(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Thursday’s sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE Cincinnati 8, NY Yankees 4 Boston 6, Miami 5 San Diego 3, Texas 1
AMERICAN LEAGUE Minnesota 12, Detroit 3 Houston 5, Toronto 3 Cleveland 8, Chi White Sox 4 Oakland 5, LA Angels 0 Seattle 7, Baltimore 3 Tampa Bay 10, Kansas City 8
NATIONAL LEAGUE Washington 1, NY Mets 0 St. Louis 3, Pittsburgh 2 Chi Cubs 10 Philadelphia 2 San Francisco 4, Atlanta 2 Colorado 4, Milwaukee 3 Arizona 9, LA Dodgers 3
WOMEN’S NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION Connecticut 78, Minnesota 73 Las Vegas 98, Washington 77
MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER FC Dallas 3, Portland 2 Colorado 2, Sporting Kansas City 1 Los Angeles FC 0, LA Galaxy 0
Ground staff paint lines on the courts during day four of The Championships Wimbledon 2024 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2024 in London, England. (Francois Nel/Getty Images)
(LONDON) — Hattie Park, the sustainability manager at the All England Club where the Championships at Wimbledon are held every year, walks around the bucolic 42-acre tennis grounds with a sense of pride combined with a sense of purpose.
Sustainability might be something that takes a back seat to the 700 tennis matches played by the best in the world as millions of people watch around the globe, but to Park, that is almost exactly the point.
“Wimbledon is essentially played in an English garden,” Park told ABC News during a visit this spring. “If we want to continue playing tennis and enjoying outdoor sport, whether it’s at the elite level that you have at Wimbledon or at the grassroots level, we’ve simply got to ensure that we have a resilient environment to carry out that sport.”
Park’s job is a big one. She wants to find a balance between the environment, natural resources and human needs — constantly pushing for fundamental and foundational change without disrupting the aura and tradition that Wimbledon brings to the table.
A study conducted by Cardiff University in the United Kingdom in 2017 found that the average person who attends a sporting event generates a footprint seven times greater than someone going about their normal, everyday activity. That’s primarily due to increased travel both to and from the event, but also food and drink consumption and the energy and resources required to produce them — all problems Park is well acquainted with.
“People can often be incredibly resistant to altering their patterns so the biggest challenge, for me, is just the time things can take to activate change,” said Park. “During The Championships, you can usually make a quick tweak here and there quickly to help meet our sustainability goals but something like decarbonizing our entire site, that’s just going to take time because there’s an awful lot of planning that needs to go into it. It’s easy for me to say ‘this is what we need to do’ but the reality of doing it involves an awful lot of programming and investment plans before implementation.”
One of the areas that Wimbledon has put a lot of immediate focus on is through their food-and-drink program across The Championships and throughout the year-round operation of the site.
“Last year we were pleased to be able to highlight dishes with a low carbon weighting across a wide variety of menus available to the public, members and competitors,” Wimbledon officials told ABC News. “The low carbon options on our menus are indicated with an ‘A’ – very low carbon – or a ‘B’ – low carbon — and are calculated based on how much carbon is produced per 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) of meals.”
“To encourage the circular culture of reuse, this year will see the continuation of a £1 deposit applied to the purchase of a first drink,” Wimbledon officials said. “Guests are given the option to redeem this deposit or place their cup in a charity return point — in doing so donating the entire deposit to The Wimbledon Foundation.”
This scheme, which was instituted several years ago, has already become a resounding success. The reusable cup deposit initiative raised £139,102 ($178,000) in 2023 with loftier goals ahead for Park and Wimbledon’s sustainability mission.
“What I try to demonstrate in a holistic way is that there is something that every single one of us can do to be part of the solution to help the environment. Ultimately, we want to build a community of environment-positive champions and get everyone involved,” said Park.
While schemes like this are effective short-term solutions, Wimbledon has loftier goals down the line for later this decade and beyond by focusing on what they have identified as the “four pillars” of their sustainability program — operational emissions, resource efficiency, biodiversity gain and inspiring wider actions.
By 2030, Wimbledon plans to reduce their emissions to “net zero,” becoming completely resource efficient by generating as little waste as possible while increasing the proportion of recycled content as well as the amount of materials reused and, finally, pushing for a net gain in biodiversity by protecting habitats and ecology across their landholdings while also increasing the abundance and diversity of plant and animal species.
