July 2 — International Sports Journalist's Day: history and traditions of the holiday

Every year, on July 2, Russia and other countries celebrate International Sports Journalist Day, a professional holiday for media workers who cover sports events. In 2024, the celebration falls on a Tuesday. Read about its history and traditions in the Izvestia article.

The History of the International Sports Journalist Day

Sports Journalists' Day appeared on the holiday calendar in 1995. The date chosen for it was the founding day of one of the initiators of the celebration, the International Sports Press Association (AIPS). It was established in Paris on July 2, 1924, before the opening of the VIII Olympic Games. Today, the organization unites more than 150 countries.

The origins of sports journalism go back centuries. Competitions and sports were an integral part of the culture of Ancient Greece and Rome, and exploits in the arena were often compared in importance to heroic deeds on the battlefield.

Among the earliest works dealing with sports topics, one can single out the Chronicle of Eusebius, the work of the Bishop of Caesarea, who sought to capture the most important events of his time. Among other things, it contains a description of the Olympic Games, mentioning the merits of the winners, scandalous incidents during the competition and the public's reaction to them.

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The achievements of ancient athletes were also reported in epitaphs — tombstone inscriptions. One of them tells about the life of the highest—paid athlete in history, the Roman charioteer Gaius Apuleius Diocles. He lived in the 1st century A.D. and during his career managed to earn about $15 billion in terms of modern money.

However, in the Middle Ages, due to the pressure of the church, numerous wars and epidemics, sports and sports journalism disappeared from the life of society and the information agenda for a long time. Their revival began only in the 18th century, when the passion for a healthy lifestyle began to gain momentum again.

Industrialization gave a powerful impetus to the development of sports journalism. Thanks to new technologies and the expansion of mass media, opportunities have appeared for the publication of specialized magazines and newspapers, and public interest in sports has grown significantly, especially with the development of sweepstakes. In the early decades, boxing and horse racing became popular sports, and by the end of the 19th century, golf and cycling.

In Russia, the first sports publication appeared in 1823. It was called "The Magazine for Horse Hunters" and lasted only four years. Subsequently, other publications for sports fans were also released. Since their main audience was the nobility, most often the journalists covered hunting, chess and horse racing.

At the beginning of the 20th century, sport became one of the most effective ways to maintain the country's political prestige on the world stage, which in turn increased the demand for sports journalists. New genres and forms have emerged: interviews with champions and coaches, sports trend analytics, reviews of major events in the world of sports, etc.

The development of radio broadcasting in the 1920s and 1930s gave sports journalism live broadcasts. Reports from games, matches, and competitions have consistently attracted listeners of all ages. And with the advent of the television industry, the number of fans around the world has reached millions of people.

Today, sports is one of the most popular and profitable topics in journalism. Thanks to the Internet, people have the opportunity to watch sports events in real time anywhere in the world. And various blogs and podcasts provide an opportunity for experts and journalists to express their opinions more openly and get closer to the audience through an informal storytelling style.

Traditions of celebrating Sports Journalist's Day

Traditionally, solemn meetings of the International Sports Press Association and national associations of sports journalists are held on the holiday. The best representatives of the profession are awarded various awards and prizes. For students who dream of linking their career with sports media, master classes and lectures are held, giving an idea of the specialty and basic practical skills.

Some sports publications hold contests for young journalists and special sports events during which accomplished masters of the word can demonstrate their skills.

International Sports Journalist's Day in 2025: congratulations

Congratulations on the holiday are accepted by all employees of the sports media: analysts, reporters, commentators, photographers, cameramen, presenters and others.

Most of the celebrants will meet him at work, because hundreds of big and small events take place every day in the world of sports. Therefore, the most universal greeting option will be a warm message in the messenger. Here are some examples:

"Congratulations on the International Sports Journalist's Day! May your word inspire millions, and your passion for sports and professionalism help you uncover vivid stories and share them with the world. I wish you new victories, interesting reports and inexhaustible energy!"

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"Happy Sports Journalist's Day! Let each of your reports be vivid and exciting, and each note collects millions of likes and views. I wish you a lot of cool moments and inspiration!"

"Dear colleagues, I congratulate you on the Day of the Sports Journalist! I wish you new interesting stories and professional victories. May your love of sports and journalism lead you to your dream and may every written word reach the hearts of your fans!"

A convenient microphone, camera, voice recorder or notepad for work notes will be a good gift for a sports journalist. You can also choose tickets for a match involving his favorite team or a book about the history of sports.

Earlier, Izvestia told how Coach's Day is celebrated in Russia and shared interesting facts about this profession.