The penultimate Monday night in September brings a special feature of the NFL schedule: a football doubleheader, with the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills starting off the evening and the Washington Commanders and Cincinnati Bengals continuing things just a short while later (the games will air concurrently). It’s the first of four weeks throughout the course of the season with a Monday night doubleheader, and tonight’s slate features some of the AFC’s star quarterbacks seeking their first wins of the season.
For the full rundown of tonight’s schedule, as well as the additional Monday doubleheaders scheduled for the season, see below.
Tonight’s action starts with Trevor Lawrence and the 0-2 Jaguars seeking their first win of the season against Josh Allen and the 2-0 Bills. Less than an hour later, the Commanders visit Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals, who, like Jacksonville, are hoping to avoid a 0-3 start to the 2024 season. See below for start times and tune-in information for both matchups.
Jacksonville Jaguars vs Buffalo Bills — 7:30pm ET on ESPN
Washington Commanders vs Cincinnati Bengals — 8:15pm ET on ABC
When are the Monday Night Football doubleheaders in 2024?
There are four total Monday Night Football doubleheaders in the 2024 season, starting with tonight’s Jaguars vs Bills, Commanders vs Bengals slate. Here’s the full list:
Week 3 (September 23): Jacksonville Jaguars vs Buffalo Bills, Washington Commanders vs Cincinnati Bengals
Week 4 (September 30): Tennessee Titans vs Miami Dolphins, Seattle Seahawks vs Detroit Lions
Week 7 (October 21): Baltimore Ravens vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Los Angeles Chargers vs Arizona Cardinals
Week 15 (December 16): Chicago Bears vs Minnesota Vikings, Atlanta Falcons vs Las Vegas Raiders
What time does the Jaguars vs. Bills game start tonight?
The Jaguars vs Bills Monday night game starts at 7:30pm ET on ESPN.
What time does the Commanders vs. Bengals game start?
The Commanders vs Bengals Monday night game starts 45 minutes after JAX vs BUF, kicking off at 8:15pm ET on ABC and ESPN+.
Why are there two Monday Night Football games this week?
The Monday night doubleheader continues a schedule element that began last season, after the NFL’s latest media rights agreement increased the number of games airing on ABC and ESPN. More games to air across the season led to the doubleheaders sprinkled throughout the 2024-25 season.
Bet it in a Minute: Eyeing props in WAS-CIN game
Jay Croucher and Drew Dinsick review their best bets for the Washington Commanders-Cincinnati Bengals Week 3 showdown, including props on both Jayden Daniels and Ja’Marr Chase.
Today’s slate of college football games features action from all of the nation’s top 25 teams (AP Poll). See below for the full schedule of games for the top-ranked teams with additional information on start times and how to watch.
Be sure to head to NBC and Peacock to watch as No. 17 Notre Dame faces Miami at 3:30 PM ET. Then at 7:30 PM it’s Iowa vs Minnesota in a showdown for the Rosedale Trophy. Click here to sign up for Peacock.
Pro Football Focus previews NBC’s primetime Week 4 matchup featuring a surging Iowa offense led by Kaleb Johnson facing off against a stellar Minnesota defense.
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College football is in full swing and with conference play starting, each game matters just a little bit more. Each week, we have seen some great performances and some upsets that many didn’t see coming.
It’s what has made college football such a fun sport over the years and has kept it going strong. As we enter into Week 4, we have some crucial matchups coming down the pipeline.
But which ones are the most “must-watch”? Luckily for you, here at Newsweek Sports, we got you covered.
Here are the five biggest “must-watch” games on the docket for this weekend.
5. University of Louisiana-Monroe @ No. 1 Texas
While this game may not be the most exciting, Arch Manning is scheduled to make his first start for the Longhorns. That alone makes this game a must-watch on the schedule to see how he can perform.
Texas is heavily favored in this matchup and Manning has looked the part when playing. But until he starts out a game with all the pressure on him, we won’t know how it will look. The Longhorns should win this matchup, especially with them knowing that SEC play starts the following week.
4. Cal @ Florida State
The curious case of when Florida State will win a game has started as the Seminoles enter this game with a record of 0-3. Nobody expected them to be this bad but alas, here we are.
