The Importance of International Sports

International sports are events that pit two or more countries against each other in a sport, whether it is soccer, basketball, tennis, baseball, or golf. These events are governed by rules set out by international federations, which are independent organisations responsible for the administration of their sports at the international level. The most famous of these is the FIFA World Cup, which draws fans from all over the world to watch teams compete for the coveted trophy (a little more than a foot tall).

Some governing bodies are based in a single country and have an exclusive right to administer their sport. For example, the Olympics is governed by the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which only recognises sports that meet certain criteria for being considered a “sport”. Some of these are physical activities such as football or rowing, while others are more ephemeral and intangible, like the honours awarded to the winners of a particular competition.

Governments worldwide support a significant amount of sporting activity. In the past, this support was justified as a means to promote military preparedness, but nowadays the argument often centres on the need for physical fitness and social inclusion. Regardless of the motivations for government intervention, the results of international sporting events can have profound impacts on nations and their culture.

Gender Equality in Sports

While Title IX and other social movements have fueled progress in closing the gender gap in sports, there are still many hurdles to be overcome. Women athletes need to be valued on the field of play and in front offices, and sports organizations must work with local governments and media outlets to create a more equitable environment. Funding programs, such as the WSF Travel & Training Fund and Scout Bassett Grant, can help women athletes with their sport-related expenses. The media can also promote a more balanced view of women in sports, and encourage gender equality through its coverage and commentary.

The issue of gender equality (GE) in sport is closely linked to the social construction of masculinity and femininity in society. Therefore, it is essential to understand and address the root causes of GE in sport. This article uses data from the Special Eurobarometer 525 (2022) to measure Europeans’ attitudes towards GE in sport and identify its main determinants by applying Fuzzy-Hybrid TOPSIS, Latent Profile Analysis, and Multinomial Logistic Regression.

In order to reach a true level of GE in sports, gender diversity needs to be introduced at the governance level, as research shows that more diverse organizations are more successful. Furthermore, the media must start to recognize women for their athletic achievements rather than simply for being women, and societal norms need to shift away from socializing young girls into gender stereotypes that portray them as passive and less capable than men.

NFL Draft 2025: Undervalued Rookies to Target

The ESPN Fantasy staff explains which players are undervalued and others who might be worth taking on risk.

The NFL draft is in full swing and the first few rounds offer plenty of potential sleepers at every position. But there are a lot of nuances to consider when deciding which rookies to target and when. The best strategy is to find the right balance between a safe pick and one that offers high upside.

With the first few big-name wide receivers off the board, it’s a good idea to target quarterback and tight end prospects. Fortunately, this team has already taken a running back and a tight end in the previous two rounds, so they should have enough value left for another star at those positions.

This team is loaded at the running back position, so you can go back-to-back for your starting lineups if you’re feeling brave. Shaheed Carter possesses the speed to break into the deep ranks and deliver plenty of spike weeks as a pass-catching threat. While he’s not a guaranteed top-10 RB, he can be an excellent flex play if he lands in the right spot with the Saints.

The other running back to target here is Rhamondre Stevenson, who possesses the versatility to thrive in a multiple-back offense and could make a strong case to be your starter at the position. He has a good chance to claim short-yardage work, and he also boasts the skills to make an impact on third-down snaps as well.

The Benefits of Combat Sports

Combat Sports are competitive fighting disciplines that involve striking and grappling in a regulated arena with a referee to enforce rules and ensure athlete safety. They are practiced for a variety of reasons including self-defense, fitness, cultural connection, stress relief, or as a way to challenge oneself and become better. The most popular of these are boxing and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) but there are many more, including traditional martial arts.

The roots of these sports can be traced back to ancient Egypt, Greece and India. They have evolved over the centuries, influenced by the culture of their time and embracing the need for structured ways to measure and improve skill and strength.

