Ultimate Fighting Championship president Dana White lauded President Donald Trump Thursday for his push to bring back entertainment and live sporting events amid the coronavirus pandemic.
"President Trump recognized that one of the small ways to instill a sense of normalcy in people's lives was to bring back entertainment options," he said in taped remarks at the Republican National Convention. "The president went above and beyond to help all sports leagues involved, figure out a way to overcome the challenges of staging live, professional sporting events in the middle of a pandemic, and you know what? We did it. The UFC was first to do it and we are continuing to do it. Now other sports have joined us, and some of the lessons learned are being used to help reopen other types of businesses and schools."
Before White spoke, the RNC showed a video in honor of "The American Athlete" and depicted Trump's interactions with various athletes and teams during his first term.
The pandemic canceled several iconic sporting events when it broke out in March, including the NCAA Tournament and College World Series. Since then, the NBA and NHL have resumed their seasons and playoffs, and Major League Baseball began an abbreviated season in July. The NFL is on track to begin next month.