They host the Golden Bears this weekend, who have surprised people by going 3-0 to start the year. If Florida State is to grab its first victory, quarterback DJ Uiagalelei will have to be much better. This game could be one of the Seminoles’ last chances to get a win before the tougher games on their schedule kick in.
3. No. 6 Tennesee @ No. 15 Oklahoma
This will mark the first SEC game for the Sooners as they get a tough test in the Volunteers. Oklahoma will try to make a statement with Tennesee coming to Norman but their work could be cut out for them.
The Volunteers have looked like one of the best teams across the entire country this season, averaging 62.7 points per contest. Quarterback Jackson Arnold will need to have himself a day to keep up with the Tennesee offense, otherwise, things may get away from Oklahoma fairly quickly in this game.
2. No. 12 Utah @ No. 14 Oklahoma State
This could end up being one of the better games this season, with both teams looking to make some noise in the Big 12. Utah gets a chance to go on the road to Stillwater and shut down the Cowboys early on in the year.
Oklahoma State loves to run the football and it could make life tough on the Utes. But both teams can score the football, scoring over 40 points per game on average. This could end up being a shootout which likely favors the Cowboys in the end.
1. No. 11 USC @ No. 18 Michigan
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 07: Miller Moss #7 of the USC Trojans celebrates after a touchdown against the Utah State Aggies during the first half of a game at United Airlines Field at the… LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 07: Miller Moss #7 of the USC Trojans celebrates after a touchdown against the Utah State Aggies during the first half of a game at United Airlines Field at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 07, 2024 in Los Angeles, California. USC takes on Michigan this weekend.
Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images
This game takes home the crown for the weekend schedule, giving fans a massive Big Ten showdown. The Trojans come in looking to stake their claim in the Big Ten as this will be their introduction to the new conference.
While Michigan hasn’t looked the same so far this year, playing at The Big House is never easy. The Wolverines made a change at the quarterback position for this contest, potentially giving them more firepower. Both sides will be looking to make a statement in what could be a defining moment for the conference this season.
Serbian judo world champion Nemanja Majdov vowed not to apologize after he was hit with a five-month ban for making the sign of the cross before he competed at the Paris Olympics.
Majdov was accused of violating the International Judo Federation’s religious code for “having shown a clear religious sign when entering the field of play” and was barred from participating in “all tournaments, camps and preparations.”
Footage captured Majdov touching his forehead, stomach and then both shoulders as part of the Christian gesture ahead of his bout against Greece’s Theodoros Tselidis on July 31.
“15 days ago I received a decision that I was suspended for 5 months by the World Judo Federation (IJF) for violating their religious codes,” Majdov said on Instagram. “More precisely, because of [making a sign of the cross] when entering a match at the Olympic Games.
Nemanja Majdov was banned from all competitions for five months for displaying a religious gesture during the Paris Olympics. Instagram
Majdov was also punished for “refusing to bow” to Tselidis after he lost the Round of 16 elimination match, according to the IJF on Wednesday. He will be eligible to return to competition in early 2025.
The IJF forbids athletes from displaying religious signs near the field of play and has “zero tolerance for any form of discrimination or provocation that may impact our athletes’ performance.”
“With 205-member national federations, each representing a different country or recognized territory (associate members), it is the duty of the IJF to ensure that the field of play is reserved for judo and governed exclusively by the rules of our sport,” the organization said in a statement.
The IJF claimed Majdov was warned in April 2018 and February 2022 for “breaching the IJF code of ethics” — but he refused to apologize for honoring his faith and chose not to contest the warnings.
“True, in the defense letter of the disciplinary proceedings I did not want to apologize… and of course I did not, nor will I ever, although I did not even know what the punishment could be,” Majdov said.
Nemanja Majdov was seen making the gesture before his competition on July 31 at the Paris Olympics. Instagram
“The Lord has given me everything, both for me personally and for my career, and he is number 1 for me and I am proud of that. And that will not change under any circumstances. Glory to Him and thanks for everything.”
