Latest news with #internationalcompetition
CTV News
16-07-2025
- Sport
- CTV News
Regina flag football team ready to compete in third straight international competition
WATCH: A team of U15 boys from Regina are headed to Canton to represent Canada on the world stage. It's been a great year for the 15U Raiders flag football team, who've been cruising their way through the season and will soon be heading to the U.S. for an international competition. Going 7-1 in the regular season, the only game they lost - was a forfeit due to a lack of players. Players have different perspectives on how, and if they lose. 'I think our team is pretty good. So, I don't know if we'll lose,' said Xavier, a receiver with the team. 'We're probably going to lose maybe once, but it's going to happen eventually. We're ready for that, though,' Kai, a receiver and defensive back said. A lack of players won't be a concern this week, as the team travels to represent Canada on the international stage. Ten players and two coaches are heading to Ohio, the home of the pro football hall of fame, to compete against some of the top flag football teams in the world. 'Internationally, it's a different competition every single year,' said Kymani, a defensive back and safety. 'They have Puerto Rico that's a really new team and we played against teams like Mexico before.' This is the third year in row that the Raiders have had the chance to compete internationally, going to Las Vegas in 2023 and Orlando in 2024. 'Week in and week out, through practices and just through game playing, the boys have just gotten better and better,' said Mike Thomas, the Raiders' head coach. 'The group has grown up together, developing chemistry throughout the years. 'They're really dialed in and really understand what we're trying to do. So, what we've been able to focus on are just the finer points, just angles, viewpoints, releases all those things, and they've really come to accept that and grow and take in the coaching,' Their competition includes teams from all over the world, representing countries like Australia, Brazil and China. The tournament starts Thursday July 17, with the final game taking place on Sunday, July 20.
CBC
11-07-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Canada's national socca team gears up for international competition, in Ottawa
Canada's national team is playing socca, a six-a-side version of soccer, at its third international competition this year.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Anglesey's adopted 'super fans' who've embraced the Island Games
A group of brothers and their friend with no connection to Anglesey have become "super fans" of the island's Rob, Richard and Pete Miller, along with friend Dave Pearson, have attended every Island Games since 2015."It is random that there's four random lads from Hertfordshire that support a Welsh island, but now whenever I go back on the A55 towards towards Anglesey it feels like I'm going to a second home," said the multi-sport games held every other year, their adventures have taken them to the Channel Islands of Jersey and Guernsey but also further afield to Gibraltar and the Swedish island of from Hertfordshire, the self-professed super fans had no prior connection to any of the competing islands or athletes, but are now part of the team's is their commitment to the Ynys Môn cause, they have now been given official roles with the 106-strong team of Anglesey athletes heading out to Orkney for this year's games. The games started in 1985 on the Isle of Man to give the opportunity for young people to compete in an international competition against other islanders. They usually take place in June or July, and involve 24 islands from across the world, meaning participants can meet new people and learn about different now part of the media team, said his initial exposure was the 2011 Isle of Wight games as he was keen to attend the football matches."It was like £20 for the whole week to watch all these games... the likes of your Jerseys and the Guernseys, and then some other islands I've absolutely never heard of," he said."As soon as I got there I was like, this is amazing."And yet the competitiveness but the friendliness of it all.. I knew that I was on to something good."During the whole week I was texting my brothers and my mate called Dave, and I said, 'Look, you've got to come to this next time around, you'll love this'." Deciding that they wanted to support one of the 24 competing islands, Ynys Môn eventually came up trumps and they all travelled to Jersey for 2015 - a tradition they've maintained ever since."When we got there we had some songs prepared, we took flags," Pete added."We wore the same colours as the football team all that kind of stuff, and it was an amazing week. "From that moment on we've just been part of the Ynys Môn family, we've been to every games since, and probably always will." 'The friendly games' Their experience, however, is typical of what have become known as "the friendly games".Held between 12 and18 July the Scottish archipelago of Orkney will welcome about 2,200 athletes to compete in 12 sports including football, athletics, archery and swimming. The 22nd staging of the games will see Saturday's opening ceremony attended and officially opened by the Princess Royal - Princess Anne - and hosted by broadcaster Lorraine will be Orkney's first time hosting the games, with participating islands including those as far flung as the Falkland Islands, Greenland, and Caribbean nations Bermuda and the Cayman Faroe Islands will be next to host the competition in 2027, with the Isle of Man set to welcome competitors in 2029. Anglesey had been due to host the next staging of the games in 2027 but later withdrew due to increased costs and the effects of getting to Orkney is no mean feat, with the mainly amateur athletes having to raise much of the costs themselves. 'A huge commitment' Forming part of the delegation will be gymnasts, for the first time in several years after gymnastics was left off the main games co-ordinator, Catherine Rowley, says reaching the games means a lot of sacrifices for the athletes, who train out of their base in Holyhead. "We haven't been part of the main games since 2017, its a huge difference", she said."A lot of these girls have been doing their GCSEs and A-levels, they've had to balance their revision and all of their time, to miss out on things with their friend."They've given a huge commitment, they train and awful lot of hours."With fundraising we're lucky that the island has really got behind us, the girls have gone in individually to different companies and asked for funding, its been brilliant." Holyhead-based team member Mia, 18, will be taking part in her third Island Games but this will be her first as part of the main Anglesey delegation."I'm really excited to be going and able to watch the other sports as well while we're there," she said."I've had to take a lot of time out of revision so its been hard juggling everything."We've had to hold events like quizzes and raffles to raise money, its been around £700 each for accommodation and the bus."Teammate Nel, 17, from Llangefni says there's a camaraderie between all the gymnasts taking part."I'm happy that everything is now in place and the support has been amazing.. to represent my island and where I'm from is amazing." Anglesey secured its record medal haul at the last of the 18 medals were won in athletics, with the team hoping for more success on the track this time team will be heading out to Orkney with the intention of giving their representing Wales as well as their island, the hope is that the returning party will also include at least a few medals. Athletics co-ordinator Barry Edwards admitted that "momentum had been lost" after Anglesey withdrew from hosting the 2027 Games. However, he said they were taking a young team to Orkney and remained hopeful. Ewan Jones, 20, from Valley, will be competing in his second games in the 200m and the 4 x 100m said: "I'm very proud of being from Anglesey and Wales and I think the competitiveness against other islands really helps."It was such a surprise in Guernsey as to how many people turned up, you almost feel famous."Its hard to describe but its unreal."
