Sport travel guides and sports events news

2021 NFL London games: Falcons face the Jets and Jaguars host the Dolphins

15Jul

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Events

2021 NFL London games: Falcons face the Jets and Jaguars host the Dolphins

American football returns to London this autumn with two regular season NFL international matches at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. On Sunday 10 October the Atlanta Falcons will host the New York Jets then on Sunday 17 October the Jacksonville Jaguars will play the Miami Dolphins. Both games will start at 2.30pm UK time. From 2007 to 2019 there have been 28 NFL London games and this year’s matches will see the first two picks of the 2021 NFL Draft – Trevor Lawrence (Jaguars) and Zach Wilson (Jets) – in action. “We are excited to be returning to London and welcoming back our fans for two great matchups,” said Christopher Halpin, NFL executive vice-president - chief strategy and growth officer. “We expect these games to be a celebration of our sport and our robust UK fan base. ...

2021 F1 British Grand Prix set for full capacity at Silverstone

27Jun

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Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

2021 F1 British Grand Prix set for full capacity at Silverstone

The 2021 Formula 1 Pirelli British Grand Prix has been included in the latest phase of the UK Government’s Event Research Programme (ERP) allowing a full capacity crowd for the event from 15-18 July. Silverstone will be in touch with all ticket holders in the coming days with further details about how the Formula 1 British GP will run as a pilot event. Ticket holders will be asked for either proof of a negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours of arrival at Silverstone, or proof of full vaccination, the second dose having been received at least 14 days prior to the first day of attending the British GP. The Silverstone team will be working closely with the ERP experts and particularly the Director of Public Health in Northamptonshire on the specific conditions of entry that wi...

The Open: 32,000 daily capacity confirmed for 149th championship

19Jun

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Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

The Open: 32,000 daily capacity confirmed for 149th championship

Up to 32,000 golf fans will be allowed to attend each day of The Open Championship. The 149th Open will be taking place from 15-18 July at The Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent, England. Last year’s event was postponed due to the Covid pandemic and there had been concerns over the capacity for the 2021 edition, Sky Sports reports. However, it has been confirmed that the championship will be included in the UK government’s “Events Research Programme”, which will enable a number of events to take place with higher capacities than present guidance permits. Of the 32,000 fans allowed each day, this will include existing ticket holders and hospitality guests who have already purchased tickets. Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, said: “We are pleased to now be ab...

Video: ‘It’s a Wimbledon thing’ campaign pays tribute to tennis fans

19Jun

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Events, Sports Business

Video: ‘It’s a Wimbledon thing’ campaign pays tribute to tennis fans

With The Championships just around the corner, the All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) has launched a new campaign - It’s a Wimbledon thing - to celebrate the “uniqueness of Wimbledon fandom”. The campaign focuses on “the passion that goes beyond tennis”, AELTC said. “No matter where they are around the world, Wimbledon fans take the traditions for which our tournament is known and loved, and make them their own. This campaign is a tribute to them.” After being cancelled last year due to the pandemic, the 2021 Championships will start on 28 June and fans will be welcomed back to SW19. AELTC chief executive Sally Bolton OBE said of the new It’s a Wimbledon thing campaign: “Last year’s cancellation provided a timely reminder of the immense passion that our fans have for Wimbledon...

‘Women’s boxing has never been this good’: WBSS launch new tournament

19Jun

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Events, Sports Business

‘Women’s boxing has never been this good’: WBSS launch new tournament

World Boxing Super Series (WBSS) has announced its first ever tournament for women’s boxing. The WBSS Women’s Super-Featherweight, the sixth edition and third season of WBSS since September 2017, will see one woman from one weight class raise the coveted Muhammad Ali Trophy. Andreas Benz, CEO of WBSS, says the tournament will provide a “worthy stage” for the world’s top women boxers. He added: “In season one and two we delivered the best tournaments in men’s boxing, but it was always our dream to not only deliver the best tournament in men’s boxing but to prepare a worthy stage for women’s boxing and support these fantastic fighters, too. Now it’s time to realise it. “It will be much more than the greatest women’s boxing tournament. We plan to strategically help to broaden...

Ski mountaineering proposed for Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

19Jun

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Events

Ski mountaineering proposed for Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics

The Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games organising committee has officially proposed the inclusion of ski mountaineering to the event’s programme. In a statement, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said ski mountaineering will be put forward as an additional sport for 2026 and the IOC Executive Board has forwarded this proposal to the next IOC Session in Tokyo in July. The proposal to include ski mountaineering consists of: 5 new medal events: 2 men’s events (Sprint/Individual), 2 women’s events (Sprint/Individual), 1 mixed-gender relay event48 athlete quotas (24 men/24women) to be found within the overall framework of the 2,900 quota These five proposed events will follow the principles set for all other events in the programme, including the implementation of a f...

