Jaguars season
On January 4, 2021, the Jaguars fired head coach Doug Marrone, who finished his tenure in Jacksonville with a 25–44 (.362) record.


2020 Jacksonville Jaguars season, Final roster
Rookies in italics53 active (+1 exempt), 22 inactive, 15 practice squad (+1 exempt)


2020 Jacksonville Jaguars season, Preseason
The Jaguars' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.


2020 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team
The 2020 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team represented Jacksonville State University in the 2020–21 NCAA Division I FCS football season. They were led by seventh-year head coach John Grass and played their home games at Burgess–Snow Field at JSU Stadium in Jacksonville, Alabama. They competed as a member of the Ohio Valley Conference.


2020 Jacksonville State Gamecocks football team, Previous season
The Gamecocks finished the 2019 season 6–6, 3–5 in OVC play to finish in a tie for fifth place.


2020 Jakarta floods
Flash floods occurred throughout the Indonesian capital of Jakarta and its metropolitan area on the early hours of 1 January 2020, due to the overnight rain which dumped nearly 400 millimetres (15 in) of rainwater, causing the Ciliwung and Cisadane rivers to overflow. At least 66 people have been killed, and 60,000 displaced in the worst flooding in the area since 2007.


2020 Jakarta floods, Background
Floods have hit Jakarta several times in the past, including in 1621, 1654, 1918, 1942, 1976, 1996, 2002, 2007 and 2013. A significant contributing factor is that a substantial part of Jakarta is low-lying; some 24,000 ha (240 km2) of the main part of Jakarta are below sea level. Flooding can become severe if heavy rain coincides with high tides. When this happens, the high tides push water into low-lying areas coinciding with the runoff from rains in upland areas (such as Bogor) flowing down into the Jakarta area.


2020 Jakarta floods, Background
Uncontrolled population growth in urban areas, poor land-use planning, and the lack of understanding among city residents and government about floods and its disaster risk exacerbate the impact.


2020 Jakarta floods, Impact
Multiple floodgates were assigned emergency status due to the high water levels after the rainfall.


2020 Jakarta floods, Impact
From 18:30 WIB (11:00 UTC, WIB is UTC+07:00) on 1 January until 12:00 WIB (05:00 UTC) on 2 January, the government temporarily waived all toll road fees in Jakarta.


2020 Jakarta floods, Impact
At many parts of the city, water levels reached 30 to 200 cm. Some places, such as Cipinang Melayu, East Jakarta, water levels peaked at four metres. More than 397,000 residents had been evacuated to higher grounds. The government had designated schools and government buildings as temporary shelters. In several areas, evacuation efforts were hampered by rushing waters and blackouts.


2020 Jakarta floods, Impact
According to Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency (BMKG), more rain with thunderstorm and heavy winds is expected in the next three to seven days, which is likely to exacerbate the current flooding situation.


2020 Jakarta floods, Impact, Transport
Multiple transportation networks were disrupted, including light rail transit, taxis, trains, toll roads, and the Halim Perdanakusuma International Airport. Soekarno-Hatta International Airport and the Jakarta MRT continued operating normally. Halim Perdanakusuma Airport was closed early in the morning due to the submerged runways, and air traffic was temporarily redirected to Soekarno-Hatta Airport. The airport was reopened a couple of hours later.


2020 Jakarta floods, Deaths
As of 6 January 2020, officials reported the death toll at 66, due to landslides, hypothermia, drowning, and electrocution. Many parts of the city had been left without power, as the power was switched off for safety reasons by the state-owned electricity firm, PLN. It was the area's worst flooding since 2007 when the rainfall intensity was 340 millimetres (13 in) per day and 80 people were killed in 10 days.


2020 Jakarta floods, Responses
Cloud seeding planes were used in an attempt to break up the heavy rain.