Month: July 2025

The World Test Championship aims to add context to bilateral test matches, much like the World Cup finals in ODI and T20 cricket. By assigning a value to each series within the framework of the competition, it encourages competitiveness and ensures that every match counts. But it has come under heavy fire for its perceived inequitable nature, allowing South Africa to qualify for the final without competing against either Australia or England.

As explained by Lawrence Booth, Wisden’s editor, the more games a nation plays in a cycle, the greater its chances of being ranked higher. As such, richer nations such as Australia and England are pushed to play five-Test series against each other in order to maintain a high ranking but these games are often difficult for them to win. Meanwhile, smaller nations that play two-Test series receive less interest and profit but also face fewer fixture fatigue problems.

The inaugural WTC cycle concluded with New Zealand winning the final at the Oval in 2021, but Australia’s failure to qualify has been blasted by many including captain Pat Cummins. ECB chief executive Richard Gould said the selection of England to host the next three WTC finals was “a tribute to the passion that fans in this country and around the world have for this precious format”.

The tournament includes all full members of the ICC, except Afghanistan, Ireland and Zimbabwe who will not participate. A new system of points deductions for slow over-rates was introduced at the start of this cycle, with teams being deducted one point per over if they are behind their required rate at the end of each innings. This was criticised as a move to maximise profits at the expense of developing the game and protecting test matches against inferior opposition.

The 2025 NFL draft charts a new path forward in football. The draft begins Thursday, April 24 and continues through Saturday, April 25.

In a class loaded with talent, one big name is making waves at the top of the first round. Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward has a lot of hype, and is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the draft.

He’s a dynamic playmaker who can make big plays and change the game with his physicality. The 6-2, 248-pounder is an ideal target in the middle of the field (41% of his routes were comebacks, outs or crosses last year), and should help open things up for second-year QB Caleb Williams.

Despite the fact that he hasn’t been able to workout in full during the pre-draft process due to injury, Carter is a legitimate prospect. He’s a fast, agile rusher who can be effective at both inside and outside the line. The Giants desperately need a long-term answer at pass rusher, and Carter has all the tools to be an immediate impact player.

With the additions of 2024 first-rounder Darius Robinson and veteran LB Calais Campbell, the reigning NFC North champs are all-in on defense this offseason. And they’ve got more than enough needs to justify taking a versatile player like Zabel. He can play guard or center, and has the speed to be a disruptive interior rusher in Klint Kubiak’s run-focused scheme. The 6-6, 312-pounder can also play off the ball and has a 36.5-inch vertical jump and 9-foot, 3-inch broad jump.

The Champions League is the most prestigious tournament in European soccer and is often called “the biggest club competition in the world.” It is also known as UEFA’s top-tier league championship. Only the winners of the best domestic leagues in Europe are eligible to compete in this tournament. It is a knockout competition with multiple rounds.

During the tournament’s early years, it was known as the European Cup. Initially, it only included the champions of different national leagues in Europe. Later, the tournament was expanded to include all top-ranked clubs in Europe. Throughout its history, it has been dominated by clubs from Spain and Germany. The most dominant of these has been Real Madrid, which won 15 titles in the modern era of the competition, beginning with its first win in 1992-93.

Real Madrid is the only team to win three back-to-back titles. It has won nine since then. This has helped the club become one of the most popular in the world.

During the 2024-25 season, the Champions League had a major revamp. The tournament dropped the traditional group stage that had been in place for 21 seasons. Instead, the tournament now has a 36-team league phase in which teams play eight matches against opponents from four seeding pots. Those who finish in the top eight qualify for the last 16 and those who finish ninth to 24th will compete in a two-legged knockout playoff. In the league phase, clubs will face all other teams twice – once at home and once away.

