Latest news with #adrenaline
BBC News
15 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Run It Straight: The Australians trying to turn a backyard tackle into a global sport
"Defender ready?" calls the host.A thumbs up and moments later, two burly men - with no protective gear - run full speed at each other before they clash, the unmistakable sound of flesh and bone crowd erupts into a collective roar, some cheering, others is the moment they've been waiting for - and it's exactly this adrenaline-fuelled energy that organisers of the Run It Championship League are banking on to help bring what they call the "world's fiercest, new collision sport" to global is a supercharged version of a one-on-one tackle game which originated in the backyards and school playgrounds of Australia and New Zealand - namely in Pacific Islander person carrying a ball must "run it straight" at the defender, who is also sprinting towards them: they are not allowed to duck, hurdle or sidestep the of the game have recently gone viral, and the founders of the Run It league have capitalised on the surge of interest - they say they've gained millions of views online, won over thousands of fans, attracted big name sponsors, and even inspired rival held jousts in Melbourne and Auckland, and on Saturday another will take place in a Dubai arena, the winner taking away prize money of A$200,000 (£98,000). Next on their agenda, is an expansion to the UK and the groundswell of support for the league is increasingly being rivalled by critical voices. Medical experts and sporting figures are worried about the physical and mental health impacts of the game. The game has been copied in a wider social media craze which is accused of already claiming one life."It's like shaking a baby," says Peter Satterthwaite, whose teenage nephew died after copying the game at a party. From the schoolyard to the world stage The objective of the game is simple: be the person who "dominates" the contact, as deemed by a panel of three of the league's seven co-founders, Brandon Taua'a and Stephen Hancock, tell the BBC they have fond memories of playing the game as teenagers in Melbourne."I used to 'run it straight' at Brandon all the time," Hancock says, joking that the pair would usually try to avoid hitting each other straight be none of that this weekend, when the eight finalists compete for that giant cash prize in United Arab insists Run It is a "game of skill" - "[It's] all about the footwork" - but there's no denying the violent nature of it.A quick scroll of the league's social media accounts shows dozens of quick-burst videos, all honing in on the explosive action of two men other videos circulating from the events, several competitors are knocked out and require immediate medical acknowledges the sport comes with risks, but the league has safety protocols to minimise are screened, undergoing medical assessments – such as blood tests and a physical exam – and they must also send a recent video of themselves playing a sport that features tackling. Medical staff are also on the sidelines of the events."There's an element of danger with surfing, with boxing and many other sports as well," Taua'a Champ Betham - who won NZ$20,000 earlier this month at the competition in Auckland and is gunning for the title in Dubai on Saturday – the element of danger is but a secondary consideration."This is a massive blessing to a whole heap of us to pretty much try and win 20K or whatever for a couple hours' work," he told Radio New Zealand at the time."We got to pay off some debts and stock up the fridges and the cupboards, food for our little ones, especially with the economy and stuff like that here in New Zealand. Nothing's cheap these days." The money involved, for a league which has only been around for six months, is impressive. Along with the prize fund, competitors' travel and accommodation expenses are being paid. A 1,600-seat arena has been booked. The league has a slick social media account, a PR representative, and a bunch of promoters - including antipodean sports initial financial backers have been described only as "a group of local investors who believe in the product", but bigger names are emerging: days before the Dubai event, the league announced it had secured a major sponsor in online gambling platform banned in key markets like Australia and the are also ongoing talks with potential US investors, including a contact linked to American podcaster and UFC heavyweight Joe Rogan, which Taua'a says "will definitely help" the league build a presence in the will need big backers to match their ambitions for the contest, which they argue is more than just a fleeting social media trend."This could actually eventuate into a sport that could sit [in a class] with MMA and boxing," Hancock says. 'An innocuous crash' But as Taua'a and Hancock focus on the competition's future ambitions, more and more voices are questioning its safety."They might as well set up smoking as a legitimate sport," says neuroscientist Alan to the BBC from the New Zealand city of Palmerston North, Peter Satterthwaite is unequivocal."It's not a sport," he says. It's "a dangerous activity" designed purely "to hurt the guy in front of you".His 19-year-old nephew Ryan was celebrating a 21st birthday with friends at a local park when they decided to try the game they'd seen all over their social media did two tackles. Neither he or his friend fell down or clashed heads. But as he walked away, he told his mates he didn't feel well, his uncle recounts."