World 1 Launches Microsports: 30-Second Competitions for Vertical Video

World 1, a new sports-entertainment company co-founded by 10 Olympic medalists, is introducing 'Microsports'—original sports where world titles are decided in 30 seconds. CEO Brett Morris aims to build a sports industry for mobile phones, moving away from traditional TV broadcasting. The company plans to monetize through advertising, sponsorship, and licensing, with no subscription fees. President Nate Thomas, a media veteran from BattleBots, emphasizes high-stakes events where champions defend titles in every competition. Initial events include 'Fastest,' a 10-yard sprint through a 'Speed Chamber,' and 'Strongest,' a combined bench-press and squat competition. Mike Weinstein, former NFL Combine director, serves as director of sports technology. Founding investors include Mark Cuban, Abu Dhabi's Palms Sports, film producer Jim Swartz, and private-equity investor Dan McClory. The company has developed the World 1 Arena, a modular stage for large indoor venues, with the inaugural event date and location to be announced. The venture targets the shift of audiences to mobile platforms, aiming to create content engineered for social media feeds.