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Charlotte to host international rugby match for second weekend in a row
Charlotte is enhancing its status as a sports city by hosting an international rugby competition, where the USA national rugby team, the Eagles, defeated Belgium 36-17 at Memorial Stadium on July 5th in their first of two matches. The USA national team will take on Spain this weekend in their last match in Charlotte. Advertisement ALSO READ: Charlotte FC and Laundry Project team up to help hundreds of local families Several players from Charlotte's own professional rugby team, Anthem RC, are part of the national team, highlighting the local talent contributing to the sport's growth. Charlotte is being considered as a potential host city for the 2031 Rugby World Cup, which will be held in the United States. The second game of the series will see the Eagles face off against Spain this Saturday at 7:30 PM at Memorial Stadium. (WATCH BELOW: Gastonia cooling center opens after previous controversy)
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
NHL stars to return to Olympic ice in 2026 after 12-year absence
For the first time in more than a decade, the world's best hockey players will take center stage at the Olympic Games. The National Hockey League (NHL), NHL Players' Association (NHLPA), International Ice Hockey Federation (IIHF) and International Olympic Committee (IOC) have finalized a long-awaited agreement confirming NHL players will participate in the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, ending a 12-year Olympic absence and setting the stage for a renewed era of best-on-best international competition. The landmark deal, signed Wednesday in Zurich, also covers participation in the 2030 Winter Games in France and paves the way for a recurring cycle of major international hockey tournaments, including plans for a 2028 and 2032 World Cup of Hockey. 'This is a tremendous day for international ice hockey and for fans across the globe,' said IIHF president Luc Tardif. 'Bringing the best players in the world back to the Olympic Games in 2026 is a major step forward for our sport.' NHL players last competed at the Olympics in 2014 in Sochi, but missed the 2018 and 2022 Games due to financial disputes and pandemic-related complications. For many of the league's brightest stars, Milano-Cortina will be their first opportunity to represent their countries at the Olympic level. 'The return to the Olympics marks a monumental moment for hockey,' said NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh. 'Best-on-best international tournaments like the Olympics provide the opportunity to create extraordinary moments for our players and fans alike.' Among the 12 nations competing in the men's tournament, several have already revealed their first six preliminary selections, all of them NHL stars. Team USA's early roster features Jack Eichel, Quinn Hughes, Auston Matthews, Charlie McAvoy as well as brothers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk. The tournament will run from 11 through 22 February 2026. While the agreement has been in the works for over a year, finalizing it required prolonged negotiations and delicate coordination between all four governing bodies. 'It's been a long time coming,' said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly. 'Our stars are thrilled to be there and take part in the Olympics. It'll be great for hockey – including the National Hockey League.' To mark the occasion, the NHL is planning a special send-off event in February at UBS Arena in New York. The gathering, expected to replace the traditional All-Star Weekend, will bring Olympic-bound players together before they depart for Italy. The decision is about more than player experience or competitive balance, but part of a wider effort to grow the sport on a global scale. 'One of the benefits, clearly, of NHL players being able to participate in the Olympics is we're expanding the reach of the sport,' Daly said. 'The Olympics is the world's biggest stage for sports.' NHLPA senior director for international strategy Rob Zepp echoed that view, describing the Olympics as a unique opportunity to connect with new audiences. 'This increased broader viewership allows us to cast a wider net and drum more people into the game,' he said. The deal also reflects a shared long-term vision. According to Daly and Tardif, the NHL and its partners are committed to a regular cadence of top-level international events, alternating between the Olympics and the World Cup of Hockey every two years. If successful, this would mark the first time the sport has achieved a consistent best-on-best schedule in the modern era. Looking further ahead, both parties expressed optimism about NHL participation at the 2034 Winter Games in Salt Lake City. 'If we do well [in 2026 and 2030], I would be surprised if we organize a competition without the NHL,' said Tardif. For now, the focus shifts to Milano-Cortina, where fans will once again witness hockey's elite face off for Olympic gold, a long-awaited return that promises to reshape the international landscape and inspire a new generation. As Daly put it: 'We're looking forward to it. It's going to be great for hockey.'
