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Parliamentary inquiry flags death risk in collision running and face‑slapping events

The Guardian reported that a concussion expert told a New South Wales parliamentary inquiry that impacts in emerging contact sports such as collision…

By The News Engine Desk Based on reporting by The Guardian

6 Nov 2026, 13:53 IST Updated 59 min ago 1 min read 0 views

Image accompanying the story: Parliamentary inquiry flags death risk in collision running and face‑slapping events — Image: Photograph: Torbjorn Tande/PX Imagens/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock · via The Guardian

The Guardian reported that a concussion expert told a New South Wales parliamentary inquiry that impacts in emerging contact sports such as collision running and face‑slapping are comparable to a coward punch or “king‑hit”, and that death is a distinct possibility. The expert, identified as a neurologist, said regulation alone cannot make these events safer. The inquiry is examining whether competitions like Run Nation, where two participants sprint at each other and collide at high speed, and Power Slap, in which competitors alternately slap each other across the face, should be classified as combat sports. Classifying them as combat sports would allow authorities to apply stricter safety rules to protect participants. Lawmakers are reviewing the evidence to decide if existing sporting regulations are adequate or if new measures are needed to address the severe injury risk posed by these activities.