 | |  | Pope Francis: Sports Fan Amid the outpouring of tributes to Pope Francis following his death were recollections of the pontiff's proclivity for sports and the unifying role they have played in an increasingly fraying, divided world. The Italian National Olympic Committee suspended all sports on the day of the pontiff's funeral and even IOC President Thomas Bach weighed in. ....read more | |
| Destination Spotlight | Where Athletes Achieve Personal Bests. In Sports and Life Sarasota County is renowned for its laid-back beach culture and celebrated arts scene, yet leagues and athletes have discovered it's also one of the best places anywhere to play - and live. Countless athletes have visited for a tournament or event and quickly realize their training and lifestyles would exponentially improve if they became residents. ....read more |  | |
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| In other news and commentary... | | Those Aren't Black-Eyed Susans and Other Secrets of the Triple Crown | It's Triple Crown season, with the Kentucky Derby this weekend. Much is at stake: stud fees, bets and (at Pimlico), the painting of the weather vane in the winning horse's and jockey's colors. The iconic symbols are the flowers: red roses, black-eyed Susans and white carnations. But where do they really come from? Here are the surprising backstories. ....read more |
| | Takeaways for Event Owners from the New Olympic Team Mixed Golf | The IOC's addition of Mixed Team Golf to the Olympic program at Los Angeles in 2028 has created the first Olympic golf team competition since the 1904 games. Golf is now one of six sports (along with archery, track & field, gymnastics, rowing, coastal beach sprint and table tennis) to add a mixed gender competition. Will golf event owners follow suit? ....read more |
| | How a Bounty on Invasive Species is Driving Engagement in Fishing | We've said it before and we'll say it again: Sometimes, people just want to see a villain in handcuffs. But what's even more rewarding than that? Collecting a monetary reward for helping out with the manhunt - or in the case of one organization in Maryland, the fish hunt. Here's a case study in driving engagement and getting rid of invasive species. ....read more |
| | Cities Score with 2s Frees 3s, Basketball's Version of Pitch, Hit & Run | The National Football League's Punt, Pass and Kick youth football skills competition was grounded in 2017 after 56 years (RIP), but Major League Baseball's Pitch, Hit & Run is still scoring with young ballplayers. And now, basketball players young and old have a similar skills competition. Meet 2s Frees 3s and learn how it is racking up economic points. ....read more |
| | Lawmakers Reintroduce Bills to Help Bolster Youth Sports Facilities | Enhancing youth sports facilities and increasing access to them are the dual focus of two pieces of fairly new bipartisan federal legislation that would make youth sports facilities eligible for grants through the U.S. Department of Commerce's Economic Development Administration. Sound familiar? Similar legislation was introduced last fall. ....read more |
| | From Shot Skis to Pond Skims, Shenanigans Mark End of Ski Season | Yeah, we know. Ski resorts are hawking special advance discounts if people buy passes for next year's ski season. But what everyone REALLY wants to know is, of course, this: Who is planning what crazy activities to celebrate the end of the season? Well, wonder no more. Here is SDM's guide to everything from pond skims to costume races (and more). ....read more |
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| Inside Events |  | National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics The National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics is an athletic association that can uniquely address the interests of small colleges by driving student-athlete enrollment and financial sustainability. NAIA conducts championships across a wide range of sports for men and women. SDM sat down with Jim Carr, its CEO, to catch up on the latest. ....read more | |
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| Read the latest issue of Sports Destination Management | 
| March/April 2025 Some of the most important words in the Special Olympics are "Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." It is the oath that Special Olympians recite at competitions and I think it embodies the best philosophy ever, not just for sports but for the business of sports. And maybe that is something we all need to strive for. Sports should unite us and let us know what we really have in common: the will to win and the willingness to learn from our losses. Let's start spring, a season of renewal, with that in mind. ....read more | | Read the entire issue | View the digital version | Issue archive |
| Last word... | | "The language of sports is universal; it extends across borders, language, race, religion and ideology; it possesses the capacity to unite people by fostering dialogue and acceptance." ~ Pope Francis (an enthusiastic soccer fan) |
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