ANY sincere fan will, at times, display what may seem like an inordinate amount of emotional attachment or angst over sports celebrity gossip. Whether they’re yelling at a referee or still in mourning over Brangelina, it’s in our nature to want to scream about things that happen to our favorite athletes and celebrities off the field. And while it can be a bit uncouth to gossip about people we don’t know, any true die-hard will do whatever they need to do to get the latest scoop.

This week, WNBA star Suni Lee and NBA player OG Anunoby make their relationship official, former WWE champion Kristin Cabot resigns over her Coldplay cheating scandal and surfing star Billy Kemper shares a video of his gruesome injury. Plus, a former UConn teammate and a Cleveland Browns quarterback go on a TikTok binge and Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn opens up about her career and groin injury.

And finally, MJF has some love for Adam Sandler and his new movie “Happy Gilmore 2″… and the feeling’s mutual. Click for all of this and more in this week’s edition of Sports Celebrity Gossip!

Ice hockey is an Olympic sport – men’s 6-person ice hockey has been an Olympic event since 1924 in Chamonix and women’s ice hockey debuted at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano. The game is played on an ice rink measuring 197 feet by 98.5 feet and follows the rules set by the International Ice Hockey Federation, which differ slightly from those of the National Hockey League (NHL). The puck goes out of play when it hits the player benches, over the protective netting above the glass or any other object outside the perimeter of the rink. A stoppage in play is signaled by the officials with whistles. The game is restarted with a faceoff, in which two players face each other and the official drops the puck to the ice.

The American team trailed Sweden 2-1 late in the second period of the semifinal at Lake Placid’s Big Hat arena and seemed headed for its fourth loss of the tournament, which would keep it out of the medal round. But with time running out and the U.S. trailing in the final minute, forward Mark Johnson snagged a rebound off of Soviet goalie Vladislav Tretiak and slammed it past him with one second left. It was a goal the Americans still call “The Miracle on Ice” today.

The victory over the Soviet masters would be just the start of a golden run for the U.S., which would win gold in 1960 and 1980. And it was the start of an era in which the American team, led by stars such as Buzz Schneider and Wayne Gretzky, would dominate the Olympic competition for the rest of the century.

Combat Sports involve forced physical contact between two athletes using a range of striking, grappling and weapon usage techniques. Typical examples include boxing, wrestling, karate, kickboxing, brazilian jiu-jitsu, Muay Thai and mixed martial arts (MMA). These sports are highly regulated to minimize permanent or severe physical damage to participants through a variety of safety precautions including padded gloves, mouthguards and specialized protective gear.

Competitions of this nature create a deep desire to succeed that may have different effects on individuals. For some, the drive to win is an empowering source of self-confidence and strength. For others, it can create unmanaged anxiety that can affect their performance both short and long-term. Regardless of its impact, competition is a vital part of any sport that involves forceful physical contact.

Participation in combat sports builds discipline, endurance, camaraderie and a variety of useful life skills. It encourages participants to set goals for themselves and strive to achieve them, developing a mindset of continual improvement that can carry over into other areas of their lives. Search terms such as bjj classes, wrestling gym or MMA clubs will provide lists of local facilities that offer these types of training. This allows individuals to find the sport that works best for them while also building a supportive network in the process. Regular training routines also teach participants to break larger goals into smaller, more manageable tasks – a practice that can be applied in all areas of their lives.

The international qualifiers are the process of determining which nations will compete at a FIFA World Cup. The qualification cycle is split into two phases: the preliminary ties, in which teams compare head-to-head records prior to goal difference; and the group phase, where matches are played over two legs. In the latter case, matches that are level at the end of 90 minutes will go to extra time and, if necessary, penalty shootouts.

Most groups are drawn into a group of six or nine countries, and those finishing top qualify automatically for the next World Cup. In the event of a draw, a second-placed team will qualify by beating the fifth-placed team in a play-off.

In Africa, where the qualifiers are currently taking place, DR Congo, South Africa and Cape Verde lead their groups; 2022 finalists Morocco and Egypt are also in strong positions to qualify.

