Heat-prevention measures have been introduced at the High School Baseball Championship. This year’s opening ceremony began late in the afternoon for the first time ever.

A J-League team is facing numerous defamatory comments on social media. Some users called the manager and players “gangsters” or “useless junk.” The team recently filed criminal complaints against people who posted abusive comments.

In women’s boxing at the Olympics, two fighters’ eligibility has sparked debate. These boxers have high levels of male hormones and masculine physiques.

Teen gymnast Shoko Miyata withdrew from the national team for the Paris Olympics. She admitted to violating the team’s code of conduct by smoking and drinking. Her coach said she was facing extreme pressure to deliver top performances.

France captain Zinedine Zidane, whose name will forever be remembered with “The Head-butt”, was chosen the most valuable player of the 2006 World Cup after his team’s loss to Italy in Sunday’s final.  During the last game of his career, Zidane was red-carded for slamming his head into an opponent’s chest.

After the International Olympic Committee called on international sports federations to keep Russia out of events in response to the invasion of Ukraine, Russian teams and athletes in most major sports were banned from competitions under their country’s name or flag. Belarus was also singled out due to its participation in the Ukraine conflict. The Russian Deputy Prime Minister asserted that sports and politics should be separate, but much of the world appears united behind this new addition to the growing list of sanctions.