“While we aim to exemplify best practice through our day to day actions and decisions, we believe it is equally important to work together with partners and stakeholders to use our collective platforms so that we can amplify the benefits of a sustainable approach, using our influence to reach beyond our boundaries through partnership, leadership, and collaboration with other major events and bodies in the sports industry and beyond,” Wimbledon officials said.
For Park, this doesn’t just mean setting an example at The Championships for the two weeks they are staged, but a complete and holistic year-round, long-term commitment.
“We are absolutely not just showing up and doing it for The Championships,” said Park. “We have an aim to have a positive impact on the environment and, arguably, using our influence to inspire wider action is the biggest thing that we can do as a huge global sporting event because we just reach so many people.”
From a broader perspective, sporting events have good reason to become more sustainable as governments, particularly in the West, are increasingly passing environmentally-friendly legislation related to sustainability meaning that, at least in some parts of the world, non-compliance may no longer be an option.
“[Sporting events] can potentially reduce costs and better attract funds and sponsors, leading to bigger revenue streams and better economic outcomes,” according to INSEAD. “Displaying commitment towards positive environmental and social change could ensure long-term viability and resilience in a highly competitive field. To this end, high-profile international sporting events are the perfect platform [and] companies can use these global showcases with millions of viewers to drive positive change.”
The task ahead of Park may seem daunting but, for her, it is just about starting somewhere — anywhere — and making sure she affects long-lasting and positive change, the first flutter of wings in a sustainability butterfly effect.
“You’ve got to break it down into manageable chunks,” Park said. “What we have to do is take action behind the scenes for the things that people can’t see in terms of how we operate our estate but also make it visible when you come to Wimbledon so that we can involve the guests in this environment-positive journey. We’ve got to mitigate our impacts, but we also need to adapt and be ready for whatever is thrown at us.”
(NEW YORK) — Team USA middle-distance runner Nikki Hiltz discusses their journey to the 2024 Paris Olympics and their LGBTQ+ advocacy after coming out as transgender and nonbinary.
Hiltz came out as a nonbinary, transgender person right before the Olympic trials in 2021. They wanted to walk away from the sport in 2021 after expecting a weight to be lifted. But it was the opposite. Hiltz mentioned that they didn’t set out to be an advocate for LGBTQ rights, but were forced into the spotlight after coming out as trans-nonbinary.
Having qualified for the Olympics on Sunday, Hiltz is now fully focused on the next goal.
ABC News sat down with Hiltz on qualifying for the Olympics and the recent media attention they received.
ABC NEWS: Mid-distance runner Nikki Hiltz is headed to the Olympic Games this summer in Paris, all while fighting an endurance race on another front. A forthcoming documentary about Nikki explains why.
ABC NEWS: Thanks so much for joining us, Nikki. You said after that race, you thought you were saying goodbye to your Olympic dreams. Then on Sunday you qualified for the Olympics in the 1500 meters, taking the lead in the last 60 meters at the finish line. You earned the second fastest time by an American runner ever. Walk us through that feeling. Walk us through this journey of yours.
NIKKI HILTZ: Yeah. I mean, you said it perfectly. It’s, it’s definitely been a journey. At the end of the last Olympic trials in 2021, I, like you said, I wanted to walk away from the sport completely. And, you know, I just, I just changed a lot of things in my life and showed some patience. And then, yeah, the hard work all paid off, and. yeah, that feeling was just joy when I crossed the finish line.
ABC NEWS: I bet you’ve said that you didn’t really set out to be an advocate for LGBTQ rights, but were forced into the spotlight after coming out as trans nonbinary. Why is that visibility so important to you?
HILTZ: Yeah. I mean, I just feel so grateful for all the queer and trans people who have come before me. And so now it’s kind of like, I want to be that for the next generation. And yeah, it’s it’s hard to be something that you can’t see. And so I just think representation and visibility is what helped me so much growing up. So, yeah, I just want to do that for even just one kid who watches the Olympics, maybe sees themselves in me, like it’ll be all worth it.
ABC NEWS: Representation certainly does matter. Now, if you can imagine a perfect future in which your sport and professional sports broadly embraces athletes of all gender identities, what changes would that require?
HILTZ: Yeah. I mean, it’s just an ongoing conversation. For me, just a lot more inclusive language has been really helpful. You know, announcers, broadcasters using my correct pronouns, referring to, you know, people in my event as, “Here are the athletes competing in the women’s 1500” instead of, “Here are the women 1500 runners.”
Just little changes like that I think we can all do, to yeah, just make spaces and sports just a safer place for all and allowing everyone to show up as themselves. Because when we can show up as ourselves, that’s when, you know, our dreams can come true.
