Month: August 2025

When a sports moment goes viral, it captures the world’s imagination, builds bridges to new fans and creates global communities of team loyalty. Whether it’s an unbelievable goal or a heartwarming tribute, viral moments turn athletes into legends and create buzz that stays with fans for days, months or even years.

But the best viral sports moments don’t just inspire awe, they also capture the lighter side of sport. These wacky, head-scratching antics make the world laugh and build a connection with fans that transcends the field or stadium. These micro-moments can be a big boost for sports brands as well, as they help generate conversation and keep journalists, and their audience, talking about the team.

There have been many memorable moments during the 2024 Olympics, from a casual swimmer’s epic win to a darts legend’s eloquent tribute. But the most viral Olympic moment of the summer may have come from a man with no bling, no hat and only his shooting glasses. Turkish shooter Yusuf Dikec’s iconic stance in the 10-meter air pistol made him one of the most talked-about Olympians this year.

The 2024 Olympics also gave us Rachael Gunn’s breakdancing antics, which had spectators and judges scratching their heads and late-night hosts having a field day. It’s also a great reminder that the line between sport and entertainment continues to blur in our society and that it’s becoming more important for teams to embrace these opportunities and generate engagement.

Esports tournaments take video games to the next level — think of it like a gamer’s version of an athletic championship. Professional players compete in world-class arenas or stream online to massive audiences, often with the backing of global brands and sponsorships.

From breaking news and in-depth match analysis to exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes content, we bring you the stories that shape the esports scene.

Whether it’s a top player in a huge League of Legends or Dota 2 tournament, an up-and-coming team in the burgeoning fighting game scene, or a controversial CEO making sexually explicit comments, we’ll bring you the stories that make the headlines in esports.

Taking the World Stage

Despite still being in its early stages, esports have quickly risen to prominence and are now regarded as one of the most popular forms of entertainment around the globe. The competitions are backed by major video game companies and attract millions of viewers, with the biggest events boasting a prize pool that can reach $40 million or more.

The most popular games include multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooter, fighting, card and real-time strategy (RTS) titles. Some tournaments are dedicated to specific titles, such as the annual League of Legends World Championship, the Dota 2 International tournament and the fighting game-specific Evolution Championship Series (EVO).

Leading the way in the field of esports are iconic teams such as T1 led by Faker, Fnatic with three major League of Legends titles to their name, and s1mple, who won multiple Counter-Strike championships for Team Secret. Those at the very top of their field have achieved legendary status and can earn multi-million dollar paychecks from their sponsorship deals with global brands such as Coca-Cola, Red Bull and Logitech.

International sports are global events that bring together people from all over the world to cheer for their local team. In many countries, sports are a major part of local culture and it can be a great way to experience it, especially as a foreign student or intern. International sports can also bring out the best in people, for example, the incredible unity of the crowd when a team scores and the country goes wild!

Throughout history, sport has served as an instrument for political change. It has brought nations together through war, helped promote peace and reconciliation, and promoted social development and equality. But it can also be a source of conflict, as in the case of the 1936 Olympic Games when Adolf Hitler refused to recognize Jesse Owens’ gold medals. Hosting international sporting events can also bring prestige and profits to global sports organizations and repressive regimes. These gains often come at the expense of human rights and justice.

International law has been developed to address the unique issues that sports and athletes face. International sports are regulated by international bodies such as the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which oversees the organization of the Olympics, and by international sports federations, non-governmental organizations responsible for the regulation of their own sport at the international level. These IFs cooperate with the IOC and are recognized by it. For more on the legal aspects of international sports, see James A.R. Nafziger, Transnational law of sports and IFs; David McArdle, Sports law: theory and practice; and Dimitrios Panagiotopoulos, Sports law: a European dimension.

The push for gender equality in sports is moving in the right direction but it won’t happen overnight. Women still receive less coverage on TV and the media. Women athletes are often referred to more regarding their appearance and personal lives than their sporting achievements. This objectification reinforces stereotyped gender roles and limits female sports participation.