When he learned he was banned, Majdov was the world’s third-ranked judoist in the -90kg weight class. He won a gold medal at the European Judo Championships in 2023 and earned silver honors at this year’s tournament.
“Nothing new for me personally, just a new page in my career and a new life experience. I’m sorry that such a beautiful and difficult sport like judo has fallen to such things,” Majdov said.
“God gave me a great career, 7 European and 3 world medals. When I started, I dreamed of winning at least one big medal and thus succeeding in my life and the life of my family, who sacrificed everything for my career. He gave us a lot more, and even borrowed too much so that I would bow my head in front of them when it came either-or.”
Nemanja Majdov was allegedly previously warned about his conduct, according to officials. InstagramNemanja Majdov reacts during the Men’s -90kg Elimination Round of 16 match against Theodoros Tselidis of Team Greece on day five of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Champs-de-Mars Arena on July 31, 2024 in Paris, France. Getty Images
Majdov’s show of faith came one day after the Paris Olympics faced intense backlash over its opening ceremony, which featured a drag show version of The Last Supper.
The segment featured 17 performers — including three familiar “Drag Race France” competitors — behind a long table, resembling Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting of Jesus Christ and his disciples sharing a final meal.
Organizers said the segment depicted a “great paean feast in which the gods of Olympus take part.”
“Clearly there was never an intention to show disrespect to any religious group. On the contrary, I think (with) Thomas Jolly, we really did try to celebrate community tolerance,” spokesperson Anne Descamps said during a press conference.
“Looking at the result of the polls that we shared, we believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense we are, of course, really, really sorry.”
After having its last two games canceled because of swatting incidents, Battle Mountain returns to the pitch on Friday night at 6 p.m. against No. 10 Cheyenne Mountain. Rex Keep/Courtesy photo
The last time Cheyenne Mountain came to town on Sept. 30, 2011, Battle Mountain had to rally from an 0-2 deficit. As the Huskies nursed a one-goal lead late in the second half, Christian Nichols — whose main sport was lacrosse — sat at the end of the bench with his shoes off, sharing Takis with a teammate. Suddenly, the student section started chanting his name.
Head coach Dave Cope strolled down the sideline and told the senior to check in.
“He subbed on and wouldn’t you know it, the ball falls to him in the box and he scores,” Cope said. “I think he ran straight over to the crowd and never came back.”
After a two-week layoff, Battle Mountain returns to its home pitch Friday night at 6 p.m. to host the No. 10-ranked Red-Tailed Hawks. The Huskies’ Sept. 10 rivalry game at Eagle Valley was canceled after a swatting incident at the school. Wednesday’s scheduled game against Summit was called off because of a bomb threat at Battle Mountain. Contemplating the nature of the cancellations has Cope hoping high school memories like Nichols’ aren’t becoming a thing of the past.
“You just want to see those same processes that have been going on in American communities for decades. Whether it’s the high school musical or a football or soccer game,” he said. “Evil is a strong word, but when you’re disrupting kids’ education and their ability to be together — that’s evil.”
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The Eagle Valley match — which has been rescheduled for Oct. 22 — was canceled because several players did not attend school for safety reasons and thus were ineligible to play later that evening.
“I think the feeling was just that we wouldn’t have the integrity of the game,” said Cope said, who didn’t find out about Wednesday’s bomb threat until students were walking out of school. He said the decision was made early on to cancel all activities to keep people out of the buildings as they were cleared. The property was deemed safe at 3 p.m.
“Away teams would have already had to leave,” Cope explained. “There was a lot of moving parts, so the decision was made to leave it as a cancellation.”
Cope said his athletes have been “resilient” in rolling with the sudden scheduling changes. The team’s internal communications have stressed the importance of community. Cope, a longtime Battle Mountain social studies teacher, has encouraged players to make efforts to connect with isolated classmates. On the pitch, the coach has been pleasantly surprised to see his athletes buck the commonly held principle that high school athletes love games while only coaches love practices.
“I have to give them a lot of credit because over the last couple of weeks they’ve focused,” he said. “They’ve kept themselves engaged and worked hard. I think we’re a better team today than we were a week ago Monday.”
