German stars donate $1.1M to 'We kick Corona' campaign

German stars donate $1.1M to 'We kick Corona' campaign

SeattlePI.com

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The Latest on the effect of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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German soccer players Leon Goretzka and Joshua Kimmich have donated 1 million euros ($1.1 million) to start a campaign called “We kick Corona” to help social workers and health services cope with the new virus.

In a Twitter post, Goretzka thanks health professionals, doctors and social workers for “giving their all to master the situation” and says he hopes fans will follow his and his Bayern Munich teammate’s example.

“On the pitch we can beat anyone. But we can only beat corona together,” the 25-year-old Goretzka writes.

The money raised is to be used to help those affected by the virus and hospital equipment.

“As professional soccer players we have been leading healthy and professional lives,” Goretzka says. “So we see an obligation to accept responsibility in these difficult times. Giving and helping each other is the order of the day at this time.”

People can donate at the www.wekickcorona.com website, where others who need support can also ask for help.

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Formula One is setting up a series of virtual races to replace postponed or canceled Grand Prix events.

The series says a “number of current F1 drivers” will take part in the races, with the first set for Sunday. That’s the day when the Bahrain Grand Prix was supposed to take place.

None of the drivers taking part have been named.

Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and McLaren’s Lando Norris are among drivers from various competitions who have already been taking part in various online races not organized by F1.

The Australian Grand Prix last weekend was canceled at short notice and the Monaco Grand Prix was canceled from its May 24 date on Thursday. Races in Bahrain, Vietnam, China, Spain and the...

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