[Ryan] was coherent for a bit, then he lay down and his eyes just rolled back in his head." Friends rushed him to hospital where doctors had to "cut a sizable chunk out of his skull" to alleviate pressure caused by brain swelling, Satterthwaite says."I saw him on the ventilator, his chest going up and down as he was breathing, and it was like 'Get up! Open your eyes'."On Monday evening, just a day after he was playing with his mates, Ryan's life support was turned off in a hospital room filled with loved ones."It was just an innocuous clash," Ryan's uncle says, "and it just shows you how fragile life is and how fragile your brain is."Run It understands the dangers of contact sports and takes safety seriously. Weeks after Ryan's death, the league posted a video saying the game is "not for the backyard, not for the street"."Do not try this at home," they Satterthwaite doubts that warning will have much impact."I don't think there's a sport in the world that people don't do at the beach, or in their backyard, or at the park."It's not just the physical impacts that worry Shenei Panaia. As a Samoan growing up in Australia, she would often see schoolkids playing the game as a bit of fun. But the mental health worker fears it reinforces "a version of masculinity where silence is strength, and violence is proof of pride"."It sends a dangerous message to young men that their worth is based on how much pain they can take. That if you're not tough, you don't belong."And the league's attempt to turn this into a lucrative spectator sport contradicts the values of many in the Pacific Islander community, Penaia says."We are taught to look out for one another... and to make decisions that serve more than just ourselves." 'Blood in the air' Their concerns are echoed by a pack of concussion experts and sporting more than a decade, the world of high-impact sports has been introducing safety measures as the research into brain injuries bodies including Rugby Australia, New Zealand Rugby have warned people not to take part, with the New Zealand Prime Minister also weighing in, saying it's a "dumb thing to do".Neuroscientist Pearce argues Run It magnifies "the most violent aspects of our established sport", while the safety protocols do little to minimise any risk. Blood tests and physical exams cannot predict a brain injury, and catastrophic damage can occur even without a direct hit to the head. "I can't see how running at 25km an hour straight at each other without stopping is safe," he tells the BBC. "It's as simple as that."There's the risk of immediate concussion, Dr Pearce says, delayed onset brain injuries like Ryan Satterthwaite's, and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) - a degenerative disease caused by repetitive head trauma. They can lead to cognitive impairments, movement disorders, dementia, depression."[They're] basically using the collision as the entertainment value, which is, in effect, commercialising concussion," he a spokesperson for the league - who argues it is "not about masculinity" but "strength and skill" - say organisers have no intention of slowing down, and aren't too worried about their says what happens at their competitions is "not too much different" to what you see on televised rugby matches, and – with their protocols – it is far safer than many of the games played in backyards the world over."It's quite new for viewers and it might take some time for them to get used to seeing what we've put together."
Washington Post
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
What parents need to know about ‘F1,' ‘M3gan 2.0' and more
Age 12+ Realistic racing drama is worth the Pitt stop. Starring Brad Pitt, this sports drama takes place in the world of Formula One racing, where the engines are fast and the stakes are high. The brainchild of director Joseph Kosinski ('Top Gun: Maverick'), the film features adrenaline-raising scenes that make viewers feel like they're in the driver's seat. In addition to these potentially tense moments, expect vehicle crashes (no blood or fatal injuries), lots of tech talk, brand names everywhere and strong language (a couple of uses of 'f---,' plus 's---,' 'goddamn' and more). Adults drink and smoke, and sex is implied when a scene of passionate kissing cuts to a couple in bed together under the covers. (155 minutes)
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Champion skydiver plummets to death during wingsuit jump
A champion wingsuit flyer who featured in a BBC documentary called The Boy Who Can Fly has died after he was critically injured in a jump over the weekend. Liam Byrne, 24, was taking part in a high-risk jump at nearly 8,000 feet above sea level in the Swiss Alps on Saturday when tragedy struck, according to The Telegraph, citing local police. Byrne, of Scotland, was wearing a wingsuit, a specialized webbed-sleeved jumpsuit with membranes between the arms, body and legs which allows a diver to glide flight in the air. Colorado Skydiver Falls To His Death In Freak Accident He was one of three wingsuit pilots who launched a jump from Gitschen, a mountain overlooking Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. However, Byrne "deviated from his intended course shortly after take-off for reasons still unknown and crashed into a rocky outcrop," police said. "He suffered fatal injuries." Read On The Fox News App Byrne, a British champion in the adrenaline-fueled sport, was an experienced flyer with more than 4,000 jumps to his name, according to the outlet. His Instagram account also lists him as a skydiving instructor, wingsuit coach and BASE (Building, Antenna, Span and Earth) jumper. In the BBC-produced documentary, filmmakers follow Byrne's journey to champion flyer. Byrne told the documentary: "I think I was about 13 when I said to my dad that I wanted to learn to fly like a bird." French Pilot Of Plane That Decapitated Skydiver Found Guilty Of Manslaughter He said that an office job scared him far more than the fear of dying from a base or wingsuit jump. He insisted that good preparation was at the heart of all his jumps and kept him safe and acknowledged that the high-risk sport worried his family. Byrne climbed Mount Kilimanjaro at age 12, became a licensed paraglider at 14, completed his first skydive at 16 and was