Latest news with #sponsors
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
'Commercialising concussion': The Australians taking a backyard collision game global
"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 crunching. Advertisement The crowd erupts into a collective roar, some cheering, others wincing. This 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 audiences. It 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 communities. One 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 tackler. Advertisement Videos 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 competitions. They've 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 US. But 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 judges. Advertisement Two 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 on. There'll be none of that this weekend, when the eight finalists compete for that giant cash prize in United Arab Emirates. Hancock insists Run It is a "game of skill" - "[It's] all about the footwork" - but there's no denying the violent nature of it. Advertisement 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 colliding. In other videos circulating from the events, several competitors are knocked out and require immediate medical attention. Taua'a acknowledges the sport comes with risks, but the league has safety protocols to minimise them. Competitors 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. Advertisement "There's an element of danger with surfing, with boxing and many other sports as well," Taua'a argues. For 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." Warriors halfback Chanel Harris-Tavita is one of the rugby players promoting Run It [Getty Images] 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 stars. Advertisement Its 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 UK. There 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 US. They 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. Advertisement "They might as well set up smoking as a legitimate sport," says neuroscientist Alan Pearce. Speaking 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 feeds. Ryan 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. Advertisement "[Ryan] was coherent for a bit, then he lay down and his eyes just rolled back in his head." Ryan Satterthwaite, 19, was the youngest of three brothers who all grew up playing rugby [Pete Satterthwaite] 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." Advertisement 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 said. But 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. Mental health worker Shenei Penaia says she used to see versions of 'run it straight' tackles during her school years [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". Advertisement "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 figures. For more than a decade, the world of high-impact sports has been introducing safety measures as the research into brain injuries develops. Advertisement Official 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. Advertisement "[They're] basically using the collision as the entertainment value, which is, in effect, commercialising concussion," he concludes. But 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 critics. Taua'a 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."
BBC News
9 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."
RNZ News
12-06-2025
- Business
- RNZ News
What you need to know about the Parent Boost Visa
Ethnic communities were excited to see the unveiling of the long-awaited Parent Boost Visa on Sunday, which aims to support parents visiting their families in New Zealand for longer durations. However, the excitement was followed by mixed emotions as they worked hard to figure out the conditions they would need to satisfy for their parents to be eligible for the visa. Questions emerged about the visa's health insurance and income requirements, among other things. Immigration New Zealand said it would release more information on its website prior to applications opening on 29 September. Until then, here's what we know about the Parent Boost Visa so far. It is a multiple-entry visitor visa that allows parents of New Zealand citizens and residents to visit for up to five years, with the possibility of extending it for another five years, enabling a total stay of up to 10 years. Applicants must have a sponsor who is their biological or adopted child and is a New Zealand citizen or resident. The sponsor must also agree to cover the applicants' essential costs, including accommodation and other daily expenses. There are three ways to meet the financial requirements. The sponsor must earn at least the New Zealand median wage, which is $69,804.80 a year to sponsor one parent, or 1½ times the median wage for joint sponsors, equivalent to $104,707.30. The amount increases by 0.5 times the median wage ($34,902.40) for additional parents being sponsored. Immigration New Zealand updates the median wage it applies to visa applications in February each year. Alternatively, parents can have a personal income equivalent to New Zealand Superannuation, which is $32,611.28 per year for a single parent and $49,552.88 for a couple. Otherwise, parents must have personal funds worth $160,000 for a single applicant or $250,000 for a couple. Photo: RNZ Applicants must hold at least one year of health insurance that covers emergency medical