Events

15May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

British & Irish Lions: fixtures and venues confirmed for tour of South Africa

The schedule has been confirmed for the British & Irish Lions’s tour of South Africa this summer. Warren Gatland’s side will play five warm-up matches before taking on the Springboks in three Tests.  All eight games will be played in Gauteng or Cape Town, the Lions said. This is to “minimise the risks of disruption that could be caused by the Covid-19 pandemic” and the schedule “accommodates stable team bases and training venues and significantly reduces travel”. SA Rugby will organise all scheduled tour games “on the basis they will take place behind closed doors”. Lions managing director Ben Calveley said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has caused considerable disruption to the global sporting calendar, but after discussions with our partners at SA Rugby, we are very pleased to be...

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15May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Chess & Company: newly launched sports agency will focus on chess talent and events

Whether you are a chess player or not, it is most likely you have watched or at least heard of Netflix’s hit show The Queen’s Gambit. Released in October last year, the series amassed a staggering 62 million viewers in its first 28 days  and set in motion a renewed passion for chess. In November The Guardian reported that the show, based on the 1983 novel by Walter Tevis, had “sparked a huge boom in people playing the game in the US and around the world". Similarly, Bloomberg also reported a “surging popularity of chess spurred on by the success of The Queen’s Gambit and this has has spilled over from retail to websites and streaming services, adding to the growth of chess content online during the pandemic”. Image: chessandcompany.com Following the huge success of the show it is ...

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3May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

Alicante in Spain named as a host city for The Ocean Race Europe 2021

The inaugural edition of The Ocean Race Europe will be heading to Alicante after the popular Spanish destination was added as a host city for the sailing spectacular taking place in May and June. Starting in Lorient, France, on 29 May, The Ocean Race Europe will then go to Cascais, Portugal, and Alicante before finishing in Genoa, Italy.  Alicante is very familiar territory for The Ocean Race, as the home of both the race headquarters and the venue for each of the around the world race starts since 2008. “We are very excited that Alicante, the current headquarters of The Ocean Race and the home of The Ocean Race Museum, will host the penultimate stop of this new event, The Ocean Race Europe,” said Antonio Rodes, general director of Sociedad Proyectos Temáticos of the Valencian Region...

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13Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

The Jockey Club gets ready to welcome back horse racing fans in May

The Jockey Club, owners of 14 racecourses across the UK, has announced that tickets are now on sale for 16 horse racing fixtures in May.  England’s roadmap out of lockdown will see a limited number of fans return to sporting events from 17 May at the earliest - this is the same day that Carlisle Racecourse will host its Flat Speed Ahead event.  Tickets are also available for May race days at Nottingham, Kempton Park, Warwick, Market Rasen, Sandown Park, Haydock Park and Newmarket. To buy tickets for the below events see thejockeyclub.co.uk Flat Speed Ahead at Carlisle RacecourseWhen: 17 May Tickets: from £15; under-18s go free Afternoon Racing at Nottingham RacecourseWhen: 18 May Tickets: from £15; under-18s go free Floodlit Racing at Kempton Park RacecourseWhen: 19 May Tick...

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13Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

Barbarians to face Samoa in the Killik Cup at Twickenham

Rugby union fans will get the chance to watch some free-flowing attacking rugby this autumn when the Barbarians take on Samoa in the Killik Cup.  The match takes place at Twickenham Stadium in London on Saturday 27 November and tickets go on general sale at 10am on Thursday 15 April. Available from Ticketmaster, ticket prices start from £35 for adults and £15 for children. VIP and hospitality packages will be available from £119 per person via twickenhamstadium.com It will be just the second time the teams have met, the first being at London’s Olympic Park ahead of Rugby World Cup 2015, which marked the first-ever rugby match at the venue.  John Spencer, president of Barbarian FC, said: “We are very happy to announce our 2021 Killik Cup fixture this November and look forward ...

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11Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

2021 French Open tennis grand slam in Paris now set to start on 24 May

The start of the 2021 French Open tennis grand slam has been postponed by a week due to the Covid-19 situation in France. Now set to take place from 24 May to 13 June, the decision to delay the clay court major at Roland-Garros has been made in order to accommodate more fans. Gilles Moretton, president of the French Tennis Federation, said: “I am delighted that the discussions with the public authorities, the governing bodies of international tennis, our partners and broadcasters, and the ongoing work with the WTA and ATP, have made it possible for us to postpone the 2021 Roland-Garros tournament by a week. I thank them for this.  “It will give the health situation more time to improve and should optimise our chances of welcoming spectators at Roland-Garros, into our newly-transforme...

