A neurologist has warned that emerging contact sports, including collision running and face-slapping competitions, carry a "distinct possibility" of death due to impacts comparable to a "coward punch" or "king-hit." The expert provided this testimony to a New South Wales parliamentary inquiry currently examining the safety regulations for these activities.
The inquiry is specifically looking into whether competitions such as Run Nation and Power Slap should be reclassified as combat sports. In Run Nation, two participants run at each other and collide at high speed, while Power Slap involves players taking turns slapping each other across the face.
The concussion expert argued that the physical forces involved in these events are akin to those in a "coward punch," a term used to describe a punch delivered to the back of the head or neck. According to the testimony, these impacts cannot be made safer through regulation alone.
The New South Wales inquiry is seeking to determine the appropriate legal and regulatory framework for these emerging competitions. The primary objective is to better protect the safety of participants who engage in high-impact physical contests that may not currently fall under standard sporting safety guidelines.
The debate highlights growing concerns over the rise of new contact sports that push the boundaries of traditional athletic competition. As these events gain popularity, legislators are grappling with how to categorize them to ensure adequate oversight and risk management.
<small>Source: The Guardian — read the original story there.</small>