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Throughout the year, sporting events across the world have been interrupted by climate protests, leaving some to claim "keep politics out of sport".
In the past fortnight, the group Just Stop Oil has caused delays at Wimbledon and the second Ashes test, while protesters have also stormed games of football, rugby, snooker, and horse racing.
But competitive matches being disrupted to convey a political message is nothing new.
Fifty-two years ago, the South African rugby team toured Australia, igniting the anti-apartheid movement and resulting in hundreds of arrests across the country.
'Cold and alone'
On July 13, 1971, Nadia Wheatley spent more than eight hours in a prison cell in Orange in the New South Wales Central West.
Earlier that day, she had run onto the field in protest as the Springboks took on Country NSW.
"You don't make these decisions on the spur of the moment," Ms Wheatley said.
"You have to prepare yourself psychologically and physically to be ready to stop a game of rugby."
Two weeks prior, more than 20,000 demonstrators had protested the South African tour at the Sydney Cricket Ground for the first two test matches against Australia.
The protest action in Sydney prompted an increased police presence in Orange.
More than 500 officers were brought into the town in preparation for the match, which ended in a 19 to 3 win for the Springboks.
While the game came to an end, Ms Wheatley sat in a cell at the local station.
"I was cold and alone in the middle of winter in Orange," she said.
"But you do think about how much worse others have it. It was nothing in comparison to Nelson Mandela spending 27 years in prison."
Successful protests
As a result of the demonstrations during the South Africans' rugby union tour, the Australian Cricket Board cancelled the upcoming Proteas trip.
Meredith Burgmann was an anti-apartheid activist who played a crucial role in organising the protests in Sydney, Orange, and Brisbane.
She said it was the beginning of the end for political relations between the two countries.
"It was hugely successful because Australia was seen as the white brother across the ocean that would uphold South Africa's racist policies," Ms Burgmann said.
"Not only were the South Africans shocked, it was the beginning of the feeling of isolation that eventually led to the end of apartheid."
Seeing apartheid
In 1969, Wallabies second-rower Anthony Abraham was part of a four-month Australian tour of South Africa.
It was the last time the Australian side would visit the country until 1992 when the segregated system was beginning to end.
"As soon as we got there we were hit by what is called petty apartheid, that is to say, the everyday issues of notices on toilets, park benches being reserved for whites," Mr Abraham said.
"It was extremely shocking to come up against a police state that was so unapologetically and blatantly racist."
Australia played 24 matches across the tour, which often became a flash point for violence in the grandstand.
"Inside the stands during the games, if black people were admitted at all, they supported us," he said.
"It was extremely provocative for the white South Africans and police, who controlled them with dogs and truncheons."
Inspiring the movement
At the end of the tour, Mr Abraham penned a letter to the Sydney Morning Herald telling readers, "Australia had to ask itself if it was appropriate or desirable that we continue to play against South Africa."
The second-rower became the first of the seven Wallabies to announce they would not be available for selection for the 1971 series.
"I knew that it would sign my death warrant in regard to ever being selected again," Mr Abraham said.
"There is absolutely no doubt that it brought them up short that seven players were spearheading the sporting side of the opposition of the tours.
"Despite the fact we were a small group, it had a big effect."
Decades later, the then South African president Nelson Mandela awarded the Medal of Freedom to the seven Wallabies for their role in the anti-apartheid movement.
Politics and sport
Environmental activist groups such as Just Stop Oil have halted half a dozen sporting events this year, predominantly in Europe.
Mr Abraham believes political demonstrations at sporting events, like the climate protests and anti-apartheid movement, play a crucial role in creating change.
"One of the most untrue statements is that sport and politics don't mix," he said
"Sport is political, and it is a very effective means of having a point put across, so it is just laughable to say they don't go together."