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11Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

World Surf League: 2021 Rip Curl WSL Finals to be held in September

The World Surf League (WSL) has announced an updated events calendar for the remaining 2021 Championship Tour (CT) leading into the 2021 Rip Curl WSL Finals in September. The tour includes a stop in Mexico for the first time in 15 years and the women surfing Teahupo’o for the first time since 2006.  Following the fourth and final event of the current Australian leg, the CT will continue as follows (all tour stops and dates subject to change due to applicable COVID-19 related restrictions, including global travel restrictions):  Jeep Surf Ranch Pro: California, USA (25-27 June 2021) Corona Open Mexico presented by Quiksilver: Barra de La Cruz, Mexico (5-15 July 2021) Oi Rio Pro presented by Corona: Saquarema, Brazil (11-16 August 2021) Outerknown Tahiti Pro: Teahupo’o, Tahiti (22...

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5Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

World Sports Tourism Congress: Catalonia event confirmed for November 2021

After being postponed in May last year, it has now been confirmed that the World Sports Tourism Congress is rescheduled for 25-26 November 2021. Organised by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Catalan Tourist Board (Agència Catalana de Turisme), the event will be held in Lloret de Mar, Catalonia, Spain. In a statement on its website, the UNWTO said: “Sports tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in tourism. More and more tourists are interested in sport activities during their trips whether sports are the main objective of travel or not. Sport events of various kinds and sizes attract tourists as participants or spectators and destinations try to add local flavours to them to distinguish themselves and provide authentic local experiences. Sports events can be a catalyst ...

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28Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

British & Irish Lions intend to tour South Africa as planned in 2021

After months of speculation the British & Irish Lions rugby union team have confirmed they intend to tour South Africa as planned this summer.  There had been reports that the series could be moved to the UK or even played in Australia. However, in an update issued on 23 March the Lions and SA Rugby said they are “aligned on delivering the Castle Lager Lions Series in South Africa in the scheduled playing window”.  Jason Leonard, chairman of the British & Irish Lions, said: “After reviewing information relating to the various contingency scenarios being considered, I can confirm that the board’s intended position is for the tour to go ahead as scheduled in South Africa in 2021. “We acknowledge that there is a significant amount of work still to be undertaken to d...

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28Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

World Rally Championship: Acropolis Rally Greece added to 2021 WRC calendar

Greece will return to the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) for the first time in eight years after the fabled Acropolis Rally Greece was added to the 2021 calendar. The gruelling gravel road event forged a reputation as one of the WRC’s iconic fixtures after joining the inaugural season in 1973, and WRC Promoter has finalised a multi-year agreement with the Greek government for the Acropolis to return. It will form round ten of the 2021 season on 9-12 September, replacing Copec Rally Chile which has been cancelled due to continued travel and other governmental restrictions amid the pandemic. The Acropolis was first held in 1951. It became regarded as one of the WRC’s toughest rounds, as twisty and rocky mountain roads combined with intense heat and choking dust to provide a fier...

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21Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

British Rally Championship 2021 season to start at Oulton Park Circuit

The iconic Oulton Park Circuit in Cheshire will provide the Motorsport UK British Rally Championship with a history-making opening round of the 2021 season as the series commences with the Neil Howard Stages in association with Graham Coffey & Co. Solicitors on 31 May. Despite announcing its six-round calendar of events recently, British Rally Championship organisers have since been offered the opportunity to open the season at the Cheshire circuit in May, bringing an additional asphalt event to the schedule. The impressive circuit played host to the opening special stage of Wales Rally GB in 2019 which provided a unique and challenging backdrop for the best rally drivers in the world. That setting will now provide the starting point for the BRC elite in what is sure to be a c...

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21Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Destination Guides, Events

BTCC 2021 calendar: TOCA confirms minor revisions

TOCA, organiser of the Kwik Fit British Touring Car Championship, has confirmed minor revisions to the previously issued 2021 BTCC calendar as a result of the government recently issuing its roadmap for the easing of restrictions. While the opening race weekend – at Thruxton on 8/9 May – remains unchanged and will unfortunately take place behind closed doors, amendments have been made to the scheduling of the next two events in order to further maximise the opportunity for spectators to attend. The revised calendar sees the Snetterton event now scheduled for 12/13 June. The Brands Hatch Indy circuit event will be two weeks later, on 26/27 June, as all substantial spectator restrictions are expected to have been lifted by then. No further changes have been made to the previously is...

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15Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

A Question of Sport Live UK tour: tickets, event dates and cities

The BBC’s popular sports quiz show, A Question of Sport, will celebrate its 50th year by going on an all-new live tour around the United Kingdom in 2021.  Starring long-time host Sue Barker and team captains Matt Dawson and Phil Tufnell – along with a host of big-name guests from across the sporting world – A Question of Sport Live is the perfect way for fans to see the hit show up close and say farewell as the trio depart from their roles.  A Question of Sport Live follows the popular format of the TV show and features many of the rounds and challenges. It is also truly interactive as audience members will be able to get involved in some rounds, including the traditional “Sprint Finish” finale. “I cannot believe 2021 marks 24 years since I first joined A Question of Sport and I c...

