Two directions about opening contests (6)
I believe the answer is:
events
'contests' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'two directions about opening' is the wordplay.
'two directions' means two replacements for 'direction'.
'direction' becomes 'E' (E is an example).
'direction' becomes 'S' (S is an example).
'about' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'opening' becomes 'vent' (vent is a kind of opening).
's' put after 'vent' is 'vents'.
'e'+'vents'='EVENTS'
(Other definitions for events that I've seen before include "Things taking place" , "They take place" , "They happen at a given place and time" , "Planned social occasions" , "races?" .)