flying in a wingsuit by 18, according to the BBC. Byrne's family released a statement praising him and saying that the sport was "more than just a thrill for Liam - it was freedom. It was where he felt most alive." "We would like to remember Liam not just for the way he left this world, but for how he lived in it," the statement reads in part. "Liam was fearless, not necessarily because he wasn't afraid but because he refused to let fear hold him back. He chased life in a way that most of us only dream of and he soared." The statement continued: "He inspired all of us and made life better with his bold spirit and kind heart. We will miss Liam's wild energy and contagious laugh. Though he has now flown beyond our reach, he will always be with us." There have been a number of wingsuit-related deaths in the U.S., including a January 2024 incident in which Gregory Coates, 36, died in Colorado after both his primary and reserve parachutes failed to deploy. In September, Jonathan Bizilia, 27, of Alabama died in a jump in article source: Champion skydiver plummets to death during wingsuit jump
Fox News
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox News
Champion skydiver plummets to death during wingsuit jump
A champion wingsuit flyer who featured in a BBC documentary called The Boy Who Can Fly has died after he was critically injured in a jump over the weekend. Liam Byrne, 24, was taking part in a high-risk jump at nearly 8,000 feet above sea level in the Swiss Alps on Saturday when tragedy struck, according to The Telegraph, citing local police. Byrne, of Scotland, was wearing a wingsuit, a specialized webbed-sleeved jumpsuit with membranes between the arms, body and legs which allows a diver to glide flight in the air. He was one of three wingsuit pilots who launched a jump from Gitschen, a mountain overlooking Lake Lucerne in Switzerland. However, Byrne "deviated from his intended course shortly after take-off for reasons still unknown and crashed into a rocky outcrop," police said. "He suffered fatal injuries." Byrne, a British champion in the adrenaline-fueled sport, was an experienced flyer with more than 4,000 jumps to his name, according to the outlet. His Instagram account also lists him as a skydiving instructor, wingsuit coach and BASE (Building, Antenna, Span and Earth) jumper. In the BBC-produced documentary, filmmakers follow Byrne's journey to champion flyer. Byrne told the documentary: "I think I was about 13 when I said to my dad that I wanted to learn to fly like a bird." He said that an office job scared him far more than the fear of dying from a base or wingsuit jump. He insisted that good preparation was at the heart of all his jumps and kept him safe and acknowledged that the high-risk sport worried his family. Byrne climbed Mount Kilimanjaro at age 12, became a licensed paraglider at 14, completed his first skydive at 16 and was flying in a wingsuit by 18, according to the BBC. Byrne's family released a statement praising him and saying that the sport was "more than just a thrill for Liam - it was freedom. It was where he felt most alive." "We would like to remember Liam not just for the way he left this world, but for how he lived in it," the statement reads in part. "Liam was fearless, not necessarily because he wasn't afraid but because he refused to let fear hold him back. He chased life in a way that most of us only dream of and he soared." The statement continued: "He inspired all of us and made life better with his bold spirit and kind heart. We will miss Liam's wild energy and contagious laugh. Though he has now flown beyond our reach, he will always be with us." There have been a number of wingsuit-related deaths in the U.S., including a January 2024 incident in which Gregory Coates, 36, died in Colorado after both his primary and reserve parachutes failed to deploy. In September, Jonathan Bizilia, 27, of Alabama died in a jump in Utah.
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
Boats to race up to 100mph at King's Lynn water sport festival
Boats travelling at speeds of up to 100mph are set to race at one of Europe's biggest water sport Hanseatic Festival of Watersports in King's Lynn, Norfolk, attracts athletes and spectators from across the continent. Over the weekend, the event will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a variety of competitions on the River Great Ouse, which runs beside the town. Jason Russell, the festival's organiser, said: "There's a big hype, it's an absolutely adrenaline packed race." Over the two-day event, spectators at the Quayside in King's Lynn will be able to see jet ski, powerboat and water ski races. The event will also include a flyover from the World War Two Lancaster Bomber plane and live music. Mr Russell said he was "proud" of the festival's growth over the past decade. "When we started it, we said to the council that this could be massive, and it's turned into that," he said. "People just love coming here."He credits the riverside location to the success of the event, as spectators were able to get a close view of the location also provides a safe shelter from adverse weather conditions."It can't get cancelled as it's in the banks of the river, so the weather does not deter it if it gets windy or rough... They're guaranteed to race." On Saturday, it is forecasted to reach 31C at the site of the festival in King's Lynn. The Met Office and the UK Health Security Agency have issued an amber heat health alert for across the weekend, meaning that the weather could impact the health of the wider population. People attending the event are being encouraged to keep hydrated and wear sun cream. "We've got plenty of paramedics who will be patrolling and keeping an eye on everybody," Mr Russell said."It's lovely when this weather's here, but at the end of the day, we have to be sensible about it." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