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14Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

2021 Formula 1 Portuguese Grand Prix confirmed for 2 May

Formula 1 has announced that the Heineken Portuguese Grand Prix in Portimão will return this season between 30 April and 2 May, as part of the record breaking 23-race 2021 FIA F1 World Championship.  Last October, Portugal returned to the F1 calendar for the first time in 25 years, with Lewis Hamilton winning ahead of Valtteri Bottas and Max Verstappen.  Stefano Domenicali, president and CEO of Formula 1, said: “We are thrilled to announce that Formula 1 will be racing again in Portimão after the huge success of the race last year. We want to thank the promoter and the Portuguese Government for their hard work and dedication in getting us to this point.  “We are confident and excited about our 2021 season, having shown last year that we could deliver 17 races safely and ...

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2Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Women’s Rugby World Cup set to be postponed until 2022

World Rugby has recommended the postponement of the 2021 Rugby World Cup until next year due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.  The women’s international rugby union event was due to take place in New Zealand in September and October. The recommendation will be considered by the Rugby World Cup Board and World Rugby Executive Committee on 8 March and 9 March respectively. In a statement World Rugby said: “While appreciating the recommendation is extremely disappointing for teams and fans, it has their interests at heart, and gives the tournament the best opportunity to be all it can be for them, all New Zealanders and the global rugby family. “The recommendation is based on the evolution of the uncertain and challenging global Covid-19 landscape. It has become clear in recent disc...

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2Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

World Surf League and Rip Curl announce deal for new Rip Curl WSL Finals

The World Surf League (WSL) and Rip Curl have announced a three-year partnership of the Rip Curl WSL Finals - the new one-day competition that will decide the men’s and women’s world surfing champions.  The inaugural Rip Curl WSL Finals will take place in San Clemente, California at Lower Trestles. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top five men and top five women on the Championship Tour (CT) rankings will head to Orange County for this one-day, winner-take-all shot at the world title. The Rip Curl WSL Finals waiting period will run from 8-17 September 2021, a choice time of year for solid Southern Hemisphere swells to light up the cobblestone point. “I am a huge fan of the decision for the new CT format, it’s like multiple games throughout the year,” said Tyler Wright, tw...

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28Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

Rugby World Cup 2023 fixtures: France vs. All Blacks in blockbuster opener

World Rugby and the France 2023 Organising Committee have announced the match schedule and venues for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. The expanded eight-week international rugby union festival, which takes place across nine cities, will kick-off with a blockbuster opening clash between host nation France and three-time champions New Zealand at the Stade de France on 8 September 2023. Rugby World Cup 2023 will be a “truly nationwide tournament involving all of France”, World Rugby said in a news release. “Each host city will host a minimum of four games and welcome at least one RWC 2019 quarter-finalist, reinforcing its commitment to unite the whole country through rugby fever.” In line with the mission to make the tournament the most accessible Rugby World Cup to date and attr...

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27Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

Icons of F1: online auction of rare collectibles to start on 1 March

A new “Icons of F1” online auction will begin on 1 March featuring some extremely rare Formula 1 collectables and more than 50 items celebrating 15 world champions. Organised by F1 Authentics, the official online F1 memorabilia store, the auction includes a pair of signed Ferrari race boots from seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher; a 1994 replica of three-time world champion Ayrton Senna’s Williams race suit; a trophy belonging to two-time world champion Jim Clark; as well as race-used bodywork and vintage photographs signed by a selection of F1 legends from over the decades.  Philip Danglidis, commercial director at The Memento Group, operator of F1 Authentics, said: “This is one of our most prestigious and exciting auctions to date on F1 Authentics, with some of the rarest...

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27Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

IOC selects Brisbane as preferred host of the 2032 Olympic Games

Brisbane is in pole position to host the 2032 Olympic Games after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) invited the Australian city to enter “detailed discussions” for the mega-event.  Following the recommendation of the Future Host Commission for the Games, the IOC Executive Board will enter into a “targeted dialogue” with the Brisbane 2032 Committee and the Australian Olympic Committee (AOC) about their potential to host the Olympic Games 2032. The IOC said the decision to advance the process “was taken at this particular moment, given the uncertainty the world is facing right now”. A statement said: “This uncertainty is expected to continue even after the Covid-19 health crisis is over. The IOC is considering seizing the momentum offered by the excellent project of Brisbane 20...

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20Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

The Ocean Race Europe: Genoa, Italy, will host event finale in June

Organisers of The Ocean Race Europe have confirmed that the inaugural edition of the sailing event will finish in Genoa in June this year.  The historic Italian maritime city (Genova in Italian) is already the home of The Grand Finale - the finish of the next edition of the round-the-world race in 2022-23. Now, Genoa will also host The Ocean Race Europe.  Richard Brisius, race chairman, said: “In The Ocean Race Europe we are realising a dream of many - a race between European cities with engaged fans and athletes achieving the extraordinary while driving change for a healthier planet.  “We understand the importance of teamwork, and collectively we back the EU work for Green Transition, digitalisation and unity. Our friends and partners in Genova also really understand the val...

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