Sunday, July 26Sports. Travel. Events. Play

Latest news and events

Aqua Rugby Festival: a ‘sporting phenomenon’ in Sydney, Australia 
Events, Sports Travel

Aqua Rugby Festival: a ‘sporting phenomenon’ in Sydney, Australia 

With “big hits” and even “bigger splashes”, Aqua Rugby has been described as Australia’s newest “sporting phenomenon”. Taking place at Manly Cove in Sydney, Australia from 10-12 November 2022, the three-day Aqua Rugby Festival will see matches played on a 30m x 30m floating pontoon pitch with tries scored by jumping into the ocean. Think of it as rugby’s full contact and fast pace combined with Olympic-style dives and NFL-inspired celebrations.    The teams, professional and amateur, feature five players plus reserves and games are played for ten minutes – five-minute halves with two minutes for half time. Over the weekend there will be men’s and women’s knockout competitions as well as a number of exhibition matches. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_QNk0NRI2o Fans will be able...
‘Blue Scotland’ by Mollie Hughes: a sports adventurer’s guide to Scotland’s wild waters
Guides, Holidays & Trips, Sports Travel

‘Blue Scotland’ by Mollie Hughes: a sports adventurer’s guide to Scotland’s wild waters

In her new book – Blue Scotland: The Ultimate Guide to Exploring Scotland’s Wild Waters – sports adventurer Mollie Hughes picks out her favourite places across Scotland to paddleboard, kayak, swim and surf.  Mixing world-class surfing breaks with kayaking adventures on the west coast, and urban paddleboarding along the Clyde with invigorating swims in the lochs of the Cairngorms National Park, the book shows how to access and enjoy these varied blue spaces.  Hughes includes her own personal experiences and tips, enabling wild water sports fans of all levels to make the most of the amazing opportunities Scotland has to offer. Here’s her pick of the off-the-beaten track places to visit in Scotland.   North Uist, Outer Hebrides  “The Island of North Uist in the Outer Heb...
Sports travel bucket list: Everest Base Camp 70th anniversary trek with Mountain Kingdoms
Bucket List, Holidays & Trips

Sports travel bucket list: Everest Base Camp 70th anniversary trek with Mountain Kingdoms

Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay famously stepped foot on the summit of Everest on 29 May 1953 receiving worldwide acclaim and a lifetime of mountaineering superstardom. To mark their historic achievement, British tour operator Mountain Kingdoms has arranged a special Everest Base Camp Trek to arrive at Base Camp exactly 70 years later. This platinum anniversary trek will be led by Pertemba Sherpa – a celebrated three-time Everest summiteer who made his first ascent alongside mountaineering legend Chris Bonington. Pertemba's exceptional experience, Himalayan knowledge and years spent accumulating a treasure trove of mountaineering tales will add an extra dimension to the trek and give a unique insight into life on Everest. During the day at base camp there will be the chance to ...
Golf in Italy: eight of the best golf courses in Emilia Romagna
Guides, Holidays & Trips, Sports Travel

Golf in Italy: eight of the best golf courses in Emilia Romagna

With more than 20 courses, the northern Italian region of Emilia Romagna is an ideal destination for both beginner and professional golfers alike. It also provides a rich cultural background to enjoy in-between rounds, meaning golfers can combine spa holidays, food and wine, and art on their trip. Here we take a look at eight of the best golf courses in Emilia Romagna, Italy.  Adriatic Golf Club Cervia, Ravenna This charming 27-hole golf club (top picture) is located amongst pine forests and salt lakes, a setting of natural beauty just a short distance from the sea. Enjoy water obstacles and innovative design that guarantees enjoyment for golfer across all levels. Previously, the Italian PGA Championships have been held here on several occasions, the latest being held in 2019. The co...

Football: 2023 English FA Cup Final 

The 2023 English FA Cup final will be held on Saturday 3 June 2023. It will be a Manchester derby at Wembley Stadium in London, with Manchester City taking on rivals Manchester United. Kick-off is at 3pm (BST).  

