Month: October 2025

Esports tournaments take video games to the next level – they’re like gamer versions of athletic championships that attract millions of viewers and global brands. Whether they’re played in packed arenas or streamed online, they’re full of high-stakes competition and the best players battling for glory and cash prizes.

While esports have been around since the early days of gaming, they have grown into an industry in their own right. The biggest esports tournaments draw millions of spectators, with the top teams competing for prize pools in the tens of millions of dollars.

For many, the most prestigious event is the League of Legends World Championship. This event is known for its nailbiting matches, which have produced some of the most emotional moments in esports history. Other major esports tournaments include Dota 2’s The International and the FPS-specific Intel Extreme Masters.

In addition to the big esports tournaments, there are a number of smaller events that don’t receive as much attention but are just as important for the development of esports and the growth of professional gamers. These smaller tournaments are often run by third-party organizations, including ESL, BLAST Premier and PGL.

Established in 2004, esports organization Fnatic has made its name with dominance across a variety of titles. Their wins at the first League of Legends World Championship and three major Counter-Strike titles have cemented their place as one of the most successful esports teams in the world.

The world of international sports is one of the most recognizable aspects of any culture, and watching local teams play is a great way to become part of a city while studying or interning abroad. In fact, attending a sporting event can help you feel at home in your new host country, especially when that goal is scored and the crowd goes wild!

The concept of international sport dates back to ancient Greece, where city states would travel to Olympia to compete in competitions. The games were a way to temporarily put aside internal struggles and focus on the competition at hand, which is an early form of diplomacy and peacemaking. As the world became more interconnected, sport went global. In 1882, the first international cricket match was held and the following year saw the formation of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA). As transportation and communication improved, more and more events took place between teams from different countries and in a variety of locations.

Aside from a boost in tourism, hosting a major international sporting event can also raise a city’s or nation’s profile on the world stage. The Olympic bid process, for example, asks hosts to show how they can improve the city’s infrastructure and promote its cultural heritage. Those who lobby for such events can have a significant impact and, in some cases, even influence the results.

While international sports can have many positive effects, they are not without problems. For instance, corruption within sport is widespread and can result in athletes being exploited by their governments. In addition, the power and financial clout of the industry can make it difficult to challenge unethical practices. For these reasons, AIFS Abroad encourages you to be aware of issues surrounding international sports and to consider ethical considerations before supporting or participating in a sporting event.

Gender inequality has been a problem since the dawn of society, with numerous historical records showing that women have encountered inequities in their careers, educational institutions and households. Sports are no exception. The perceptions of physical strength and dominance typically associated with men manifest themselves in violence against women, exploitation, non-inclusion and discrimination in the sport world.

While there has been some progress towards gender equality in the sporting world, it is important to understand that these gains must be sustained to achieve true parity. This can only be done by addressing structural and socio-cultural factors, including internalised sexism, a lack of awareness on the issue and poor gender equality policies.

One of the main challenges faced by female athletes is that they are still underpaid compared to their male counterparts. In fact, a recent study found that on average, male football players make forty times more money than their female counterparts. This has led to some vocal female athletes, such as Megan Rapinoe, captain of the US women’s national football team, to fight for equal pay.

The goal of gender parity in sports must be pursued in a strategic manner by sporting organisations, governing bodies like the International Olympic Committee and collaborative organisations, as well as media channels that support these initiatives. This is a crucial step toward eliminating the myths and stereotypes surrounding sports, and it will help to create an environment where women can thrive in their chosen sport.

The NFL draft is an annual event that pairs college players with new teams. It blends strategy, a spectacle and intense fan engagement but behind the high stakes lies a well-defined process guided by specific rules.

The 2025 draft begins Thursday evening and will see 257 players hear their names called over the next three days. The BBC will provide live text coverage of the first round of picks, followed by rounds two through four on Friday and then rounds five through seven on Saturday.