The Huskies are 2-3 so far this year, with a pair of losses coming to 5A teams in No. 2 Northfield and Denver East. They also fell to 4A No. 2 Centaurus 2-0 in their last game on Sept. 7. Even in the losses, Cope sees players absorbing the Front Range teams’ “speed of play, competitiveness and physical nature.”
“That’s the reason we schedule these games,” Cope said. “The one thing we’ve taken from all these games is that we can compete with these teams. We haven’t gotten blown out in any games, but yet, we’re still looking for that signature victory. … Friday’s a huge game.”
Its importance, however, isn’t tied solely to RPI ranking ramifications.
“What makes us powerful is when we come together, and it’s sad to me when things happen that disrupt that,” Cope said. “That’s why we invite everyone to come over. We have to not let the evil forces win. Hopefully, we can all rally together and rise above it.”
Here is a look at the top games involving Inland high school football teams on Friday, Sept. 20.
Sites and times of games are subject to change.
FRIDAY’S TOP GAMES
Cajon (3-0) at San Jacinto (1-3), 7 p.m.
IE Varsity info: Cajon handled last week’s change in venue with no problems, as the Cowboys went into Orange County and came away with a 41-21 victory over Newport Harbor. Junior Jordan White ran for 189 yards and two touchdowns, and senior Brandon Rivers added 115 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Senior cornerback Keilin Davis led the defensive effort with two interceptions. San Jacinto had to forfeit two previous wins due to an ineligible player, but the Tigers posted a 55-35 victory over Rancho Verde last week. Senior Eric Gonzalez ran for 88 yards and scored four touchdowns on five carries, and junior Jomini Ransom added 157 yards and two scores on the ground. Senior linebacker Daylen Love leads the defense with 32 tackles and two interceptions.
Prediction: Cajon
Rancho Cucamonga quarterback Jacob Chambers (#7) scrambles away from Murrieta Valley’s Vincent Ingram, (#94) during a non-league high school football game at Rancho Cucamonga High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Aug. 23, 2024. (Contributing Photographer/John Valenzuela)
Rancho Cucamonga (2-2) at Bishop Amat (2-1), 7 p.m.
IE Varsity info: Rancho Cucamonga cruised to a 48-14 victory over Valencia, the Cougars’ second straight win after opening the season with back-to-back losses. Junior Jacob Chambers passed for 213 yards and three touchdowns and added 94 yards and a score on the ground. Senior Keyonn Chatman led the ground attack with 108 yards, and junior Tyree Wilson caught a pair of touchdown passes. Junior linebacker Arden Benson leads the defense with 47 tackles. Bishop Amat held off a late charge by Vista Murrieta and walked away with a 47-42 victory. Senior quarterback Frankie Villalbazo passed for 331 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Lancers.
Prediction: Bishop Amat
Norco (1-3) at Citrus Valley (0-2), 7 p.m.
IE Varsity info: Norco snapped an eight-game losing skid in a big way with a 33-28 victory over Etiwanda. Sophomore Trevor Schneider ran for 213 yards and four touchdowns on 31 carries, and senior Chris Laing added 129 yards on 22 carries. Senior defensive end Kameron Brown had eight tackles and three sacks for the Cougars. Citrus Valley’s game against Oak Hills was canceled last week because of the Line Fire, and the Blackhawks will be looking to avenge last year’s 20-7 loss to Norco. Linebackers Ismael Gonzalez (So.) and Ryan Barrios (Sr.) have combined for 53 tackles
Prediction: Norco
Granite Hills (3-0) at Norte Vista (4-0), 7 p.m.
IE Varsity info: Norte Vista pulled out a 34-28 victory over Great Oak last week, with senior quarterback Seth Bolender scoring the winning touchdown late in the game. Junior Dreadie Allain led the Braves’ ground attack with 161 yards and two touchdowns, and junior Jy’Den Henderson racked up 124 total yards from scrimmage. Junior King Butler scored once and also intercepted a pass on defense. Granite Hills had a bye last week and has outscored the opposition 150-50. Senior linebacker Roberto Sanchez leads the Cougars with 30 tackles.
Prediction: Norte Vista
Claremont (3-1) at Alta Loma (2-2), 7 p.m.