care (minimum $250,000 a year), repatriation, return of remains and cancer treatment (minimum $100,000). They must hold valid health insurance for the entire duration of their stay in New Zealand. No. Applicants must apply for a Parent Boost Visa when outside New Zealand. "This offshore application requirement reinforces the visa's temporary status and the expectation that parents maintain a connection to their home country," Jock Gilray, director of visas at Immigration New Zealand, told RNZ. Parent Boost Visa holders can study for up to three months each year or undertake remote work for an offshore employer. They do not have the right to work for a New Zealand employer. Visa holders are required to leave New Zealand any time between three and four years of the visa to complete a health check to confirm they can continue to meet the health standards, Immigration Minister Erica Stanford said. Gilray said the visa is a temporary one and it's essential that holders maintain strong connections to their home country, and the requirement to leave New Zealand supported that approach. The visa cost most people $3000 to apply and $2450 for people eligible for the Pacific fee band. Applicants also needed to pay the $100 International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy. After three years, an additional processing fee was charged for the third-year health check of $325 for most people, or $240 if eligible for the Pacific fee band. At the media standup on Sunday, Stanford said the visa was "not a regular visitor visa" when explaining the hefty application fee. "There's quite a lot more to it that we're going to have to check in terms of health and insurance, a character and many other things," she said. "It is more akin almost to a residence application, so it will take longer and will cost us more to process." An elderly couple walks down Auckland's Queen Street. Photo: RNZ / Yiting Lin Immigration New Zealand estimated most applications would be processed within four months. Timeframes would depend on the information and evidence provided, whether further assessment was required (for example where there are potential health issues) and demand for the visa. Immigration New Zealand said no English-language requirement was needed. Applicant must remain out of New Zealand for three months after the first visa expired before applying for a second five-year-visa, Gilray said. This was also to reinforce the visa's temporary status and the expectation that parents maintained a connection to their home country, Gilray said. Sponsors must continue to live in New Zealand while their parents visit to ensure they could provide the support required, Gilray said. "This won't prevent the sponsor from going on holidays, but they should primarily reside in New Zealand," Gilray said, adding that further information about this requirement will be made available before the application opens. This visa is only available for parents of New Zealand citizens and residents except in some cases where the sponsor's parents are deceased and grandparents who fill this role could be included. Instead, grandparents can use the Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa to enter New Zealand. There is no cap. Luxon said the government was expecting 2000 to 10,000 takers a year, averaging 6000 annually. Although parents on the visa must hold private health insurance to visit, some worry that having them in New Zealand for prolonged periods risks putting pressure on the country's health system due to limited resources and staffing shortages. A spokesperson from Stanford's office told RNZ the two health examinations at application and three years would ensure that parents were healthy enough to stay in New Zealand. "The requirement for ongoing health insurance will support the visa holder to meet their health costs as they will not be eligible for publicly funded healthcare," the spokesperson said. Aside from the standard visitor visa, people can also apply for a Parent and Grandparent Visitor Visa, which allows visa holders to visit New Zealand for up to six months at a time, and 18 months in three years, with an application fee of $441. A Parent Resident Visa allows parents to live in New Zealand indefinitely, with income thresholds for sponsors that have been described as a hurdle. The 2500 yearly cap, application backlog and ballot system have also made the process difficult for many families. It costs $5810 to apply. Parents will be able to apply for a Permanent Resident Visa after holding this visa for 10 years. There is also the more expensive Parent Retirement Resident Visa, which requires parents to have at least $1 million to invest in New Zealand for four years and have at least $500,000 for settlement, and an annual income of at least $60,000. Parents can stay here indefinitely with this visa, which costs $12,850 to apply. If parents meet all conditions, they may be granted a Permanent Resident Visa at the end of the four-year investment period. The government said the Parent Boost Visa was not a pathway to residence. "Those seeking permanent residence should consider submitting an expression of interest under the Parent Category Resident Visa," according to Immigration New Zealand's website. Settings for Parent Boost Visa would be reviewed in 2027 to ensure they were working as intended, Stanford's office said. For more information, visit the Immigration New Zealand website .