Football: 2023 Uefa Europa League final 

The 2023 Uefa Europa League final will be held on Wednesday 31 May 2023 at Puskás Aréna Park in Budapest, Hungary. Spanish club Sevilla will take on Italian club Roma in the final in Budapest. Image: Uefa.com  

Darts: PDC Cazoo Masters 2023

The PDC Cazoo Masters, the annual season-opener of the Professional Darts Corporation, will be held at the Marshall Arena in Milton Keynes from 27-29 January 2023. The three-day event will feature the world’s top 24 darts players. Embed from Getty Images
Dates confirmed for 2023 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games 
Events, Sports Travel

Dates confirmed for 2023 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games 

The International Surfing Association (ISA) has confirmed that the 2023 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games will be held in El Sunzal / La Bocana from 30 May to 7 June 2023.  The games will serve as the second event in the Olympic Qualification process, with four slots up for grabs for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games (to be held in Tahiti). In El Salvador, the four top ranked surfers by continent for each gender will qualify one place each by name. Fernando Aguerre, ISA president, said: “El Salvador continues to solidify itself as an essential part of the pathway to Olympic Surfing. We are grateful to President Bukele and Minister Valdez for their understanding of the ISA’s mission, but also for their strong commitment to surfing. We are happy to continue to expand and st...

2023 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games 

The International Surfing Association (ISA) has confirmed that the 2023 Surf City El Salvador ISA World Surfing Games will be held in El Sunzal / La Bocana from 30 May to 7 June 2023.  The games will serve as the second event in the Olympic Qualification process, with four slots up for grabs for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games (to be held in Tahiti). In El Salvador, the four top ranked surfers by continent for each gender will qualify one place each by name. Fernando Aguerre, ISA president, said: “El Salvador continues to solidify itself as an essential part of the pathway to Olympic Surfing. We are grateful to President Bukele and Minister Valdez for their understanding of the ISA’s mission, but also for their strong commitment to surfing. We are happy to continue to expand and strengt...

MLB London Series 2023: Cardinals vs. Cubs and Trafalgar Square Takeover

Major League Baseball (MLB) returns to London in June 2023 with St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs facing off for a two-game series in the UK’s capital city. Taking place at the baseball-configured London Stadium, the games will be held on 24 and 25 June.  When asked about the London Series, Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman said: “Sick. Unreal. Honestly, London is on my bucket list. It's one of those cities that I'm going to hit when I'm done playing the game. Obviously, I travel a ton. But playing baseball, I'm not necessarily wanting to go to in November or the winter time, so I'm glad we get to get there in the summer. I've had a lot of friends who go to London all the time, and they have nothing but great things to say. Expanding the game to greater regions, that’s great for MLB.”  ...
Cardinals to play Cubs in 2023 Major League Baseball London Series
Events, Sports Travel

Cardinals to play Cubs in 2023 Major League Baseball London Series

Major League Baseball (MLB) will return to London in 2023 with St. Louis Cardinals and Chicago Cubs facing off for a two-game series in the UK’s capital city. Taking place at the baseball-configured London Stadium, the games will be held on 24 and 25 June.  In 2019 MLB held its first regular-season games in Europe with the Yankees playing the Red Sox at London Stadium. The Cardinals and Cubs were due to play in London in 2020, but the series was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.  The 2023 London Series is part of the MLB World Tour, which will also see regular-season and exhibition games played in Asia, Mexico, Latin America and Europe through to the 2026 season. When asked about the London Series, Cubs pitcher Marcus Stroman said: “Sick. Unreal. Honestly, London i...
Watching the Lionesses win at Wembley: ‘the best atmosphere I’ve ever experienced’
Events, Venues & Stadiums

Watching the Lionesses win at Wembley: ‘the best atmosphere I’ve ever experienced’

In this blog post, Sports Tourism Media co-editor Mike Starling looks back on a glorious day out at Wembley Stadium for the Uefa Women’s Euro final between England and Germany... Just before she scored her winning goal, England hero Chloe Kelly looked towards us in the stands and urged the fans to roar the Lionesses on for the last minutes of the Uefa Women’s Euro final.  There was 110 minutes on the clock and seconds later Lauren Hemp swung in a corner which, after a goalmouth scramble, found Kelly who toe poked the ball home from close range. It may have been scrappy, but like Geoff Hurst’s hat-trick strike in 1966 and Gazza’s stunner against Scotland in 1996, Kelly’s Wembley goal is one that will go down in English football folklore. The forward’s now-iconic “taking-her-sh...
Sydney Marathon enters race to join Abbott World Marathon Majors 
Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Sydney Marathon enters race to join Abbott World Marathon Majors 