IE Varsity info: Claremont rolled to a 38-0 victory over Kaiser, the Wolfpack’s second consecutive shoutout. The offense is led by junior quarterback Jerred Pocock, who passed for 769 yards and nine touchdowns over the first three games. Senior linebacker Nathan Ordonez has 40 tackles, and junior safety Kingston Fajardo has picked off three passes. Alta Loma cruised to a 52-19 win over Long Beach Cabrillo, a late substitution after Hesperia canceled. Sophomore Izaih Brown ran for 223 yards and a touchdown, and senior Derrick Knowden-Williams scored twice. Senior linebacker Luke Stansell returned an interception for a touchdown.
Prediction: Alta Loma
Ramona’s Sincere Tolbert tries to escape from Riverside Poly’s Israel Morales in the CIF Southern Section Division 11 football championship game at King HS stadium on Friday Nov. 24 2023. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Riverside Poly (1-2) at Ramona (4-0), 7 p.m.
IE Varsity info: This is the 51st installment of “The Solar Series,” which is Riverside’s oldest football rivalry. Poly leads the series 30-19-1 overall, but Ramona has won six consecutive meetings. The Rams won twice last season, including a 38-17 victory in the CIF Southern Section Division 11 championship game. Ramona pulled out a 27-26 victory over Rancho Mirage last week, the program’s 10th straight win. Senior Sincere Tolbert ran for 264 yards and two touchdowns, and senior Jose Martinez kicked two field goals. Senior linebacker Angel Barrios leads the defense with 54 tackles. Poly came up short in another city rivalry game last week, falling 21-18 to King. Senior quarterback Victor Aguilar passed for 172 yards and a touchdown. The Bears’ defense is led by senior linebacker Paul Robles III, who averaged 13.7 tackles through the first two games.
Prediction: Ramona
Rim of the World (3-0) at Colton (2-1), 7 p.m.
IE Varsity info: Rim of the World knocked off Arcadia 21-12 last week, giving the program its first 3-0 start since 2019. Junior Tatum Ortiz rushed for 222 yards and two touchdowns on 32 carries for the Fighting Scots. Senior linebacker Christian Granger has a team-high 25 tackles. Colton’s district rivalry game against Grand Terrace was canceled last week due to air-quality issues related to the Line Fire. Sophomore Koa Regalado has passed for 442 yards and four touchdowns and rushed for 212 yards and four scores. Junior linebacker Athan Aguayo leads the Yellowjackets with 23 tackles.
Prediction: Rim of the World
Glendora (1-2) at Ayala (2-2), 7 p.m.
IE Varsity info: Ayala and Glendora once were league rivals, and the programs have continued to play since being placed in different leagues. Ayala is looking to rebound from back-to-back losses, including a 57-13 setback to Villa Park last week. Senior Alex Way has passed for 817 yards and seven touchdowns, and junior cornerback Dawaun Nettingham II leads the Bulldogs with 27 tackles. Glendora took its bye last week and looks to avoid being swept by schools from Chino Hills. The Tartans dropped the season opener 20-3 to Chino Hills. Junior linebacker Aidan Yamazaki leads Glendora’s defense with 23 tackles.
David Crisafulli on Wednesday renewed criticism of the bid to use the ageing Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (Qsac) for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics as “neither visionary nor cost effective” and said it would not meet the future needs of the city.
“I don’t think there’s any scenario where any Queenslander looks at that plan and doesn’t see anything but cringeworthiness from a desperate government,” Crisafulli said.
The opposition leader said Queenslanders were “so embarrassed” by the government’s handling of a “once in a generation opportunity to deliver generational infrastructure”.
He has flagged a review of infrastructure if the LNP wins government at the 26 October state election.
The Labor government committed to giving Qsac a facelift for the games, even after it was ruled out as a venue by an independent review, in March. Under the proposal the 100 metres final could be held in the smallest athletics stadium since Amsterdam’s in 1928.
The premier, Steven Miles, on Wednesday said the project validation report on Qsac would not be delivered until the second quarter of 2025.
Andrew Liveris, the president of the Games’ organising committee, said the body could not take a position on the stadium until costings were delivered.