While educational programmes and progressive policies have helped to advance gender equality, there is still work to do in terms of equal opportunities for girls and women in sport. A recent study found that girls from schools where people of color are the majority have access to only 67% of the athletic opportunities that boys enjoy. This is a result of intentional discrimination that is not limited to specific conferences, competitive levels or geographic regions.

This discrimination is exacerbated by current politics in the United States and elsewhere. In 2021 and 2022, over 300 bills were introduced in state legislatures across the United States, 86% of which focused specifically on transgender women and girls (Nakajima and Hanzhang Jin, 2022). These laws prevent access to healthcare, require students to use the bathroom of the sex they were assigned at birth, and prohibit girls and women from participating in their chosen sport.

This article uses data from the Special Eurobarometer 525 (2022) to generate a synthetic indicator of attitudes towards gender equality in sports (ATGEQS). The analysis identifies regional differences in ATGEQS, and finds that support for gender equality in sport is higher in countries with more liberal political cultures, where people are more likely to have supported feminist movements, and where rapid social change has not been framed as an affront to cultural or national identity.

After a hectic free agency period and the end of the regular season, teams will begin to reshape their rosters in Green Bay this week with the 2025 NFL draft. The first round takes place Thursday, with rounds two through seven on Friday and Saturday. Each team will have 10 minutes to make its selection.

The first round features some intriguing fantasy options at a variety of positions, with a mix of rookies and veteran stars. Running backs Travis Hunter and Puka Nacua both offer a ton of upside in a Green Bay offense that will be under new HC Liam Coen’s direction, while the top-rated overall pick in this round, wide receiver Ladd McConkey, is another potential breakout name in Year 2. Meanwhile, 2024’s No. 1 overall fantasy pickup, Ja’Marr Chase, has a high floor and ceiling on his side as well.

A big-bodied defensive tackle, Mason Graham (Michigan) is another college star who could see a quick rise in the league this season. He’s a true power player who can win in a multitude of ways, whether it’s using his speed to evade blocks or his strength to overpower offensive linemen.

Last year, Christian McCaffrey and Tyreek Hill were consensus top-two picks at their respective positions, but each experienced a disappointing and unpredictable season. McCaffrey was plagued by injuries and busted to a surprisingly low point in points, while Hill struggled through a sprained ankle and finished as only the No. 59 fantasy RB.

ANY sincere fan will, at times, display what may seem like an inordinate amount of emotional attachment and angst over their favorite sport and/or celebrity. Whether they’re yelling at the ref, still mourning Brangelina or defending themselves from autograph hounds, every fan carries a little bit of sports celebrity gossip inside them. From athletes starring in movies to musicians reppin’ their team, the crossover between sports and celebrities is bigger than ever. Get the scoop on everything from an NBA star’s relationship with a WNBA star to a former WWE superstar’s Coldplay cheating drama and more.

This week we have the latest on a sexy powerlifter’s incredible transformation into a world champion, as well as a former WWE star’s Coldplay cheating drama and surfing star Billy Kemper’s gruesome injury. Plus, WNBA star Suni Lee and her NBA player boyfriend OG Anunoby make their relationship official, and Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn discusses her career and groin injury. It’s all in the gallery below.

The qualification systems of the various world football confederations vary in terms of structure and challenges, but all serve one purpose – identifying the best teams to compete at the next FIFA World Cup. The qualifying tournaments, known as qualifiers, take place in the years leading up to a World Cup and involve teams playing each other twice on home and away dates to determine who makes it into the final tournament.

With the 2026 tournament in Qatar just a year away, international qualifiers are kicking into gear around the globe. While some countries are clear favorites to qualify for the finals, others are in a tight race to earn their spot.