ABC NEWS: Absolutely. So what would you say to those who say it’s unfair for trans women to compete in women’s sports, and vice versa? What would be your message to those folks?
HILTZ: I would encourage people to educate themselves. You know, the guidelines that are in place now, a trans woman can’t compete until they’ve taken, I think it’s a year or more of HRT, which is hormone replacement therapy. And, you know, it’s, I think it’s a fair guideline. And, yeah, I think there’s a lot of ignorance right now. As someone who has competed in women’s sports my entire career, there’s a lot of issues in it, but trans woman is not one of them, and I don’t think that we need protecting from them.
ABC NEWS: You’ve worked so hard to get to the Olympics in Paris. It is coming up. How are you feeling ahead of these games and what are you most excited about?
HILTZ: Yeah, just focus on the next goal. And I think I’m really excited for the opening ceremonies. You know, I tried on all the Ralph Lauren stuff a couple of days ago, and, yeah, that just really got me excited to just be in Paris and and meet other members of Team USA across all the different many sports.
ABC NEWS: Such a wonderful experience. We are so excited to see you compete. We hope to have you back on soon. Thank you so much for sharing your story with us and really best of luck to you in Paris.
HILTZ: Thank you so much. Thank you for having me.
Caeleb Dressel of the United States reacts after winning the Men’s 100m butterfly final on Day Eight of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Swimming Trials at Lucas Oil Stadium, June 22, 2024, in Indianapolis. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — Seven-time Olympic gold medal swimmer Caeleb Dressel has punched his ticket to the Paris Games this summer.
“It’ll be a good one. Number three. This is crazy,” Dressel told ABC News after touching first in the men’s 100-meter freestyle at the U.S. Olympic swimming trials last weekend.
The 27-year-old opened up about the pressures of being in the spotlight and living up to expectations both in and out of the pool.
“I can train all day long. You can put me in some some tough practices. I will make it out of the practice. I love it,” he said. “I’m not designed for media and lights and cameras, and the opinions of others. I worry too much about what other people think, to be quite honest.”
As one of the most decorated swimmers in the world, even receiving comparisons to Michael Phelps heading into the Tokyo Games, Dressel has an influx of eyes on him again this year — from campaigns and commercials to the competition itself.
Dressel said he wrestles with living up to the legends he competed against when he made his Olympic debut in 2016.
“I remember I had imposter syndrome a little bit from my first Games. Here I am as a 19-year-old, [thinking], ‘Do I really deserve to be here?'” he recalled. “There is a little taste of that because you just, you know, the depth of USA swimming. But if you can make it through the trials, you 100% deserve to be on the team.”
The Team USA veteran will step up to help newcomers in the same way teammates Michael Phelps, Nathan Adrian and Ryan Lochte helped him.
“Before you know it, you’re just thrown into the leadership role. And quite honestly, I have no idea what I’m doing,” he admitted. “It’s some — quite literally — some very giant shoes to fill here.”
“But I’m trying to do my part and if that just means answering some questions or just showing them like this is tough — I still think it’s tough, I’m not a robot. This is hard stuff,” he continued. “The week back sucks leading up to the Games, the media, the attention — it’s tough.”
And this year, as he hopes to pick up more gold medals, there will be a newcomer in the stands on his side — his 4-month-old son August.
“He’s not gonna remember any of this, but that’s not the point,” Dressel said. “It’ll be exciting once he gets to travel to Europe at 4 months old — it’s just hilarious, honestly — watching him knowing that he’s going to be able to watch me compete, and just having him in the stands will mean a whole lot.”
Members of the Men’s and Women’s 2024 U.S. Olympic Gymnastics Team pose on Day Four of the 2024 U.S. Olympic Team Gymnastics Trials at Target Center on June 30, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
(MINNEAPOLIS) — Five gymnasts on Sunday earned a spot to represent the U.S. women’s gymnastics team at the 2024 Olympics Games in Paris after two days of participating in the U.S. Gymnastics Olympic Trials in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
They are Jordan Chiles, Jade Carey, Hezly Rivera, Suni Lee and Simone Biles.
Rivera, 16, is a newcomer to the group. The other four women competed at the 2020 Olympics.
Joining this year’s Team USA are alternates Joscelyn Roberson and Leanne Wong.
Biles will lead the team in her third Olympics after winning her ninth U.S. all-around title earlier this month. She also was the top winner of the women’s trials.