“We’ve been very, very clear. I’ve been very, very clear that until we see numbers on Qsac there is no position Brisbane 2032 is taking,” he told reporters on Wednesday.
Brisbane is no ‘hillbilly town’, insists 2032 Olympic chief Andrew Liveris from Paris – video
“We need to know the cost aspect of what would be an athletic stadium.
“In terms of the Olympics and the delivery, we’re committed to a budget – $5bn – and we’ve got to get that budget right.
“You just have to be in the Stade de France [during the Paris Olympics], watching the sevens rugby with 80,000 people providing revenue and top sponsors providing revenue, to understand the power of having a right-sized stadium.”
Liveris said there were two major lessons from Paris 2024 – the athlete experience and the fan experience.
While Paris had 40,000 gendarmes on the streets for security, he said their presence was never felt.
Paris also successfully integrated the fan experience with their venues.
Brisbane had an activation site in the city of love that saw 1.5 million people view their billboard that was held at an Australian-owned coffee shop in the French capital.
Slowly but surely Brisbane is finding its place on the world stage and the globe will know Queensland’s capital when the Los Angeles Games come around in 2028, Liveris said.
Importantly, time is on the sunshine state’s side.
“We have 2,865 days to get this right,” Liveris said.
“Paris were still deciding on venues 600 days out. Los Angeles still hasn’t finalised many of their venues for many of their sports.
“So, please don’t panic. We’ve got this.”
When asked about the biggest thing Brisbane can learn from Paris on Wednesday, the Labor minister Grace Grace quipped: “Not to swim in the Seine.”
Astana, Kazakhstan – Clouds of dust rise from the sandy ground of a playing field as a dozen horses converge, their riders standing in their stirrups as they direct their mounts towards an odd target: the headless and disembowelled carcass of a goat laying in the dust.
From what appears as a multi-legged, rotating creature of hooves, tails, heads and human fists, one rider manages to lift and hoist the carcass beneath his leg, dashing towards the goal with two teams of seven horsemen chasing him from all sides – some to protect him, others to thwart him, whatever the cost. The risk of broken fingers and jaws is all too real.
This is not a movie but a game of kokpar, a horseback sport known and played across Central Asia, and a thrilling climax to this year’s edition of the Fifth World Nomad Games that concluded on September 13.
Held in the futuristic Kazakh capital of Astana, the fifth edition of the World Nomad Games is a celebration of the sport, culture and unity of the nomadic peoples of Asia’s Turkic nations.
The bi-annual event started 10 years ago in Cholpon Ata in Kyrgyzstan, with 30 countries participating, after former Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambayev suggested the games would be a good way to showcase the region’s culture in an era of fast-paced globalisation.
“We are the descendants of wise and brave nomads who were able to preserve their unique identity and gave us the civilisation of the Great Steppe,” Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said at the grand opening of the games on September 8. “Our common duty is to cherish this sacred heritage and to pass it on to future generations.”
Competitors in the traditional archery competition in Astana [Kit Yeng Chan/Al Jazeera[
Tokayev also addressed the suffering in other parts of the world, especially in Gaza, while emphasising the games’ role in strengthening friendships among nations, much in the same way as the recently concluded Olympics.
In the same way that France used the Olympics to showcase Paris and French culture to the world, so Kazakhstan used its first time hosting the World Nomad Games to showcase the origins of the Kazakh steppes, symbolising the peaceful interconnections of past nomadic empires beneath a traditional nomadic yurt.
‘Three games of men’
This year’s event, the first held in Kazakhstan, was possibly the largest to date, featuring more than 2,000 athletes from 89 countries ranging from Angola to Argentina, Hungary to Sweden, and Turkmenistan to Zimbabwe.
They all came together to participate in 21 traditional games that have their roots in the “three games of men” (archery, wrestling and horse racing), which testify to the skills of the peoples who ruled the steppes of inner Asia for thousands of years, from Silk Road traders to the Golden Horde that preceded the 15th century Kazakh Khanate.