There are plenty of storylines to follow, not least the race for the No 1 pick, where the Tennessee Titans are expected to select Miami quarterback Cam Ward. The 22-year-old threw for the most touchdown passes and the second most passing yards in college football this season. He could be a big-name addition for the Titans, who lost back-up Mason Rudolph in free agency.

During the selection process, each team has 10 minutes to make its pick. If a team doesn’t announce its choice within that timeframe, the next team can take the pick. Alternatively, the original team can trade its pick to another club.

Teams can also forfeit their draft choices for a number of reasons, including salary cap accounting errors or breaking the league’s anti-tampering policy. For example, the San Francisco 49ers have a fifth-round pick they’ve voluntarily forfeited due to a payroll accounting error in 2022. In addition, the league awards compensatory picks to teams that lose key free agents.

About Combat Sports

The world of combat sports—from boxing and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) to judo, karate, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu—offers a unique combination of physical challenge, mental discipline, and strategic depth. Each discipline has its own distinct techniques, strategies, and cultural significance. Yet all share a common core of athleticism, tradition, and human endeavor.

Why do People take up Combat Sports?

The reasons for getting into combat sports are as diverse as the participants themselves. Some individuals are drawn to the thrill of competition and the sense of achievement that comes with winning, while others see fighting as a form of self-defense. Many athletes find that training in combat sports teaches them to be physically and mentally strong, helping them to overcome fear and achieve their goals. Others are drawn to the cultural heritage and philosophies that underlie combat sports like karate, taekwondo, and judo, and view participation as an opportunity to connect with their roots.

While some combat athletes experience injuries, most are able to avoid serious injury by following rigorous training regimens and participating in safe competitions. Injuries occur when competitors are exposed to high levels of stress, and the most frequent injuries include fractures, abrasions, dislocations, sprains, and concussions. Data on competition health problems (HPs) come from questionnaires completed seven days post-competition, and use the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Centre Questionnaire on Health Problems 2 as a basis for calculation of incidence rates per 100 minutes of exposure (HPIRME). Anxiety is also a common HP reported by combat sport athletes.

The next time the world’s best NHL players lace up their skates to compete in Olympic ice hockey, they may find the stakes higher than ever. The rink might be the same size as usual but the pace will feel a little more frenetic. That’s because, like the rest of the Olympic experience, ice hockey at the Olympics is always evolving.

Until recently, the Games have used a smaller international-sized ice surface but for 2010 and 2022, organizers will use a standard NHL-sized rink, which provides better sightlines for fans and TV viewers around the world. The change will also ensure that the teams are on equal footing when it comes to physical play.

Fighting is not allowed in Olympic ice hockey and players who willingly participate in a fight are penalized for the offense and could be ejected from the game. A team may not have more than 11 players dressed for a game, and the roster must be submitted at least 24 hours before the start of the contest. Each player must wear a helmet and face mask. Only one manager/coach is permitted on the bench at any time.

The Olympic ice hockey tournament has produced some of the sport’s most famous moments and continues to be a staple in the calendars of devoted hockey fans. From the Miracle on Ice to Finland’s gold medal in 1998, and from Dominik Hasek’s imperious goaltending to Canada’s re-ignition of their golden run in 2002 and beyond, the sport’s unique rhythms have made the Olympic stage an ideal setting for some of the greatest hockey stories of all time.

Athlete endorsements are an essential aspect of sports marketing, enabling athletes to align their personal brands with commercial partners. Athletes have extensive reach and trust among their audiences, making them powerful influencers that can directly impact purchasing decisions. This influence and credibility can lead to a wide variety of benefits for brands, from boosting sales and influencing cultural trends to building brand loyalty and enhancing public perception.

One of the key elements of athlete endorsements is ensuring authenticity. To foster this, the brand should encourage the athlete to participate in discussions around creative direction and campaign goals, resulting in a natural alignment between the athlete’s message and the brand’s values. Additionally, using collaborative content, like day-in-the-life formats or authentic testimonials, can strengthen the bond between athlete and audience.

