Tag: Sporting

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Binge drinking during sporting events and holidays may trigger A-fib

Binge drinking during sporting events and holidays may trigger A-fib

San Francisco — Chicken wings and chili aren’t the only potential overindulgences to be careful about on Super Bowl Sunday. Researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, are warning that excessive alcohol consumption during major sporting events and holidays may increase your risk of an episode of atrial fibrillation – an abnormal heart rhythm that can trigger serious health problems.

The researchers analyzed data from more than 36,000 people from all 50 U.S. states and 59 countries whose breath alcohol concentration was tracked via Bluetooth-enabled breathalyzer tests. Findings show that the participants drank more alcohol on eight national holidays/events or dates that coincided with major televised sporting events: New Year’s Day, the Fourth of July, Christmas, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Father’s Day, the beginning of daylight saving time, the FIFA World Cup and Super Bowl Sunday.

The researchers then examined data from the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development, identifying emergency room visits related to a-fib coded between Jan. 1, 2005, and Dec. 30, 2015. After comparing the data for the weeks associated with increased alcohol consumption with other weeks of the year, the researchers found a “significantly elevated number of hospital visits” for a-fib occurred around the eight previously identified holidays/events, according to a UCSF press release.

 

“Our new data suggest that acute alcohol consumption in the general population is associated with a higher risk of an episode of atrial fibrillation, including a higher risk for a first episode of atrial fibrillation among individuals never previously diagnosed with the condition,” Gregory Marcus, senior study author and UCSF professor of medicine, said in the release. “Worldwide, alcohol is the most popularly consumed drug, and it now is clear that alcohol consumption is an important risk factor for atrial fibrillation.”

The study was published online Jan. 12 in the journal Nature Cardiovascular Research.

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Holiday Bowl Leaders Join in Campaign to Draw More Top Sporting Events to San Diego

Holiday Bowl Leaders Join in Campaign to Draw More Top Sporting Events to San Diego
An aerial view of Petco Park and the city of San Diego. Photo credit: sandiego.gov

With support from the San Diego Tourism Authority and Tourism Marketing District, Holiday Bowl officials have launched an effort to attract more high-profile sporting events to the region.

Sports San Diego will serve as the primary marketing tool for the area as a sports destination, while attempting to drive visitor demand through recruiting and supporting “world-class sports events.”

San Diego has played host to some of the sporting world’s largest events, most recently the U.S. Open in golf and the Breeders Cup, both in 2021. Other past events include the Super Bowl, X-Games and MLB’s All-Star Game.

San Diego Bowl Game Association CEO Mark Neville noted the organization’s success in bringing events to the region, including the Navy vs. Notre Dame football game in 2018 and 2020’s successful bid on the 2022 Transplant Games of America.

“A few years ago, we took a strategic look at how we can do more for the community and that resulted in growing our scope to host more events …” Neville said. “Being the primary organization for marketing San Diego as a sports destination is a natural for us.”

Founding business partners include Qualcomm, Kaiser Permanente, General Dynamics NASSCO, and Rady Children’s Hospital.

According to Tourism Economics, nearly 180 million people traveled to a sports event in the U.S. as a participant or spectator in 2019, resulting in $45.1 billion in economic impact.

Locally, it is estimated that sports events generate over 300,000 hotel room nights each year.

Julie Coker, president and CEO of the San Diego Tourism Authority called sports “a critical component of our local tourism industry, attracting more visitors while cementing San Diego’s reputation for health and wellness.”

She added, “the creation of Sports San Diego will help us up our game as we work together to grow this market.”







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Infantino says World Cup will be health ‘benchmark’ for global sporting events

Infantino says World Cup will be health 'benchmark' for global sporting events

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Doha (AFP) – FIFA president Gianni Infantino said Thursday this year’s World Cup finals in Qatar will become a “benchmark” for holding future global sporting events during a health crisis.

The Qatari organisers of the 32 nation event that starts November 21 and runs till December 18 said they are “cautiously optimistic” it will be the first mass gathering of sports fans for a global sports event since the coronavirus pandemic erupted two years ago.

Spectators have largely been forbidden from attending last year’s Tokyo Summer Olympics — save for a few events outside the Japanese capital — and the ongoing Winter Olympics in China.

FIFA announced this week that requests have been made for 17 million tickets for the first World Cup in the Arab region and sought to reassure fans about safety measures during an online health conference organised by the Qatar authorities.

