Month: August 2025

A lightning-fast team sport that has drawn crowds to Olympic arenas for decades, ice hockey is one of the most exciting events at the Winter Games. It’s also one of the most popular events, with men’s and women’s ice hockey winning the most medals of any event at the Olympics. Canada is the king of both, having won 23 of the 30 men’s gold medals in Olympic history and 11 of the 20 women’s medals since the first appearance of the event at the 1920 Games in Antwerp.

From 1920 to 1952, teams from Canada dominated the men’s tournament before the Soviet Union entered the game in 1956 and began to dominate as well, winning seven of the next eight gold medals until the 1980 surprise victory at Lake Placid known as the Miracle on Ice. Canada then went 50 years without winning a gold medal, but reclaimed the title in 2002 in Salt Lake City.

On February 12, with the U.S. trailing Sweden 2-1 in the third period of the semifinals, a team captain came out on the ice to talk to his players. He told them that they could win if they fought hard, and they did, tying the game with less than a minute to play and eventually sending it into overtime.

In the ensuing overtime, a slap shot from Sidney Crosby set off a wild celebration in the American zone as the team won its second consecutive gold medal. That final game was notable for being the first to feature NHL players, who had been excluded from the Olympics until 1998, when they were allowed to compete in a tournament organized by the International Ice Hockey Federation.

Combat Sports are a group of athletic competitions that involve forced physical contact between two opponents, usually through striking, grappling, or a combination. Examples include boxing, professional wrestling, kickboxing, judo, karate, and taekwondo and the interconnected sport of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA).

The practice of combat sports goes back to ancient civilizations where it was used as military training, entertainment, and a way to measure strength and skill. These early contests were often infused with cultural significance, serving as rites of passage or tests of courage and bravery. Over time, they evolved alongside human civilization to adapt to changing societal norms, technological advancements, and cultural exchanges. This evolution shaped the diverse landscape of competitive fighting that we witness today.

Modern combat sports are governed by strict rules and monitored by referees, judges, and medical personnel to ensure safety for participants and spectators alike. The specialized techniques of fighting sports help develop an athlete’s physical and mental fortitude, allowing them to successfully navigate the intense emotional pressure of competition while maintaining control and confidence in their abilities.

For many, this is what makes the allure of Combat Sports so irresistible. The awe-inspiring feats of athleticism and the legendary names that stand in the pantheon of history like Muhammad Ali, Ronda Rousey, or Conor McGregor captivate audiences around the world. Despite the naysayers and those that would inhibit consensual activities like these, these types of sports are not only a safe and healthy way to fight but also teach practical self-defense skills.

The international qualifiers are a key part of every football tournament, allowing teams from around the world to fight for a place in a major event. The format of qualifying tournaments has changed over time, but the overall concept remains the same – teams are grouped into zones that roughly correspond to continents and then compete for a set number of berths within the zone.

The top team in each group qualifies for the finals automatically, while runners-up enter an inter-confederation play-off for a further four places at the tournament. Each of the groups will contain a team from each of FIFA’s five pots, but there are some restrictions on who can be drawn against each other and when.

Europe will have 16 places at the finals, Africa will have a minimum of nine and Asia eight with two berths from North/Central America and Oceania also available to winners of inter-confederation play-offs. The draw for the second phase of World Cup qualifying will take place on 28 March.

The next stage sees the 14 group winners from Nations League A through to D and the top three teams in each of the remaining OFC groups ranked one through to seven based on their FIFA rankings enter the knockout stages. The matches in this phase are played over two legs and ties are decided by head-to-head comparison, goal difference and a penalty shootout if necessary. Occasionally a tie cannot be resolved by either method so if the scores are level after 90 minutes extra time is used and then penalties if required.

Sports are exciting to watch, but they’re even better in person. Whether it’s roaring along with the crowd at a World Cup match, feeling the whine of Formula 1 engines in your chest or seeing the puck hit the back of the net in sudden death overtime, there’s nothing quite like experiencing international sports in person. This year, there are a number of must-see events that will take place around the world.