Lions partner with British Airways for rugby tour of South Africa

19Jun

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Sports Business

Lions partner with British Airways for rugby tour of South Africa

British Airways has been named as the global airline partner of the 2021 Castle Lager Lions Series. The airline will fly the British & Irish Lions rugby squad to South Africa for the summer tour and both the Lions and Springboks will be carried across the country to matches by BA’s franchise partner, Comair. The Lions play Japan at BT Murrayfield in Edinburgh on 26 June and a day later the 37-man squad will board a BA charter flight from the Scottish capital to Johannesburg. In South Africa the Lions will play five warm-up matches and then three Tests against the Springboks. Sean Doyle, British Airways’ chairman and CEO, said: “We are honoured to be flying the British & Irish Lions to South Africa ahead of their tour. After a difficult year, we look forward to uniting the n...

Sport + Travel interview: Holger Gassler, head of markets & events, Tirol Tourist Board

14Jun

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Sports Business, Sports Travel

Sport + Travel interview: Holger Gassler, head of markets & events, Tirol Tourist Board

Holger Gassler is head of markets & events at the Tirol Tourist Board in Austria. He grew up in the Alpine village of Nassereith in the Tyrolean “Lake District”, right on the border to Bavaria. Travelling the world for Holger, continues to be a lifelong passion, in order to "learn about new cultures and gain new insights"; he has lived and worked in Chicago and Melbourne too. With nearly 20 years' experience under his belt with the Tirol Tourist Board and a passionate sportsman who hikes, mountain bikes, road cycles, swims, skis, ski-tours and dives, we are delighted he has found time to be our next interview guest. Here at Sports Tourism Media we love to cover anything related to Austria, one of Europe's great active, adventure and sports travel destinations and have found the ri...

11Jun

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Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business

Lionel Messi signs for Hard Rock International as a brand ambassador

Hard Rock International is 50-years-old this year and to celebrate its milestone anniversary the restaurant, entertainment and hospitality brand has announced a partnership deal with superstar footballer Lionel Messi. The Argentina and FC Barcelona forward has become a brand ambassador for five years - the first athlete to partner with Hard Rock. “I am honoured to partner with such a renowned brand as Hard Rock, and even more so at this historic moment – its 50th anniversary!” Messi said. “Sports and music are an integral part of my life, a perfect combination between my profession and my leisure time. Uniting both is a great success, and I am very happy that they have counted on me for this special outcome. It is an honour to be the first athlete to partner with a brand who has a hist...

2021 Florida Cup: Arsenal, Inter, Everton and Millonarios FC to play in July tournament

5Jun

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Events

2021 Florida Cup: Arsenal, Inter, Everton and Millonarios FC to play in July tournament

English Premier League clubs Arsenal and Everton will take their pre-season preparations Stateside by competing in the 2021 Florida Cup. Taking place on 25 July and 28 July at the Camping World Stadium in Orlando, the tournament will see the English sides joined by Italy’s Inter Milan and Colombia’s Millonarios FC. The first night of action on Sunday 25 July will see reigning Serie A champions Inter take on Arsenal and in the other match Everton face Millonarios FC in the semi-finals. The two winners will then meet for the Florida Cup title on Wednesday 28 July with the remaining two clubs facing off in the third-fourth placed game the same night. How to buy Florida Cup tickets Single-day tickets for either date include both contests and start at $44 plus taxes a...

Cycling for Softies: take a two-wheel foodie tour of the Cotswolds, France and Italy

5Jun

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Holidays & Trips, Sports Travel

Cycling for Softies: take a two-wheel foodie tour of the Cotswolds, France and Italy

Cycling for Softies, a travel company specialising in luxury cycling tours to destinations renowned for their fantastic food, has picked out the perfect trips for foodie cyclists. On the menu are self-guided tours in Italy, France and the Cotswolds in England. Self-guided cycling: A Taste of Italy Famed for its gastronomy, where better to head for an appetising adventure than Italy’s Emilia Romagna region. Combine history, art and culture with locally-produced food and drink, all leisurely explored from the seat of a bicycle. By day, explore gastronomic history in Bologna, the elegant centre of Modena and visit an “acetaia” to discover how the deliciously sweet, rich vinegar is made. During the evenings, savour gourmet evening meals that include some of the finest traditional fayre ...

‘Tokyo 1964: Designing Tomorrow’ exhibition to open at Japan House London

5Jun

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Events

‘Tokyo 1964: Designing Tomorrow’ exhibition to open at Japan House London

Tokyo 1964: Designing Tomorrow, an exhibition exploring the cultural and design legacy behind the Tokyo 1964 Olympic Games, will open at Japan House London on 5 August 2021. Sharing stories and artefacts never seen before in the UK, the exhibition will run until 7 November. The 1964 Games were Japan’s first, large-scale engagement with the world after the Second World War. They presented a chance to tell a fresh story and showcase Japanese creativity and design thinking across the globe, an opportunity elevated by the 1964 Games being the first to be broadcast in colour on TV to a world-wide audience via satellite. Exhibits on display include: Original 1964 posters designed by Kamekura Yūsaku and the award-winning team of post-war designers, marking the first time that photography...