Football has a duty “to make sure this not only the best World Cup ever but also the healthiest World Cup ever,” Infantino said in a recorded statement for the event.

He added that the health and security standards will be “a benchmark for future sporting events of this scale.”

The same message was given by World Health Organisation director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus who highlighted the “unique challenges” faced by organisers because of the pandemic.

WHO has been working with the Qatar government on health security, infectious diseases, food safety, co-ordination and communication during the World Cup.

“The lessons learned from Qatar’s experience in this World Cup will help us all in designing health and safety measures for other large scale events,” Tedros added.

Neither FIFA nor the Qatar organisers, who have spent billions of dollars preparing for the event, have said what would happen if a new coronavirus wave threatens the event.

But Hassan Al Thawadi, director general of the government’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, said: “While the pandemic is still very much here with us, we can now see real light at the end of the tunnel.

“In our eyes, the pandemic has given Qatar 2022 a new significance. Our World Cup may well be the first time that the world can properly come together to celebrate its passion for football.

“We are cautiously optimistic that we may be the country that hosts the first true gathering of global fans since the start of the crisis,” added Thawadi.

© 2022 AFP

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Why is the National Anthem Played at Sporting Events?

Why is the National Anthem Played at Sporting Events?

Every American athlete and sports connoisseur recognizes the significance of a single song when it comes to sporting events – whether that game be on ice, on a field, or on a court. 

The Star-Spangled Banner, otherwise known as the national anthem, is an ode to history and a tradition carried out across the entire country.

The national anthem is either played or sung prior to any athletic event in the U.S. – ranging from the NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, NCAA, all other professional leagues and usually including most high school-level sports as well. The song is a preface to the athleticism about to take place, but also a way in which we honor our country and those who framed our nation. 

But who decided that the Star-Spangled banner would be the nation’s song? And why is it prevalent in sporting events in particular?

Here’s everything you need to know about the history of the national anthem:

What is the history of the national anthem?

The Star-Spangled Banner is the national anthem for the United States and it was formally written by Thomas Carr. 

The lyrics derive from the “Defence of Fort McHenry” poem, which dates back to 1814. 

The prose was written by poet Francis Scott Key after he watched the tragedy at Fort McHenry by British ships in Baltimore Harbor in the Battle of Baltimore during the War of 1812. The inspiration drew from the U.S. flag waving high and mighty upon victory with its 15 stars and 15 stripes. The flag was known as the Star-Spangled Banner.

When was the Star-Spangled Banner recognized as the national anthem?

The Star-Spangled Banner was recognized for its official use in the U.S. Navy by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916. The song was deemed the American national anthem through a congressional resolution that President Herbet Hoover signed in 1931.

What was the US national anthem before 1931?

Before the Star-Spangled Banner became the American national anthem in 1931, other songs including “America the Beautiful,” “Hail, Columbia,” and “My Country, Tis of Thee,” were used to honor the nation.

Why is the national anthem sung at sporting events?

The Star-Spangled Banner is played or performed for thousands of sporting events each year, ranging from high school soccer games, to college basketball games, and of course in professional leagues like the NFL. The Super Bowl has been entertaining the song since its first game in 1967, and will do so for all of the coming years.

But why is this song so monumentally necessary to be heard before kick-off, face-off, or tip-off?

The song was published country-wide in the 1800s and became a “wartime anthem.” It was played during patriotic celebrations and parades, much like those held on Independence Day. And soon after, Benjamin J. Tracy, the Secretary of the Navy, signed General Order #374 in 1889, which declared the Star-Spangled Banner to be the song played whenever the U.S. flag was raised.

The anthem was not required to be played in athletic atmospheres until later, but the song became popular in the 1800s and began being presented before games.

Once victory was evident during World War I for the U.S. and its allies, patriotism soared. Sporting events became the perfect place for the song to reach audiences and promote U.S. allegiance and loyalty. 

When did the national anthem start in sports?

The song made headway during the 1918 World Series when the Chicago Cubs faced the Boston Red Sox (and yes, Babe Ruth was present). When the Star-Spangled Banner played during the seventh inning stretch, a sports tradition was born. 
The national pride demonstrated in the 2-3 minutes of the song was uncanny, and from then on, sports and country became intertwined into American culture.