Gymnasts Skyle Blakely and Kayla DiCello were part of the trials, but they both had to withdraw due to Achilles injuries. Shilese Jones appeared to be suffering a leg injury during a vault practice, but she completed bars on Day 1, earning the top score of the evening on the apparatus.
The audience watched more than a dozen of the top U.S. female gymnasts compete during the trials before five women, including Biles, were named to be part of the squad, with the other two women will serve as alternates.
(LOS ANGELES) — After going unselected in the first round of the NBA Draft, Bronny James was selected by the Los Angeles Lakers as the 55th pick on Thursday.
The oldest son of Los Angeles Lakers legend and four-time MVP LeBron James, Bronny James declared for the 2024 NBA Draft in April, after playing one season with the University of Southern California’s Trojans.
The 19-year-old point guard propelled from No. 98 to No. 54 in ESPN’s Top 100 ranking after his impressive combine performance, the publication said.
During his freshman season as a Trojan, he averaged 4.8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.1 assists in 25 games.
James was hospitalized in July 2023 after suffering a cardiac arrest during basketball practice at USC.
The congenital heart defect was identified following a comprehensive initial evaluation at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and follow-up evaluations at the Mayo Clinic and Atlantic Health/Morristown Medical Center, a family spokesperson said at the time.
Bronny James was a McDonald’s All-American in his senior season in high school and the No. 20 player in the country in ESPN’s recruiting rankings.
LeBron James, who just completed his 21st season, has said one of his final goals before retirement is to play in the NBA with his son.
“I need to be on the floor with my boy, I got to be on the floor with Bronny,” LeBron said during an interview with ESPN last year. “I would love to do the whole Ken Griffey Sr. and Jr. thing. That would be ideal for sure.”
Alex Morgan of the U.S. Women’s National Team looks on before the game against South Korea, on June 1, 2024, in Commerce City, Colorado. (C. Morgan Engel/Getty Images)
(NEW YORK) — U.S. women’s soccer star Alex Morgan is sharing her disappointment in not being included on the Team USA Olympic women’s soccer team ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Today, I’m disappointed about not having the opportunity to represent our country on the Olympic stage,” Morgan wrote Wednesday in a post on X.
“This will always be a tournament that is close to my heart and I take immense pride any time I put on the crest,” she continued.
Despite the disappointment, Morgan offered her support for Team USA as they take on the world’s top squads, starting with group play on July 25.
“In less than a month, I look forward to supporting this team and cheering them on alongside the rest of our country. LFG,” she finished.
Morgan included a photo of herself in USA gear, walking onto the field of play.
U.S. Women’s National Team Head Coach Emma Hayes named the roster on Wednesday, selecting eight players from the 2020 Olympics squad that included Morgan (which played in 2021.)
After the announcement, at a news conference, Hayes said it was a “tough decision.”
“I mean first off, I want to talk about what an amazing player and human Alex Morgan has been,” said Hayes. “Her record speaks for itself.”
“It was a tough decision, of course, especially considering Alex’s history and record with this team, but I felt that I wanted to go in another direction and selected other players,” she said.
Morgan has played on four World Cup teams with Team USA, winning the tournament twice, and three Olympic teams, including a gold medal win in 2012.
The roster will include 18 players and four alternates, 10 of which played in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“Making an Olympic roster is a huge privilege and an honor and there is no denying that it was an extremely competitive process among the players and that there were difficult choices, especially considering how hard everyone has worked over the past 10 months,” said Hayes in a statement included in the release.
The team opens group play in France on July 25 versus Zambia.
(NEW YORK) — Here are the scores from Wednesday’s sports events:
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
INTERLEAGUE Philadelphia Phillies 6, Detroit Tigers 2 Kansas City Royals 5, Miami Marlins 1 Houston Astros 7, Colorado Rockies 1 Milwaukee Brewers 6, Texas Rangers 5 L.A. Dodgers 4, Chicago White Sox 0 N.Y. Mets 12, N.Y. Yankees 2 Minnesota Twins 8, Arizona Diamondbacks 3
AMERICAN LEAGUE Seattle 5, Tampa Bay 2 L.A. Angels 5, Oakland 2 Baltimore 4, Cleveland 2 Toronto Blue Jays at Boston Red Sox (PPD)
NATIONAL LEAGUE Pittsburgh 6, Cincinnati 1 Atlanta 6, St. Louis 2 San Diego 8, Washington 5 St. Louis 4, Atlanta 1 San Francisco Giants 4, Chicago Cubs 3