Lastly, brands should leverage digital platforms to maximize reach and engagement with fans. This can include social media campaigns that feature the athlete’s content, as well as live events promoting the brand and athlete together. Athletes can also participate in virtual and augmented reality (AR/VR) experiences to connect with their audience on a deeper level.

Additionally, athletes can be a catalyst for conversations around social causes, providing an opportunity for the brand to tap into their empathy and advocacy. Finally, the long-term success of athlete endorsements can be measured through metrics like conversion rates and sales uplift, allowing the brand to track the impact on both consumers and their image. Ultimately, focusing on authenticity, engaging with fans, and measuring impact can help brands evolve their approach to athlete endorsements.

The 2025 World Athletics Championship was held in Tokyo, Japan between 13-21 September 2025. The ten-day event was the twentieth World Championships in track and field since its inception in 1983. The event has seen the best athletes from around the globe compete in a variety of disciplines spanning sprints, tactical distance races and dramatic field events.

The final day of the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo was a true spectacle of speed and strength with a host of stand-out performances. There were world and championship records broken across the day, and a number of historic firsts.

One of the most exciting events of the day was the women’s 4x100m relay, which saw the American team win at a canter. The American team had a lead of just under two seconds from the first leg, with the Jamaicans and Great Britain close behind. The American lead was then extended to a commanding seven second advantage over the rest of the pack.

There was a moment on the opening night of the World Athletics Championship in Tokyo when the bottled-up frustration of missing out on a full-fat Tokyo Olympics – with crowds and fun and unbridled joy – suddenly seemed to be unleashed. It came at the end of the women’s 10,000m, when the sellout crowd roared as Olympic and world champion Beatrice Chebet took off with Italy’s Nadia Battocletti in pursuit like Wile E Coyote chasing Roadrunner. It was a stunning race and it will be remembered for its tense finish.

Having a strong team behind you in Formula 1 can make all the difference. The championship for the teams, called the Constructors’ Championship, runs alongside the Drivers’ Championship and the teams battle it out for their own trophies (the teams that win the title get to work out of garage space closest to the pit lane).

There are some key strategies that come into play when it comes to winning the Constructors’ Championship, including ensuring that both drivers score points (although the team can only be awarded one title per season). There is also a countback process at the end of the season, allowing for the smallest of margins to separate the bottom of the table. For example, in 2014 Sauber won the championship by three points over Caterham, thanks to the latter’s single 11th place finish compared to Sauber’s two.

F1 standings

In order to win the championship, drivers must earn a minimum of 65 points across ten races and a sprint race. The winner of each race receives 25 points, with the next ten places gaining points on a sliding scale up to 10th place in which each driver scores one point. There are also points for sprint races, which are a third of the length of the Grand Prix, with eight drivers eligible to score. Drivers can also pick up additional points for finishing higher in qualifying than their team mate.

Social media is influencing sports in profound ways, from how fans connect with teams and athletes to how they interact and share content. The intimacy that exists between fans and athletes today is unparalleled, creating a powerful connection and driving fan loyalty. Athletes are now able to draw new audiences, many of whom weren’t previously sports fans, into the sport through their authentic social media content. Hershey Company capitalized on this insight when they created a surprise and delight campaign with WNBA star Angel Reese, and NFL star Isaac Rochell leverages TikTok to showcase his off-field adventures, from family moments to business ventures. This authentic content attracts fans who connect with the athlete’s personality, values and missions and remain dedicated to following his career.

Through social media, athletes can engage directly with fans and build a deeper relationship with them year-round. They can promote their sponsors, share behind-the-scenes moments, host Q&A sessions and more. Athletes also have the ability to advocate for social causes and engage in activism, further bolstering their personal brands while promoting positive change.

In addition to building two-way communication with fans and engaging audiences, social media is also a key tool for expanding sports revenue opportunities. For example, when teams and players create social media Stories or Reels that highlight player experiences and activities, this increases brand awareness and drives ticket sales, merchandise purchases and sponsorships. It is also a critical tool for sharing real-time sports updates with global audiences and leveraging live video streaming to bring events and games to life.