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When Black folks fought for integration during the Civil Rights Movement, they turned their passion for sports into a powerful tool of nonviolent protest. They boycotted games and teams, and newspapers like the Black press kept fans informed by writing about these protests.

Now, in 2018, fans are still using their love for sports to fight for social change. From helping to bring down Jose Mourinho at Manchester United to leading marches against their club’s owners at Chelsea, and even urging their clubs to sell the ownership stake in the business, fan protest stories remind us that fan activism isn’t just a passing fad.

Thousands of LA Galaxy fans walked out of Dignity Health Sports Park during the team’s home game against Vancouver to protest their club’s silence about immigration raids in Southern California. Leaders of the Angel City Brigade, Galaxians and LA Riot Squad say there’s not a day that goes by without them thinking about the raids and their impact on Latino communities.

As fans protest, it’s important that journalists report on their actions in a fair and accurate way. This means including basic information such as who organized and participated in the protest, as well as getting quotes from people involved in the demonstration. It’s also helpful to provide context for the issue being addressed and show why the protest is important. Finally, it’s a good idea to include photos and video of the action. While these tips are simple, they’ll help ensure that news coverage of fan protests is fair and accurate.

Esports, also known as electronic sports, are organised multiplayer video game competitions. Typically, a team of professional gamers compete against other teams to win medals and prizes. Esports tournaments feature popular video games such as League of Legends, Overwatch, Counter-Strike, Dota 2 and the fighting game-specific Evolution Championship Series.

The esports tournament scene is booming in 2025. In the first quarter alone, over 100 major events took place. In addition to major titles like Rocket League and League of Legends, a number of niche tournaments attracted huge audiences.

In this edition of Esports Tournament News, we take a look at what happened at these tournaments and the people who made them happen.

Esports tournaments are a major part of the global gaming culture. They’re attracting big audiences, and they’re becoming a part of the mainstream. But what do they mean for the future of the video game industry?

The second Esports World Cup (EWC) has kicked off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The prize pot for the event is $70m. Unlike in regular sporting competitions, players don’t represent their countries and instead join organisations such as the world-renowned Team Liquid. BBC Newsbeat went behind the scenes of their HQ to see what it takes to compete at such a high level.

The Esports World Cup 2025 is a month-long competition featuring major international leagues for various titles. In June, Counter-Strike, Rocket League and League of Legends all host notable competitions to find the best global teams in their respective fields.

Combat Sports are athletic competitions that involve the use of striking and kicking techniques, often in a confined space such as an enclosed arena or on a padded mat. They have a long history, having evolved alongside human civilization. They are frequently viewed as a form of entertainment, social bonding, and cultural exchange. Their growing popularity has captivated new audiences, while also challenging societal norms and redefining the rules of engagement.

Specialised training regimens are essential for athletes in combat sports. These routines build physical fitness, technical prowess, and strategic understanding of the game. In addition, a culture of respect and humility is promoted in combat sports through traditions such as bowing to instructors and peers, shaking hands after sparring, and treating opponents with dignity.

Mindset training is a cornerstone of a combat athlete’s training programme. It includes a series of mental practices that seasoned fighters and Olympic athletes regularly employ, including mindfulness meditation to enhance focus and emotional control during pressured situations and regular sessions of visualisation to strengthen strategic readiness for competition.

Whether it’s Muhammad Ali’s Thrilla in Manila, Conor McGregor’s historic knockout victory, or Ronda Rousey’s groundbreaking dominance, iconic combat sports moments are cherished by generations of fans. These iconic figures inspire and enchant with their skill, charisma, and unrelenting determination. They are exemplars of the enduring allure and heroism of combat sports.

Athlete endorsements can be a powerful marketing tool, elevating a brand’s reputation and influencing consumer purchasing decisions. The strength of an athlete’s personal brand plays a critical role in the effectiveness of these partnerships, and the aspirational aspect of their persona often serves to create deeper connections with target audiences. However, the legal framework surrounding endorsements must be rigorously vetted to mitigate risks and establish clear obligations for both parties.