There are multiple modalities of combat sports with each having its own unique set of training, equipment and rules to minimize injury. For example, while boxing is score based and requires protective gear, wrestling is not scored and does not require the same level of equipment. Some, such as judo and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, are more focused on the culture of their origins while others like the UFC have incorporated many modern techniques and styles.

Combat Sports provide a full body workout that enhances strength, endurance and flexibility while helping to build a lean physique. They also have the potential to teach a wide range of skills that can be used in a real fight and improve reaction times, coordination and balance, concentration and self-discipline. It is important to consider these benefits before deciding whether to begin training in a combat sport.

Olympic Ice Hockey

One of the most intense and exciting sports around, Olympic ice hockey follows IIHF rules that differ slightly from those in the NHL. It is played on a rink measuring 197 feet by 98.5 feet and features three periods of play and six players per team. Players wear helmets and goalie masks, face-off circles are marked in the attacking zone (blue) and defending zones, and there’s a trapezoid behind the net that limits a skillful goalie’s ability to field pucks from any area of the boards.

Aside from these basic differences, the game is played in the same fashion as an NHL game. There are two teams, four periods and a shootout to settle ties. The Olympics are held every two years, with a maximum of 12 teams qualifying – eight through the IIHF World Ranking and three from qualifying tournaments. The top three teams in each group automatically advance to the quarterfinals, while the other eight teams compete in an elimination qualification round.

In the men’s game, a gold medal is coveted by nations across the globe. The United States has won three golds, including the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” upset of the Soviet Union. Canada is second with five, followed by Sweden and the Czech Republic.

The women’s game is equally competitive with three Canadians – Jayna Hefford, Hayley Wickenheiser and Caroline Ouellette – having won four medals each. Americans Angela Ruggiero and Jenny Potter have won three each.

Maximizing the Impact of Athlete Endorsement Contracts

Athlete endorsements are powerful marketing tools, helping brands boost sales and establish brand loyalty. However, athlete endorsements can be a challenge to manage and negotiate. Understanding the intricacies of athlete endorsement contracts and key components of these agreements can help brands maximize the impact of their partnerships.

The first step in establishing an effective partnership is selecting an athlete who genuinely aligns with the brand’s ethos and core values. This creates a sense of authenticity and cohesion in the campaign’s messaging, and fosters an emotional connection with consumers. For example, athletes like Serena Williams have transcended their sports to become cultural icons, embodying the notions of strength and empowerment. By partnering with beauty brands that emphasize these themes, this synergy creates a powerful endorsement that resonates with audiences.

Leveraging diverse platforms is also critical in maximizing the impact of athlete endorsements. For instance, social media allows athletes to connect with fans in a more intimate way by sharing personal stories and behind-the-scenes content. By doing so, fans feel a more genuine connection to the product and are more likely to trust the athlete’s recommendations.

Endorsement contracts should clearly define the duration of the agreement, compensation, and responsibilities of both parties. In addition, contracts should contain termination provisions that specify the circumstances under which either party can walk away from the contract. They should also include performance-based incentives, exclusivity clauses, and a dispute resolution process. These provisions ensure that both parties are aligned on expectations and responsibilities, preventing disputes from arising down the road.

World Athletics Championship Scrapbooks Revealed

The upcoming World Athletics Championship, which runs from September 13-21, is one of the three biggest sporting events on Earth, behind only the FIFA World Cup and the Summer Olympic Games. Yet, few people outside of track and field are aware that it exists. Last year, though, something happened that changed that: a huge buzz built up around Eugene, Oregon’s Hayward Field and the athletes competing there. It felt like a real thing, and it wasn’t just about the thrills and spills: there was an authenticity to the performances, a sense of being able to relate to these larger-than-life characters as they gave us their very best.

It was enough to make a casual observer, such as myself, become an athlete fan, for the first time ever. I was hooked. There was something about the precision, the chest-pumping celebrations after each jump and dash across the finish line that set this apart from other sports.