10,000 fans allowed at each Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games venue

1Jun

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Events, Sports Travel

10,000 fans allowed at each Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games venue

The spectator numbers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have been announced. Each venue will have a 50% capacity limit, up to a maximum of 10,000 people. In March it was confirmed that overseas spectators would not be able to enter Japan for the Olympic Games or Paralympic Games due to Covid-19 restrictions. Only Japanese residents will be allowed to attend the summer games. In a joint statement, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Government of Japan announced the following decisions: In light of the government’s restrictions on public events, the spectator limit for the Olympic Games will be set at "50% of venue capacity, up to a maximum of 10,000 people” at a...

1Jun

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Events, Guides, Sports Travel

An in-depth guide to… Uefa Euro 2020

An in-depth guide to... EURO 2020 Delayed for 12 months because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 16th edition of Uefa’s European Championship will be held in the summer of 2021. Still marketed as Euro 2020, the tournament will see 51 matches played in 11 host cities across Europe. The Stadio Olimpico in Rome will host the opening match on 11 June - a group A clash between Turkey and Italy. London’s Wembley Stadium will host both semi-finals on 6 and 7 July and also the Euro 2020 final on Sunday 11 July.Portugal go into the tournament as the defending champions and for British football fans a highlight will be the group D game between England and Scotland at Wembley on Friday 18 June.Here we look at the groups, fixtures and host venues (all times BST). ...

An Ocean Independence conversation with Rafael Nadal

31May

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Sports Travel

An Ocean Independence conversation with Rafael Nadal

Images: Ocean Independence We are definitely kicking-off a summer of tennis in style! Our friends at Ocean Independence (OI) had a conversation with 20-time grand slam winner Rafael Nadal to find out a little more about one of the world's greatest ever tennis players, especially as he kicks off his French Open title defence in Paris. Through Ocean Independence, Sports Tourism Media (STM) jumped at the chance to feature a chat with Nadal about his affinity with the ocean and his treasured yacht. An experienced boat owner, Nadal has been passionate about yachting since childhood, and seizes every opportunity to be on the sea with friends and family. The idea to build a customised catamaran has been part of the superstar athlete’s plans for a while. Seduced by both the yacht’s design an...

#12NightsOutIn1Year: Cycling UK and Ordnance Survey launch ‘bikepacking’ challenge

26May

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Holidays & Trips

#12NightsOutIn1Year: Cycling UK and Ordnance Survey launch ‘bikepacking’ challenge

Cycling UK and Ordnance Survey have announced details of a year-long “bikepacking” challenge to help more people discover and enjoy the great outdoors. The #12NightsOutIn1Year challenge will encourage entrants to head out on their bike and experience a night beneath the stars, in a tent, bivi bag or hammock, at least once a month over the course of a year and to photograph their experiences. Each month, participants who have posted their photos and experiences on Instagram using the #12NightsOutIn1Year hashtag will automatically be entered into a monthly competition to win a range of cycle and navigation related prizes. Nick Giles, managing director of Ordnance Survey Leisure, said: “We passionately believe in the benefits the great outdoors can bring to us all. Through our app, O...

Valentin Popescu interview: an expert look at sports marketing in Romania

23May

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Sports Business

Valentin Popescu interview: an expert look at sports marketing in Romania

Valentin Popescu is the director of sports marketing for the Alexandrion Group. Alexandrion is a global producer of Spirits & Wines, with divisions and investments in the renewable energy, agricultural, tourism and real estate sectors. Under the stewardship of the founder and president Nawaf Salameh and his philanthropic pursuits, the company inaugurated the Alexandrion Foundation in 2003 which supports the Cultural, Creative and Sporting endeavours of Romanian nationals. Three major gala events have evolved under the patronage of the foundation: the ‘Constantin Brâncoveanu Awards Gala’, the ‘Matei Brâncoveanu Awards Gala’ and the ‘Alexandrion Trophies Awards Gala’. The latter supports and rewards sporting achievement at the highest level. Sports Tourism Media puts some questions to Ro...

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

15May

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Events, Guides

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...

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

15May

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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 ...

Flying high: professional sport fuels trend towards private jet use

3May

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Sports Business, Sports Travel

Flying high: professional sport fuels trend towards private jet use

Whilst the majority of us were unable to travel further than our home office, elite athletes and professional sport continued behind closed doors in the past year, despite a series of lockdowns. To enable teams to do this in the safest and most efficient way, many have taken to the skies through private jet charters. Sports Tourism Media spoke to Clive Chalmers, VP Charter UK, at Air Partner to find out more about the rising demand in sports travel and overall trend pointing towards greater private jet travel from other industries too. Private jets have largely been the preserve of royalty, high-net-worth individuals, CEOs and superstars – but are you seeing new clients and demand especially from the sports sector and first-time users? Over our 60 years in aviation we have worked w...