Fox News
11-06-2025
- Automotive
- Fox News
NASCAR race in Mexico City worth extra effort to grow the sport
Sometimes it takes a heavy lift to move the needle. And that's exactly what this weekend's NASCAR race at Mexico will be. A heavy lift. That moves the needle. The Cup Series races in Mexico City this weekend, and that is awesome. Yes, there certainly is a group of the NASCAR fan base and the industry as a whole that doesn't believe NASCAR should race in Mexico City. It is a long and arduous process to move race haulers across the border and deep into the country. The United States-Mexico relations are not at their friendliest, especially in light of the protests in Los Angeles. And there are tracks in the United States that want races. So why go battle those logistical and political challenges to race in Mexico City? The growth of the sport depends on it. Going to a city with more than 20 million people exposes the sport to people who might have never seen it in person. It provides exposure at the highest level and megastars of the sport in a country where NASCAR already has a regional series. It shows sponsors and those interested in investing in the sport that NASCAR is willing to take it globally, increasing the pool of potential sponsors and drivers. Increasing the dollars and potential talent in the sport. Racing at Mexico City will be an event, much like racing at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum or the streets of Chicago. Are there security concerns? Sure. Just as there were when NASCAR raced in Chicago and other places. For context, an off-duty cop was shot in an attempted robbery of the Kansas Speedway vault in 2006. Are there other tracks in the United States where NASCAR could race? Sure. But the tracks that could grow the sport to a new fan base are few and far between. The ones that could generate excitement among the NASCAR faithful — think Bowman-Gray and Rockingham — both held races this year. Albeit, those races were the exhibition clash at Bowman-Gray and an Xfinity-truck doubleheader at Rockingham. Are there some sponsors where racing in Mexico doesn't reach their customer? Sure, at least if they don't do business in Mexico. But part of racing in Mexico is about generating excitement about Mexicans who live in the United States for the NASCAR product. That should also increase the exposure of current sponsors. Are there logistical hurdles? Sure. Hauler manifests are complicated. NASCAR is chartering planes to fly much of the industry as a whole in order to make sure all the teams get there with no safety or logistical issues. So that sounds a lot for a NASCAR race. And it is. But sometimes it takes a heavy lift to move the needle. Many of the same concerns were talked about around the Chicago race and so far, those have been relatively smooth — except for the weather. I went to the NASCAR Xfinity races in Mexico from 2005 through 2008. They were fun. I loved going to the country and experiencing the culture. I also enjoy a trip to Watkins Glen or the Darlington area or Las Vegas. They are all different and all have unique aspects that fans can appreciate. Same with Mexico City. For those who love NASCAR and contend that it has the best racing in the world, then what better way to prove that than taking it across the border? What better way to expose the drivers? A Netflix Series won't work for everyone, and seeing the real thing on someone's home soil can potentially do wonders. Speaking of that, this puts NASCAR at the same venue as Formula 1. Hopefully INDYCAR goes there next year, too. So for all those who want to spew insults about our neighbors and want to hate, go ahead. There's nothing stopping you. But sometimes you have to do something out of the comfort zone — out of the norm — to grow the sport. This is one of those times. Will it work? There's never a guarantee. But it's certainly worth the effort to try. Bob Pockrass covers NASCAR and INDYCAR for FOX Sports. He has spent decades covering motorsports, including over 30 Daytona 500s, with stints at ESPN, Sporting News, NASCAR Scene magazine and The (Daytona Beach) News-Journal. Follow him on Twitter @bobpockrass.
South China Morning Post
11-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Game on for Hong Kong's economy as Kai Tak Stadium proves to be a roaring success
Hong Kong should capitalise on the success of the Asian Cup qualifier at Kai Tak Stadium on Tuesday night by maximising the potential of the venue and engagement with business sectors to boost the economy, according to analysts. A total of 42,570 football fans witnessed Hong Kong's 1-0 victory over India, packing the stands with a sea of red and roaring chants as the team hosted an international match for the first time at the new stadium. Vincent Cheng Wing-shun, vice-chairman of the major sports events committee, told a radio show on Wednesday that the game's success showed it does not always take a foreign sports star or top singers to fill the stadium. He also noted the affordable ticket price – as low as HK$80 – played a role. 'The success of last night's game has been a shot of confidence for sponsors and partners; it's important for us to capitalise on this opportunity to develop a host city economy and fan economy,' he said. Cheng said the concept encompassed game planning, ticket sales, venue management, public relations, merchandise, sponsorship, and more.