Sydney is on track to join the most high-profile marathon cities in the world, with the Blackmores Sydney Marathon officially announced as a candidate for the Abbott World Marathon Majors series – the first marathon in Oceania to be nominated. To become a major, the Sydney Marathon will be required to meet “strict criteria over a three-year period”, said worldmarathonmajors.com. If successful, it will join an esteemed group of races – Tokyo Marathon, Boston Marathon, TCS London Marathon, BMW-Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and TCS New York City Marathon – as a new member of the Abbott World Marathon Majors in 2025. Stuart Ayres, the New South Wales minister for tourism and sport, said the candidacy acknowledges the Sydney Marathon as a world-class event with one of...
Expat Sport launches Dubai hotel experience for football fans during World Cup
Holidays & Trips, Hotels & Resorts, Sports Travel

Expat Sport launches Dubai hotel experience for football fans during World Cup

Sports tourism agency Expat Sport has announced details of Dubai’s first hotel experience exclusively for football supporters. Taking place from 21 November to 18 December, to coincide with the 2022 Fifa World Cup in Qatar, the “Football Fans Dubai Experience” is for supporters wanting to base themselves in the United Arab Emirates during the tournament. The package includes daily flights to Qatar for guests attending the games, free shuttle buses to Dubai fan zones and a convenient, on-site sports bar to watch the matches. The Football Fans Dubai Experience will be hosted at NH Dubai The Palm, a premium hotel on the West Bay side of the Palm Jumeirah with breathtaking views of the Arabian Sea, Dubai Marina skyline and the Dubai Eye. The property has a rooftop infinity pool, spacious ro...
Chicago to host Nascar Cup Series street race in July 2023 
Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Chicago to host Nascar Cup Series street race in July 2023 

For the first time ever, the sights, sounds, and speed of Nascar are coming to downtown Chicago in July 2023. One of the world’s top sports cities, Chicago will add another chapter to its illustrious sports history when a Nascar Cup Series street race debuts against the backdrop of Lake Michigan and Grant Park.  The first-ever Nascar Cup Series street course race will take place on Sunday 2 July, and will be preceded by an IMSA-sanctioned series race, which will run on Saturday 1 July. The specific IMSA series joining the Nascar Cup Series in Chicago will be announced at a later date. Both races will be surrounded by music and entertainment options for all ages, truly making it one of the signature sporting and entertainment events of the year.   Lakeshore Drive, Michigan Avenue, Col...
Val d’Isère summer sports guide: e-biking, walking, hiking and more
Guides, Sports Travel

Val d’Isère summer sports guide: e-biking, walking, hiking and more

Sports fanatics looking for an active summer break need look no further than the striking alpine town of Val d’Isère in France. Typically thought of as a snow-capped winter destination, Val d’Isère transforms in the summer months to offer a whole range of sporting activities in the beautiful mountainous landscape, from exciting e-bike routes and trail running packages to forest adventure courses and lake-side yoga.  Summer’s hottest sport Noticing an ongoing demand for e-biking, Val d’Isère has committed to boosting its e-bike offering through developing new trails, bike sharing schemes, and hosting an E-Bike Festival from 29-31 July which will see long distance races, discovery rides, including a gourmet ride where food lovers can explore the area whilst trying fresh local produc...
Free tickets released for golf’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai 
Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Free tickets released for golf’s DP World Tour Championship in Dubai 

As with previous years, general admission tickets will be free for golf fans eager to watch the DP World Tour Championship in Dubai. The DP World Tour’s season-ending Rolex Series event will be held from 17-20 November at Jumeirah Golf Estates.  The Earth course will once again welcome the top 50 players on the DP World Tour Rankings presented by Rolex. Some of the hottest names in the game are expected to make the trip to Dubai for the prestigious tournament, including the likes of former champions and major winners Matthew Fitzpatrick, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa and Jon Rahm.  This year’s tournament will also boast a record US$10m prize fund, making the season finale the first DP World Tour event in history outside the Majors and WGCs to feature an eight-figure prize fund. As...
Rebrands and acquisitions: a huge month for Destination Sport Group
Sports Business

Rebrands and acquisitions: a huge month for Destination Sport Group

It’s been a busy few weeks for the team at Manchester-based sports travel group Destination Sport.  Earlier this month it was revealed that Clarity Sports had officially rebranded to Destination Sport Travel. And the company grew even bigger with Destination Sport Experiences acquiring US-based running travel specialists Marathon Tours & Travel. Destination Sport Group also expanded its partnership with Manchester United FC, with SportsBreaks.com marketing official ticket and hotel packages to fans in the US and Canada. While Inspiresport launched new partnerships with FC Bayern Munich and Lancashire Cricket.  https://twitter.com/Dest_Sport/status/1543926317908992000 Clarity Sports rebranded as Destination Sport Travel Elite sports travel provider Clarity Spo...