Besides kokpar, some of the most interesting games were audaryspak, a horseback wrestling competition where a sportsman must wrestle his opponent from his horse, and kusbegilik, a hunting game with birds of prey (majestic golden eagles, falcons and hawks) whose flight speed is assessed by launching them on a lure or counting how long it takes the bird to reach a bait in its owner’s hand.
A falcon and his master during the kusbegilik bird of prey flying competition [Kit Yeng Chan/Al Jazeera]
There were also several different styles of wrestling, such as the local Qazak Quresi and Kurash, entirely performed in standing position, as well as the Powerful Nomad Strongman Competition, which included weight lifting, javelin throwing challenges and pulling a 200kg (440-pound) bullock cart by naked hand and muscle.
The games also went beyond sport to include strategy such as Togyzkumalak, a board game in which a player wins by collecting the highest number of stones, and live performances of aitys, Kazakh and Kyrgyz folk-orientated improvised music and poetry duels which became part of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2015.
Kazakhstan won the games with a total of 112 medals, including 43 golds, followed by Kyrgyzstan with 65 medals and Russia with 49, but there were plenty of surprises.
Betty Vuk, an Italian female judo fighter and member of Italy’s Qazak Quresi Foundation, secured Italy’s only gold medal, and first in the Nomad Games, in traditional Kazakh wrestling.
Other winning nations included Hungary – which won eight medals, including one gold, surpassing Turkey, India, China and Turkmenistan – and Romania, Poland, Moldova, France and Australia, underlining the growing appeal of traditional Central Asian games and martial arts around the world.
While the 2026 edition will return to Kyrgyzstan, future games could take place far beyond the steppe.
“Maybe in 2030 or 2032, it’ll be possible to host the World Nomad Games in North America because we have common ground there. […] Our geography should expand and become a world project with wider attention,” Kazakhstan’s vice-minister of Tourism and Sports, Zharasbayev Serik Maratovich told the media. “We want to popularise our games and ask anyone to help spread the word.”
Kyrgyz and US athletes compete in audaryspak or horseback wrestling [Kit Yeng Chan/Al Jazeera]
Back on the kokpar field, the goat was made of rubber, but a dead animal is the norm in a sport that has slightly different rules and names depending on where it is played.
It was Kazakhstan that emerged as the eventual winners of the kokpar tournament, taking home the gold ahead of Kyrgyzstan.
The Champions League returns this week with all 36 teams in action
In a UEFA first games will be on Thursday as well as Tuesday and Wednesday
LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off! , available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
By Kim Morrissey
Published: | Updated:
The Champions League is back and what a first week of games we have in store with Liverpool, Manchester City, Arsenal and Aston Villa all in action.
This season’s competition will be unlike anything witnessed before with UEFA abolishing their old group stage format in favour of an all new-league phase consisting of 36 teams.
In another first for the competition, the opening round fixtures will also be played across three nights instead of two, with six games scheduled to be played on the traditional Tuesday and Wednesday matchday slots as well as Thursday.
Each and every one of these games will be broadcast live for fans to enjoy, so a single game isn’t missed.
Here’s everything you need to know about where to watch this week’s Champions League fixtures, with games being broadcast across six different channels.
The Champions League returns this week with a whole new look
UEFA have abolished the group stage format in favour of an all new-league phase consisting of 36 teams for this season
To manage the fixture congestion and make sure all bases are covered TNT Sports, Amazon Prime and BBC Sport will all be providing coverage of the 2024-25 UEFA Champions League in the UK.
Amazon Prime are the new kids on the block for Champions League coverage earning holding rights for one match a week under a new TV agreement.
The streaming platform have been given the top pick each Tuesday, with football broadcaster veterans TNT Sports showing the remaining ties.
TNT Sports will be the main broadcaster for this year’s Champions League, showing more than 185 matches across the season.
For the next three years, BBC Sport will show the highlights from each Champions League game after all the action has drawn to a conclusion each matchweek.
Amazon Prime are the new kids on the block for Champions League coverage earning holding rights for one match a week under a new TV agreement
This week Prime Video will show the Tuesday 8pm kick-off between AC Milan and Liverpool
Where to watch each Champions League fixture
All times UK (BST)
Tuesday, September 17
5:45pm: BSC Young Boys vs Aston Villa FC – TNT Sports 1
5:45pm: Juventus vs PSV Eindhoven – TNT Sports 2
8pm: AC Milan vs Liverpool FC – Amazon Prime Video
8pm: Bayern Munich vs Dinamo Zagreb- TNT Sports 2
8pm: Real Madrid vs Stuttgart – TNT Sports 1
8pm: Sporting Lisbon vs Lille – TNT Sports 4
Wednesday, September 18
5:45pm: Sparta Prague vs RB Salzburg – TNT Sports 6
5:45pm: Bologna vs Shakhtar Donetsk – TNT Sports 4
8pm: Celtic FC vs SK Slovan Bratislava – TNT Sports 2
8pm: Club Brugge KV vs Borussia Dortmund – TNT Sports 5
8pm: Manchester City vs Inter Milan – TNT Sports 1
8pm: Paris Saint-Germain vs Girona FC – TNT Sports 4
Thursday, September 19
5:45pm: Feyenoord vs Bayer Leverkusen – TNT Sports 2
5:45pm: Crvena Zvezda vs Benfica – TNT Sports 4
8pm: Atalanta vs Arsenal – TNT Sports 1
8pm: AS Monaco vs Barcelona – TNT Sports 2
8pm: Atletico Madrid vs RB Leipzig – TNT Sports 4
8pm: Brest 29 vs SK Sturm Graz – TNT Sports 5
Aston Villa’s return to the Champions League after 42 years will be documented on TNT Sports 1 when they face Swiss outfit Young Boys on Tuesday at 5:45pm
Here at Mail Sport we will be providing live blogs for multiple Champions League ties featuring build-up to the games, team news and all the latest updates and live score once the games get underway.
For those who are hoping to tune in via TNT Sports, games will be available to watch through BT, EE, Sky, and Virgin Media.
Alternatively the games can be accessed via Discovery+, with a subscription including TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment.
A TNT Sports subscription can be bought for £30.99 per month here.
Fans can view Amazon Prime’s top Tuesday pick via Prime Video, which is included in a Prime membership which costs £8.99 a month.
A 30-day free trial is available, and subscribers can sign up to Prime Video on its own for £5.99 per month.
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Where to watch every Champions League game LIVE on TV this week in the UK with games set to be shown on TNT Sports, Amazon Prime and BBC
According to new reports, French authorities foiled three different terrorism plots to attack the Olympic and Paralympic Games, both within Paris and in other host cities around the country.
Five people, including one minor, were arrested in connection to the planned attacks, with the suspects facing various charges. Their identities have not been released at this time.
French anti-terror prosecutor Olivier Christen said that at least one of the three attacks was directed at “Israeli institutions or representatives of Israel in Paris” amid the Israel-Hamas war. However, Christen reaffirmed that Israeli athletes were not the target of the planned attack.
Both before and during the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the country of France was under strict security measures, many of which were directed within the city of Paris. In the center of the city, many roads and walkways were heavily restricted, with a QR code required to enter past certain checkpoints.
At the national level, other significant security measures took place before the Games, including a significant increase in house searches and house arrests by French police forces. Recent numbers indicate that over 936 house searches have occured in France so far in 2024, up significantly from the 154 reported over the same time period last year.
In addition, the nation saw a sharp increase in its airspace defences, with the government deploying war planes, attack helicopters, surveillance aircraft, military drones, and police drones to patrol the skies around Paris and the other host cities for the Games. According to recently released numbers the French Air and Space Force recorded over 750 flight hours in 350 missions, resulting in 90 interceptions.
With the large increase in security measures, both the Olympic and Paralympic Games managed to proceed safely, with the Paralympic officially wrapping up last week. However, there were certainly points where security concerns remained high. On the eve of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremonies, a coordinated arson attack on a high-speed railway just outside of Paris left many skeptical about the security of the Games. Fortunately, nobody was harmed in the attack, though it caused a large disruption to the country’s transportation system. In addition, back in May, police foiled a terrorist plot in which an 18-year-old had been planning to attack crowds at the Olympic soccer stadium in Saint-Etienne.