The final round is the play-offs, which are used to determine the last two places at the World Cup. They are split into three four-team groups, and the winners of each group qualify directly for the World Cup; the runners-up will join a third-placed team in the inter-confederation playoffs.

UEFA’s qualifying format for the World Cup changes in 2026, with a new system of having two groups of four teams, where each team faces each other twice. Those groups will then be split into two semi-finals and a final, where the winner will qualify for the World Cup and the runners-up will enter the inter-confederation play-offs to decide the other two places.

International sports are a huge part of most countries’ cultural fabric and have a long history of bringing people together. They may be played at a local level, or at the global level – like the Olympics or the World Cup. This article focuses on the governance of international sports and law-related issues associated with them.

International sport is governed at the international level by various international sporting bodies, for example FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). These organizations set the rules of play and regulate players, agents and referees. They also enforce their Disciplinary Code and hear labor disputes and matters of solidarity contribution, among other things.

The Olympic Games, which were first held in ancient Greece and revived as a modern event in 1896, were originally considered to be an international competition between amateurs – that is, athletes who competed for love of the sport rather than financial rewards or fame. However, the Olympic Games are now open to professional athletes as well.

While sports may bring people together, the world of international sport is not without its controversies. For instance, it can be difficult for women and minority athletes to find a fair playing field, and the issue of gender identity can pose challenges.

Even so, many people feel that sport has a significant power to foster positive change in the world. For this reason, the United Nations has designated 6 April as the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace.

The 2026 Asian Games, which will be held in Aichi prefecture and Nagoya city from September 19 to October 4, are a big deal for Japan. It is the next opportunity for the country to further deepen exchange within Asia following the 2020 Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games, and also a chance to showcase the sports that can connect the continent.

Picture finals that come down to the last second, young stars sprinting into the track with nothing to lose, and the crowd roaring as a team lifts its flag in celebration. That’s what you can expect at the next Asian Games, when fans will watch dozens of events that pulse with rivalry and the promise that all those hours of practice will pay off.

Equestrian sports first made their appearance at the Asian Games in 1982 in New Delhi (IND), and at the following editions in Bangkok (1986) and Seoul, South Korea (1986). They did not feature at the 11th Asian Games in Beijing, China (2008), but were reintroduced for the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The OCA Board of Directors has approved a list of 11 esports titles to be contested at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, a total of four more than in Hangzhou, including variations of League of Legends and PUBG. India — led by defending champion Pavan Kampelli — is expected to compete in these events, which also include Arena of Valor Asian Games version and FIFA Online 4.

GL events is proud to be a trusted partner of AINAGOC for the planning and delivery of the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya. Together, we will ensure that the Games provide unforgettable experiences for athletes, visitors and the communities they serve.

BERKELEY – University of California Director of Athletics Jim Knowlton has announced his retirement effective July 1. Chancellor Lyons will be announcing the new leadership structure for Cal Athletics in the coming weeks.

Adapting to life after retiring from sport can be challenging for elite athletes, particularly those who have a strong identity associated with their sports. Research shows that these individuals may experience poor adjustment to their retirement, and this can have negative consequences on their mental health.

This is especially true for those who have a less than ideal end to their sporting career. For example, a wrestler named Frank Molinaro was confident that the Olympics would be his last competitive year but when the Olympic games were postponed and he wasn’t selected to compete again, he decided to retire.

For other athletes, their retirement can be much more abrupt and unexpected. The women’s soccer star Alex Morgan, for example, announced her retirement midseason in 2024 with the San Diego Wave.

It’s important for those athletes who are considering retiring to check with their National or International governing body to see if they have any specific requirements that must be met. For example, USADA requires athletes who wish to re-enroll in the testing pool after retiring to complete a return to competition questionnaire and comply with all Whereabouts requirements. This will help ensure that a return to competitive activity doesn’t violate anti-doping rules. Athletes are encouraged to discuss this with their coach and therapist before making any decisions to ensure they can transition smoothly.