Mixed martial arts as a podium sport in the Olympics? The opinions on both sides of this argument might just be the strongest yet. UFC co-owner Lorenza Fertitta has claimed it will happen, citing interest from various National Olympic Committees, with MMA's appeal to youth noted as a potential lure for the International Olympic Committee.

It's the time of year for all things ersatz-Irish: green beer, green beads and the opportunity to consume enough of the former to engage in inadvisable activities in order to obtain the latter. For sports event planners, it's an opportunity for tie-ins with one of the biggest party holidays of the year.

It's still an NCAA emerging sport for women - at least for now. But if it is to remain on that list, it has a hard trail ahead. The sport isn't beach volleyball or triathlon, though; it's equestrian. And part of its battle is dispelling misconceptions about what it entails.

One of FIFA's first actions in the wake of the raid on its Switzerland headquarters and the subsequent arrest of seven officials was to put the brakes on site selection for the 2026 World Cup. Now with a new president and sweeping reforms, it's time to head back to the drawing board.

Drones, the newest technology to find lost hikers in Switzerland, could be the best thing to happen to an off-road sports event stateside. Researchers have developed a method to program UAVs to find lost hikers in the Alps. And it could make mountain biking, trail running and other events a whole lot safer.

Nothing raises the profile of a golf course faster than hosting a world-class golf event. For the publicly-owned Chambers Bay golf course on Puget Sound near Tacoma, Washington, hosting the 2015 U.S. Open has put the course on the map. And officials say the impact is still being felt.