The first international sporting event was the Ancient Olympic Games in 776 B.C. Athletes from city states of Ancient Greece traveled to Olympia to compete, setting a precedent for the international sporting events we know today. At that time, athletes were considered amateurs, meaning they primarily competed for the love of sport and not for financial gains or fame.

Since then, the Olympics has grown into a full-blown international spectacle, with the Modern Olympic Games beginning in 1896. The modern Olympics are held every four years and feature the best athletes from each country, as well as a wide variety of sports.

Other major international sports include the FIFA World Cup, the Ryder Cup (men’s golf), the Australian Open (tennis), the Calgary Stampede (rodeo), Giro d’Italia (cycling), and the America’s Cup (sailing). There are also regional multi-sport events that cater to a specific continent or region. These include the Asian Games, African Games, Pan American Games, and European Championships. Lastly, there is the Special Olympics, which features able-bodied and para sport events for people with intellectual disabilities.

The Asian Games are the biggest multi-sport event in Asia. They are held every four years and feature 45 sports and disciplines. All nations and regions affiliated with the Olympic Council of Asia can participate. The Games were first held in 1951, shortly after World War II ended. The aim was to reestablish bonds among Asian countries through sport and contribute to everlasting peace in the region.

The 2026 edition will be hosted by Aichi Prefecture and Nagoya City. It will be the third time that Japan has hosted the Games, following Tokyo 1958 and Hiroshima 1994. The Organising Committee AINAGOC is aiming to create the best Asian Games, fostering cooperation and friendship across Asia and leaving a legacy that will help enhance regional sports exchange.

The organisers have prepared a contingency plan to evacuate athletes housed in the Athletes’ Village in case of tsunami, typhoon or any other natural disasters. They will be able to depend on Japanese authorities for their experience in dealing with such emergencies, said officials. Besides, the organisers have also informed the 45 competing nations of the details of temporary accommodation, which will be on a floating village near the Sano International Cricket Ground. The games will be held from September 19 to October 4 in Aichi and Nagoya. This period is considered the peak of typhoon season in Japan. The organisers will also provide shuttle buses between competition venues and public transport stations. They will also implement measures to curb private cars around the Games-related facilities, and manage travel demand.

For many elite athletes, retirement is not an option but a requirement when their bodies give out. Others, however, choose to hang up their spikes and move on. In either case, it can be a difficult transition for many athletes. The good news is that there are ways to ease the blow, such as second careers in business, coaching and politics or even philanthropy. Many retired athletes also endorse products and find a comfort in being part of the public eye. For example, former WNBA star Tom Brady is a best-selling author and TV personality.

The financial transition can be especially difficult for some. Athletes often spend thousands of dollars on elite training and equipment, forgo regular employment and train around the clock. This can leave them broke, with some even resorting to food stamps and credit card debt in the aftermath of their career. It’s no wonder that many retirees struggle to identify with something other than their sport. According to a recent scoping review published by British Elite Athletes Association (BEAA), the majority of athletes interviewed reported feeling unprepared for life after their career.

For athletes like Team GB swimmer Alice Dearing, who knew she would retire if she failed to qualify for the Paris Olympics, it’s understandable that she feels emotionally and psychologically unprepared for her impending departure. It’s also true for Olympic gold medallists who have decided to do a U-turn on retirement, such as Tom Daley, who came back from two years away from diving in 2021 to win silver in the men’s synchronised 10m platform event.

Keeping up with sports technology trends isn’t just about staying modern. It’s about finding solutions that improve safety, efficiency and experiences at your facility. It also means choosing innovations that add value to your bottom line. For example, using wearable technology to track performance data is an easy solution for small teams and high schools that can easily create new revenue streams by offering data-driven training programs and partnerships with teams.

The use of augmented reality (AR) is another trend that brings the sports industry closer to the fan experience, especially when it comes to virtual attendance opportunities. This technology allows fans to see real-time player statistics, betting odds and route maps on top of the field of play for an even more immersive experience.