In Europe, the qualification process soft-launched in March and will get underway in full force this September. The 54 European teams will be divided into 12 groups, six of which will have five nations and four that have four. The winners of each group will qualify automatically, with the runners-up entering an inter-confederation play-off alongside four Nations League teams.

The qualifiers feature every country that has a FIFA-recognised national association. That includes non-members like Gibraltar, Guam and New Caledonia. However, some federations opt out of the continental qualifiers for a variety of reasons, often linked to political instability or the fact that they haven’t got suitable stadiums. If that is the case, a play-off on neutral ground with extra time and penalties if needed can be played if FIFA deems it possible within the coordinated international match calendar.

Athlete endorsements can elevate marketing campaigns by connecting brands with their audience in a powerful, credible way. Fans trust athletes to share honest opinions about products and services, and that credibility translates into brand loyalty and purchase influence.

Selecting the right athlete requires a deep understanding of the brand’s core values and ethos. For example, an athlete known for social activism may be a natural fit with sustainability initiatives. The more an athlete’s personal beliefs align with a company’s ethos, the more authentic the endorsement feels to consumers.

Endorsement contracts typically include appearance and content production requirements, licensing rights, and a variety of regulatory compliance benchmarks. Legal teams must support their clients in tracking deliverables through documented checklists and digital contract dashboards to prevent missed deadlines, which could trigger clawback clauses or reputational damage. Moreover, they must ensure that contracts provide for a flexible structure that includes a mix of fixed fees and performance incentives.

Athletes must also clearly disclose their relationships in online advertising, as well as adhere to strict authenticity standards. Attorneys can ensure that these protocols are included in contracts and that athletes are able to review, approve, or reject content before it goes live. Non-compliance can lead to fines and legal action from the Federal Trade Commission.

Formula 1 is an unrivalled global spectacle of speed, strategy and engineering excellence. It’s a sport that transcends mere racing; it is a global event that connects fans worldwide with the drama unfolding on the track through live timing and commentary. One of the core elements that distinguishes F1 from all other motorsport is its renowned live ranking system, which determines the season’s champions.

To win the Drivers’ Championship a driver must score points in all races, whether they finish first or last. A drivers’ tally is determined by the number of points they earn in each Grand Prix and Sprint race, with the highest amount awarded to the winner. Similarly, to win the Constructors’ Championship, a team must have its two drivers finish within the top 10 of every race.

The F1 world is an incredibly complex place to be with thousands of parts forming some of the fastest and most advanced cars in the world. It is governed by strict regulations, with the FIA controlling everything from engine size and component usage to aerodynamics and testing rules. It is these rules that drive many of the decisions and strategies that play a key role in shaping how F1 standings look. From rule changes boosting overtaking opportunities to significant technological advancements changing the speed landscape, pivotal shifts continually alter rankings across the entire field.

In the world of sports, technology is transforming player and fan experiences as well as enhancing training and stadium operations. These trends are driving the growth of sports technology at a global level.

Athletes are using wearable devices to track their physical performance, while fans engage with their favorite teams on digital platforms and social media. This digitalization of the sports industry has amplified fan engagement and forged new opportunities for athlete branding and revenue generation.

AI and machine learning are enabling more efficient analysis of data and statistics for sports teams, which can help improve team performance and build winning strategies. For instance, AI-powered video analytics enables coaches to identify patterns in the opposing teams’ play and develop strategic game plans. It also helps scout talent by analyzing gameplay footage and identifying player attributes.

In addition, virtual and augmented reality technologies are revolutionizing the fan experience with immersive broadcasts and interactive experiences. For example, Hawk-eye is a computer vision system that tracks the trajectory of a ball visually and displays a record of its statistically most likely path as a moving image on the screen during a live game.

Moreover, advanced data analytics and AI systems are empowering teams to maximize their performance in sports through predictive outcome modeling and intelligent crowd management algorithms. They are also helping to reduce maintenance costs and enhance stadium security with smart monitoring systems. Meanwhile, cloud-based analytics platforms offer flexibility and scalability.