A tar gets involved in these events (8)
I believe the answer is:
regattas
'these events' is the definition.
(regatta is a kind of event)
'a tar gets involved' is the wordplay.
'involved' is an anagram indicator (involved can mean confusing or complex).
'a'+'tar'+'gets'='atargets'
'atargets' with letters rearranged gives 'REGATTAS'.
'in' is the link.
(Other definitions for regattas that I've seen before include "Boat races organised as sporting events" , "Boating events" , "Yacht races, sporting events" , "Yacht races as part of sporting event" , "Meetings for boat races" .)