A few years ago, as part of a project to launch an archives department at World Athletics, someone from the sport’s governing body stumbled across some dusty scrapbooks dating back to 1983, the inaugural World Championships held in Helsinki. The rudimentary nature of the official documentation spoke volumes about the state of the sport at that time.

Formula 1 Standings

Formula 1 transcends mere racing; it’s a global spectacle of speed, strategy, and engineering excellence. But the sport is also intensely competitive, with teams vying for prestige and prize money based on the overall championship standings at the end of the season. These standings – calculated by aggregating race results over a worldwide calendar – require tremendous coordination and data management. And they’re constantly changing, influenced by everything from rule changes to technological developments that shift the way F1 drivers and cars perform.

The best team at the end of the season clinches the FIA World Constructors’ Championship Trophy. However, that’s often not enough to keep all F1 teams happy – especially in a sport where a fraction of a second can make the difference between victory and defeat. And that’s why internal team politics play a crucial role.

It’s not uncommon for the Drivers’ and Constructors’ Championship to go down to the wire. This has happened eight times in the sport’s history, including in 2007 when Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen beat Lewis Hamilton by a point at Interlagos.

The top 10 drivers earn points based on their position, with the winner earning 25 points. Drivers in second place receive 18 points, while those in third get 15 and so on down to the tenth-placed driver who scores just a single point. Up until the 2025 season, drivers could also earn an extra point for setting the fastest lap of the race.

The Masters Leaderboard

The Masters is one of golf’s most exciting tournaments. Each day, the field is whittled down until only one golfer remains, crowned champion and awarded the green jacket for the year’s best performance. The ebb and flow of scores keeps fans engaged, especially when players’ moves up or down the leaderboard are dramatic. With Augusta National’s course renowned for being tough on long hitters, birdies or eagles can change a golfer’s ranking in an instant.

A great example of this is Rory McIlroy’s round on Saturday, where he lost the lead to Bryson DeChambeau at the first and then regained it at the third after striking a towering iron into the par three and sinking a putt for birdie. This type of dynamic play is what makes the Masters so unique and exciting to watch.

While the front-runners remain close, the chasing pack is also impressively deep at The Masters. Patrick Reed is five shots back, Ludvig Aberg and Corey Conners are six shots back, and defending champion Scottie Scheffler is just four shots behind them.

As the tournament enters its final rounds, we can expect another exciting day of drama as players chase down the leaders and try to protect their positions at the top of the leaderboard. USA TODAY will be keeping you updated throughout the day on The Masters leaderboard and providing all the information you need to follow along.

World Series Highlights

When you think of the World Series, a certain image probably comes to mind: a jubilant crowd rejoicing in celebration of baseball’s most prestigious title. The World Series has always been a special event, evoking emotions of joy, sadness, and more from fans and players alike. It is often considered as America’s sport, emulating a sense of pride and homeyness in many Americans. And this year’s Series was no different.

But the World Series wasn’t all smiles and cheers this year. The game’s first two days were rife with controversy, from Gerrit Cole allegedly being forced to leave in the fourth inning with neck and shoulder issues to Aaron Judge destroying the roof of Yankee Stadium in the fifth inning of Game 5.

However, it was the last night of the Series that really took the cake for weirdness. In a game that was all but over, Washington manager Martinez came into the press room before the start of the eighth and said that ace Max Scherzer was indefinitely out with neck and shoulder injuries.

Then came the ninth inning, when Bill Mazeroski’s walk-off home run gave the Pittsburgh Pirates their first World Series win in 39 years. The homer, which landed in the right-field upper deck, was one of the most famous moments in Series history and earned legendary announcers Vin Scully and Jack Buck iconic pronouncements.

This is just a small sample of the World Series’ most memorable moments, but you can read about even more in USA TODAY’s free app, which includes crosswords, audio storytelling, eNewspaper and more. Download it now to follow along with this year’s series.