The Federal Trade Commission requires disclosures and authenticity standards to be carefully drafted in sponsorship or endorsement contracts to minimize liability for false claims. Attorneys must establish thorough product vetting protocols and include authenticity clauses to confirm that an athlete actually uses the products they endorse. This helps reduce exposure to fraudulent claims and protects athletes from liability and regulatory action.

While some athletes may focus on social activism and environmental causes, most endorsers seek to align their core values with the brands they promote. Naomi Osaka’s partnership with Nike exemplifies this dynamic, pairing her commitment to empowerment and equality with the company’s message of “dare to dream bigger.” The result was a successful and authentic marketing campaign that resonated with consumers and increased sales for both the tennis star and the shoe manufacturer.

Athlete endorsements bring significant economic benefits to both athletes and entire industries, including greater visibility, revenue, and job creation. Endorsements can also drive more sales and validate a product’s value in a competitive market, leading to additional investments in new products and services.

In the world of sports, retirement can come at an unexpected time. Whether they’re injured or just reaching the end of their careers, athletes can be left struggling to adjust to life after sport. But some athletes take on new challenges and find ways to keep their passions alive, even after putting their athletic shoes up for good.

Minnesota native Lindsey Vonn, a three-time Olympic medalist and eight-time World Cup champion, is returning to competition for the first time since 2022 at age 40. The announcement comes six years after her last Olympics and four years after she retired from skiing with a back injury.

According to a study by the University of Leeds, some athletes struggle with transitioning out of their sport. The research suggests that the way an athlete is pushed and influenced at a young age can impact their mental state once they retire. It’s a crucial point to consider because athletes tend to start their careers much younger than most people, and often face pressure to not retire until they are deemed old enough by their peers and fans.

Athletes who decide to return to competition may also have to adhere to their specific National Governing Body’s rules on re-entry, which may include mandatory drug testing. For example, the USOPC says athletes who wish to compete again should contact their governing bodies to confirm if they’re eligible for re-entry.

Sports and showbiz have never been more connected. From athletes starring in movies to musicians repping their favorite teams, we cover the crossovers and celebrity involvement that keep sports top of mind for pop culture fans.

Charlotte and Madeline start the show with a few admin orders of business and some quick informercials before diving into today’s hot topics. They’ve got the latest on WNBA star Suni Lee and NBA player OG Anunoby making their relationship official, a former WWE superstar losing her job over Coldplay cheating drama, surfing star Billy Kemper sharing a video of his gruesome injury and Olympic skier Lindsey Vonn discussing her career and groin injury.

Celebrity presence on the sidelines of a sporting event creates buzz and excitement that can increase viewership and ticket sales. Post Sports+ has the scoop on the latest athlete-celebrity collaborations and moments that keep sports in the limelight.

For two weeks late in August, the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center transforms into the epicenter of tennis. With the Olympics, French Open and Australian Open in the books for the year, the remaining main draw matches in men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles and mixed doubles offer the final opportunity for players to secure a major title. This year, the US Open is expanding to 15 days of action at Arthur Ashe Stadium, with a new scheduling format designed to provide fans with more matches and more drama.

Tip #1: Check Schedule for Day-By-Day Breakdown

The US Open starts on the last Monday of August, with qualifying and other fan events held during the week leading up to the first full week of main draw play. Each day of the tournament, the US Open publishes a detailed daily Schedule of Play that lists the matches scheduled for that particular day (and also identifies which courts they’ll be played on). Tip #2: Use this link or the official US Open Everywhere app to track the schedule and determine whether you should head to the US Open app or resale websites like Stubhub. If you do decide to head to resale, it’s a good idea to begin monitoring the ticket situation in the days prior and make your decision carefully, as tickets can quickly become scarce and prices will rise.