Similarly, the integration of AI into sport analytics is revolutionizing the way athletes monitor their performance and health. The ability to track biometrics like heart rate and speed can help coaches and players identify injury risks and create more personalized training programs. In addition, predictive analysis software can be used to predict team success and optimize strategies.

For large stadiums and arenas, smart tech can be used to streamline security and operations. For example, geofencing can be used to prevent ingress and egress while asset tracking can reduce lost items. These systems can help minimize operational costs and increase the effectiveness of security staff. This is one of the simplest and most effective technology trends that can be implemented at all levels of sport.

From humble beginnings to massive global events, esports is changing the way we think about gaming. The competitions, or tournaments, feature professional gamers competing in video games in organized matches with prizes and recognition. These events can be played online or in-person and attract large audiences that rival traditional sports.

Esports can be organized into a regular season and playoffs, with teams earning points or rankings based on their performance. The top ranked teams then face off in championships for the ultimate title. The leagues that organize these matches set standardized rules, which ensure fair competition and help teams develop strategies for victory.

One of the biggest esports tournaments is The International, which features 16 teams playing Dota 2 for massive prize pools. These tournaments are often crowdfunded by players who pay a fee for in-game items that can be exchanged for a ticket to the event.

Some of the most famous esports players include Faker, the legendary mid-laner for Team Liquid in League of Legends, and s1mple, a world champion player in Counter-Strike. Esports also boasts a large roster of coaches and managers who help guide teams through the toughest times.

As the popularity of esports continues to grow, universities have started to offer bachelor’s degrees specifically focused on the industry. The University of North Dakota, for example, is the first in the US to offer an interdisciplinary degree that covers kinesiology, communications, and business to prepare students for careers in esports.

For golf fans and casual sports fans tuning into The Masters, it’s impossible to miss the massive leaderboards dotted around Augusta National. But if you’re not familiar with this tournament’s scoring system, it can be difficult to understand what the red and black numbers mean next to each player’s name on the leaderboard.

The Masters leaderboard uses an over-under method of displaying scoring, meaning players’ starting scores relative to par are displayed to the left of their name. Then, a players’ cumulative score to par is placed subsequently after each hole under the column for that hole, giving a picture of how they gained and lost shots against par throughout their round.

It’s been a thrilling third round of The Masters with Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau trading the lead on multiple occasions. But the Northern Irishman has maintained a three-shot advantage going into the final day of action.

3:56 p.m.: McIlroy hits a towering iron into the green at the deceptively tough par-three sixth, then makes the putt to move to 12 under. DeChambeau, meanwhile, flirts with Rae’s Creek on the second hole and is forced to lay-up, missing the resulting two-putt from 20 feet.

McIlroy regains the lead on the 14th with a brilliant short wedge into the green, leaving himself six feet for an eagle. But a double bogey at the par-5 15th sends him into a tie with Corey Conners, Scottie Scheffler and Ludvig Aberg at 10-under.

The US Open is the fourth and final Grand Slam of the tennis season, and the world’s best players descend on Flushing Meadows for two weeks of intense competition. The tournament is played on hard courts at the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, New York City. The US Open is the only major tennis event that features men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles competition. The US Open also features a host of special events, from children’s and wheelchair tennis to a series of “Super Saturdays” that feature the top four men’s and women’s seeds fighting for a place in the semifinals.

This year’s US Open begins on Sunday, August 24, following the lead of other Grand Slam tournaments and moving the men’s and women’s first rounds to the opening three days of the competition. The full schedule for the first week is available here.

It’s worth noting that scheduling is a bit different at the US Open than at other Grand Slam tournaments, as players are scheduled for Day and Night sessions on certain courts. Additionally, the tournament makes a daily decision whether to schedule a match in Arthur Ashe Stadium or Louis Armstrong Stadium, and this isn’t known until a player’s schedule is announced.

One of the best days to see a lot of action is Thursday of the second week (which this year happens to be August 28). Admission to the grounds is free for all on that day, so you can see players practicing before their first matches of the tournament, and even attend some doubles semi-finals. This is also US Open Community Day, and you’ll get to see some of the best juniors in the world as well as incredible collegiate players.