After a long opening week, the field begins to narrow as top seeds face tougher competition and intriguing prospects emerge on Arthur Ashe and the outer courts. The tournament heats up heading into Labor Day weekend, and a new champion will be crowned on Sunday.

The Asian Games were first held in 1951, just after the end of World War II. Originally advocated by India’s first Prime Minister to rebuild regional unity through sports after the war, the Asian Games have grown into one of the largest international sporting events that fosters friendship among people across borders and contributes to global peace by embracing diversity. The Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games will host more than 15,000 athletes, para-athletes, and officials from 45 countries and regions over the course of nearly three weeks in 58 venues throughout the cities of Aichi and Nagoya. This is a significant opportunity to promote international exchange and showcase Japan’s culture and hospitality.

With its mascot Honohon and theme “Imagine One Asia,” the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC) has begun to create a legacy of international exchange for the region. GL events has been selected to design, fit out, and manage 58 venues at this major sporting event, and will serve as an essential partner for AINAGOC’s venue development and operations.

GL events has worked on a number of high-profile projects around the globe, including the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, the Rugby World Cup in Japan, and the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. This new partnership with the Aichi-Nagoya Organizing Committee further reinforces our Group’s passion for major events and our ambition to support territories and communities that welcome them.

With the Games taking place in September and October, which are the peak typhoon season in Japan, contingency plans have been put into action to evacuate athletes and visitors if necessary. A unique solution has been found in the form of luxury cruise ships, which will be converted into ‘floating’ Athletes’ Villages to help cut costs and accommodate up to 5,000 athletes and officials.

Social media in sports has changed the way teams, athletes, and leagues engage with fans. Instead of a one-way broadcast, social media allows athletes and brands to communicate with audiences through photos, videos, stories, and real-time updates. This two-way communication fosters fan loyalty and engagement. It can also help teams and athletes grow their fan base by increasing ticket sales, merch sales, and sponsorships.

The rise of social media has transformed the power dynamics in sports. Formerly, the power to control sports news was held by major television networks and sports journalists. As a result, they exerted complete control over what sports topics merited coverage and how it was presented to the public. However, with the advent of social media platforms, this control has shifted to individual users. This change in power distribution enables sports fans to discuss their personal views and even directly oppose the approach of mainstream sports media.

Athletes and sports teams use social media to share behind-the-scenes content, personal stories, and live event highlights with fans. This two-way communication enables athletes to build their brand and promote themselves. It can also help humanize them by promoting their daily lives and philanthropic endeavors, making them more relatable to fans. Athletes also have the opportunity to use their platform to stand for a cause and amplify social issues, such as racial injustice or domestic violence.

While the benefits of using social media in sports are clear, it is important to remember that it can also have negative effects. Negative feedback can damage a team’s reputation, sabotage a career, or sway people away from a sport they love. This is why it is crucial for sports teams and players to develop a strong social media strategy that balances positive interactions with fans with avoiding negative backlash.

For over seven decades, the best clubs in Europe have battled on the club game’s grandest stage. Real Madrid is the all-time winner with 15 titles, but this tournament also consecrates legendary teams that defy logic and overcome the odds.

The Champions League has been reshaped this season with a new format for the league phase and a revamped knockout structure. The new format will increase the synergy between the league and knockout phases by linking the pairings in the latter to the rankings from the former, while ensuring that every team plays its best football throughout the season.

The tournament has also been made more accessible for fans outside of Europe, and UEFA believes it now offers the greatest possible entertainment value to the world’s soccer-loving public. The broadcast rights are sold in more than 180 countries around the globe, with a unique mix of live games on traditional television, streaming platforms and over-the-top (OTT) services.

The top-seeded team in each group will play three matches against the other teams in its group. The top two finishers advance to the knockout phase, where they will be paired against the other group winners or runners-up in a two-legged match. In the quarterfinals, semifinalists and final, teams face each other at a neutral venue chosen by UEFA. The teams are ranked according to the number of points scored over two legs. Two points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss.