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Darts in 2020: PDC and BDO events, dates and venues
Events, Guides

Darts in 2020: PDC and BDO events, dates and venues

Darts has become cult viewing, especially in the UK. Supporters don their fancy dress, write their signs and head to venues across the country to watch the world’s best players throw some arrows.  So, if you like a bit of bully, check out the 2020 darts calendar below. Events are organised by the Professional Darts Corporation (PDC) and British Darts Organisation (BDO).  Newsletter: sign up for monthly updates 2020 sports calendar: UK and global major sporting events and ticket details PDC darts events in 2020  2020 World Series of Darts Finals When: 18-20 September Where: Salzburgarena, Salzburg, Austria 2020 BoyleSports World Grand Prix When: 4-10 October Where: Citywest Convention Centre, Dublin, Ireland 2020 European Championship When: 29 October- 1 November West...
Sport + Travel interview: Catie Munnings, British rally driver
Sports Travel

Sport + Travel interview: Catie Munnings, British rally driver

The word trailblazer could not be more apt for British rally driver Catie Munnings.  Still in her early 20s, Munnings has already achieved honours including the FIA European Rally Championship Ladies Trophy in 2016, first place in the ladies category at the 2019 European Rally Championships in Latvia and is currently making her debut in the 2020 World Rally Championships.  Munnings also presented Catie’s Amazing Machines - a children’s show on the BBC’s CBeebies channel.  She spoke with Sports Tourism Media co-editor Ramy Salameh about her sports and travel passions. Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media https://www.instagram.com/p/CBvqCikAwxY/ What was your most memorable sporting holiday and why?  I think in terms of a holida...
2020 #SportsBiz conferences: sports tourism and travel industry events
Guides, Sports Business, Sports Travel

2020 #SportsBiz conferences: sports tourism and travel industry events

Sports business and sports tourism conferences are a huge driver for the travel industry. However, the sector has been hit hard this year by the coronavirus pandemic with many events cancelled, postponed or rescheduled. Here we look at the #SportsBiz events, conferences, exhibitions and awards scheduled to take place in 2020. All events are subject to change due to Covid-19. Sport + Travel Magazine: sign up for the free monthly digital publication 2020 sports calendar: major sporting events 2020 sports business calendar  December 2020 Business of Sport Summit When: 1-2 December 2020 Where: RACV City Club in Melbourne, Australia and delivered digitally Website: sportsleaders.com.au The Stadium Business Summit When: 1-3 December 2020 Where: online Website: stadiumbusinesssummit.com Maj...
Sport + Travel interview: Aguska Mnich, freestyle football champion
Sports Travel

Sport + Travel interview: Aguska Mnich, freestyle football champion

Aguśka Mnich, a two-time world and European freestyle football champion, speaks with Sports Tourism Media co-editor Ramy Salameh about her sports and travel passions. Born and raised in Poland and now based in London, Mnich dreams of one day competing in the Olympics if the sport ever becomes an Olympic discipline. As well as her freestyle football titles, she has also worked with a number of major sports companies and organisations including Uefa, Fifa, adidas, Nike, Orange and Three UK. Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3YJPsQn_EPY What was your most memorable sporting holiday and why? My most memorable sporting holiday was in Miami in November 2019. The world championship was taking place there. After the c...
Sport + Travel interview: Amir Alagic, Sri Lanka football team head coach
Sports Travel

Sport + Travel interview: Amir Alagic, Sri Lanka football team head coach

Amir Alagic, head coach of the Sri Lanka men’s national football team, speaks to Sports Tourism Media co-editor Ramy Salameh about his sports travel life as a coach, fan and holidaymaker. Alagic, a Uefa Pro Licence coach and a former Yugoslavia international player, has managed teams in many countries including Bosnia, Germany, Australia, USA, Brunei, Oman and Kuwait.  Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media What was your most memorable sporting holiday and why?  It was a grand slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia. It had a great atmosphere, with plenty of fans attending from around the world and the biggest stars in the game were playing. The Rod Laver Arena is a spectacular stadium and offers much more than being just an arena for spectat...
Review: Fifa World Football Museum in Zurich
Guides, Sports Travel, Venues & Stadiums

Review: Fifa World Football Museum in Zurich

Switzerland is home to the headquarters for two of the biggest sporting organisations in the world – the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (Fifa).  Both support their own museums, which provide Lausanne and Zurich with two of the most incredible sports attractions anywhere in the world.  Sports Tourism Media's co-editor Ramy James Salameh visited the Fifa World Football Museum in Zurich and picks out the best things to see. Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media Up for the cup Without doubt a spine-tingling moment is getting up close and personal with the Fifa World Cup trophy, which is a global “celebrity” in its own right.  Introduced in 1974, the Fifa World Cup trophy is made of 1...
Sport + Travel interview: Samuel Inkoom, Ghana international football player
Sports Travel

Sport + Travel interview: Samuel Inkoom, Ghana international football player

Samuel Inkoom, a Ghanaian international football player, speaks to Sports Tourism Media co-editor Ramy Salameh about his sports travel life as a professional footballer, fan and holidaymaker. Inkoom, 30, has won 46 international caps for Ghana and was a member of the Black Stars’s squad which reached the quarter-finals of the 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa. He was in Ghana's squad for the 2014 Fifa World Cup in Brazil and also appeared in the Uefa Champions League for Swiss side FC Basel. Former clubs include DC United in the US, Boavista in Portugal and Antalyaspor in Turkey. He currently plays for Georgian club Samtredia.   Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media What was your most memorable sporting holiday?  When I was playing in Swi...
CopenHill: Copenhagen’s mountain sports destination takes urban sustainability to new heights
Sports Travel, Venues & Stadiums

CopenHill: Copenhagen’s mountain sports destination takes urban sustainability to new heights

By Sports Tourism Media co-editor Ramy Salameh Copenhagen aims to become carbon-neutral by 2025 - an impressive and challenging goal for any destination.  However, when one hears about some of the latest innovations taking place in the city, you come to understand how likely it is for that goal to be met.  The Danish capital is fuelling its reputation as one of the greenest cities on the planet through a growing portfolio of green initiatives and projects changing the urban landscape for the better. One example is CopenHill – an urban ski slope and epicentre for urban mountain sports which opened in October 2019.   It's located on Copenhagen’s peninsula of Refshaleøen, an old industrial area transformed into one of the city’s newest neighbourhoods with a trendy vibe.&nb...
Vendée Globe 2020: an epic sailing race with a wave of tourism opportunities
Events, Guides

Vendée Globe 2020: an epic sailing race with a wave of tourism opportunities

By Sports Tourism Media co-editor Ramy Salameh At 12.02pm GMT on 8 November 2020, 34 competitors of the Vendée Globe race will sail non-stop, unassisted, around the world via three capes and three oceans in an effort to complete one of the most demanding and prestigious events within the sailing and sporting calendar.  The procession of race boats will pass thousands of fans lining the legendary “Vendée Globe” channel in Les Sables-d’Olonne, western France, initiating the start of a gruelling race that will test the physical and mental endurance of those courageous and talented enough to take part. It is so demanding that over the last 30 years and eight editions of the race, 167 sailors have set off but only 89 have crossed the finish line. To further put this into perspective, ...
Licence to thrill-seek in Austria: extreme sports tourism at AREA 47
Guides, Holidays & Trips, Sports Travel

Licence to thrill-seek in Austria: extreme sports tourism at AREA 47

By Sports Tourism Media co-editor Ramy Salameh A study has calculated how far James Bond 007 has travelled to save the world - an enormous 276,745.2 miles across 24 movies, with Austria having been the location on three separate films.  It is a country known for its epic Alpine surroundings and tailor-made for adventure sport junkies.  In 2015, the world’s most famous film franchise used the Gaislachkogl Mountain to shoot key action scenes of Spectre. This Bond movie granted the town of Soelden, located in the Alpine valley of Oetztal-Tirol, a unique and lasting legacy.  Key action scenes from the film have now been honoured through the creation of 007 Elements a stunning cinematic installation at more than 3,000m which opened in 2018. Inside, a series of bunker-like concre...
The Sports Tourism Blog: how esports blur the lines between reality and virtual reality
Sports Business

The Sports Tourism Blog: how esports blur the lines between reality and virtual reality

By Ramy Salameh Imagine having the chance to compete against a true sporting great. It’s unthinkable for the vast majority of people, but based on the current esports revolution this may well be a plausible concept in the cyber world of the future.  Since my last article - Could esports be the ‘virtual’ savior of global sporting events? - many more international sports stars, clubs and events have announced and seen the potential of running an esport tournament.  It provides global sports fans entertainment, links into growing esports audiences since the coronavirus pandemic halted conventional sports and most importantly, provides the sports industry a means to charitably support efforts to tackle Covid-19. Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism News & Events Major ...
The Sports Tourism Blog: a tour of The Olympic Museum in Lausanne
Guides, Holidays & Trips, Venues & Stadiums

The Sports Tourism Blog: a tour of The Olympic Museum in Lausanne

Lausanne is truly an Olympic city. Not only is it home to Olympic House, the International Olympic Committee's HQ which opened in June 2019, but also The Olympic Museum.  Referred to as TOM for short - there's no doubt that this is one of the best sports museums anywhere in the world. The permanent and temporary exhibitions provide a lasting sporting narrative and legacy for all citizens and creeds. It also provides for a unique events venue that has mass appeal across many industry sectors.  Sports Tourism News co-editor Ramy Salameh paid a visit to The Olympic Museum in Lausanne and here he picks out some of the best things to see. An Olympic journey  Even before you step through the entrance of the museum, your personal Olympic journey starts within the “Olympic Park” that sits eith...
The Sports Tourism Blog: places and events on my sport bucket list
Events, Guides

The Sports Tourism Blog: places and events on my sport bucket list

By Sports Tourism Media co-editor Mike Starling The coronavirus has seen any plans for 2020 put on hold, but sports travellers will still be dreaming of visiting a new destination or event. Sports Tourism News & Events co-editor Mike Starling picks out some of the the sporting events and destinations he would like to visit. Sport travel bucket list Watch Messi play for Barca at the Camp NouWith hundreds of goals and a cabinet full of personal and team trophies, Lionel Messi is regarded as one of the best ever footballers. Turning 33-years-old in June, the brilliant Barcelona forward won’t be playing football forever, so watching him in action at the iconic Camp Nou is definitely on my sporting bucket list for the new year.  See the Olympic sights in TokyoI haven’t made plans to attend...
The Sports Tourism Blog: stay home, stay safe and dream of epic trips in 2021
Sports Travel

The Sports Tourism Blog: stay home, stay safe and dream of epic trips in 2021

The Sports Travel Blog by co-editor Mike Starling Sport, like so many other global industries, is currently at a standstill due to the rapid spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. Football’s Euro 2020 championships and the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have been postponed for a year. The Masters golf major is cancelled and Wimbledon has also fallen victim to the pandemic. Of course, in the grand scheme of things, the sports industry is way down the pecking order at this challenging time. The health and wellbeing of the world’s citizens - you, your friends and your families - is what governments and organisations are rightly focussing on. Yes we miss sport, yes we miss travel and yes we miss the live action. However, the need to stay home and stay safe is what has to happen right now.  ...
The Sports Tourism Blog: can esports be the ‘virtual’ saviour for major sport?
Events, Sports Business

The Sports Tourism Blog: can esports be the ‘virtual’ saviour for major sport?

The Sports Events Blog by co-editor Ramy Salameh The Covid-19 pandemic will reignite the many questions around the “risk vs. return-on-investment” when hosting major sporting events and whether destinations will be reticent to bid in the future. Tokyo’s Olympics and Paralympics have now announced a postponement until July 2021 and the economic implications for Japan are yet to be fully realised based on this deferment.  However, could the esports industry provide some form of safety net and a major new opportunity to help balance the books of major sporting festivals of the future? The discussion has been on the table for a few years now. So much so, that esports may well be on track to be included as a demonstration event, to run prior to and in conjunction with the 2024 Olympic Ga...
The Sports Tourism Blog: ‘Dear NFL, please bring the Atlanta Falcons to London in 2021’
Events, Sports Business

The Sports Tourism Blog: ‘Dear NFL, please bring the Atlanta Falcons to London in 2021’

by Sports Tourism Media co-editor Mike Starling | @mikejstarling The NFL has confirmed that the 2020 London games will not be going ahead. As a fan of the Atlanta Falcons this is really disappointing news.  The coronavirus pandemic has ravaged this year’s sporting schedule and the NFL’s popular UK events have become the latest to fall victim to Covid-19.  NFL UK managing director Alistair Kirkwood said: "The NFL's London Games have become a major part of the NFL season and the UK sports calendar. But the uncertainty in the current sporting landscape and the tremendous amount of long-term travel and planning required to stage successful London games mean this is the sensible decision to make." Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media Bitter blow for the FA, Spurs and ...
World Football Summit and Brazil icon Ronaldo Nazário launch WFS Live virtual event
Sports Business

World Football Summit and Brazil icon Ronaldo Nazário launch WFS Live virtual event

World Football Summit (WFS) has teamed up with legendary striker Ronaldo Nazário and Octagon Brasil to launch a four-day virtual conference - WFS Live powered by Octagon.  Taking place online from 6-9 July 2020, the football business event will see global leaders from the game come together to address the challenges and opportunities in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a WFS statement executives from clubs, leagues, federations, broadcasters, agencies and sponsorship brands will “lay sound foundations for the sport to continue growing into a new era”. Newsletter: sign up for updates from Sports Tourism Media Brazilian icon Ronaldo Nazário, a two-time Fifa World Cup winner, is owner of Spanish La Liga club Real Valladolid and is also president of Octagon Brasil.  “T...
UFC returns: Dana White on UFC 249, Fight Island and 23 May event in Las Vegas
Events, Sports Business

UFC returns: Dana White on UFC 249, Fight Island and 23 May event in Las Vegas

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) president Dana White had already confirmed three events for this month and now he has revealed plans for a fight night in Las Vegas on 23 May.  Due to the coronavirus measures the mixed martial arts (MMA) organisation was forced to suspend its calendar. However, UFC 249 is now rescheduled for this Saturday (9 May) while cards are also planned for 13 May and 16 May.  The three events will be held behind closed doors in Jacksonville, Florida.  In a pre-UFC 249 interview with Sports Illustrated, White also revealed plans for Vegas later this month.  He said: “While everybody was f------ lying out by the pool, hanging out and doing whatever the f--- they're doing in quarantine, we were in here f------ grinding, man. Fighting crazy wars every day to put ...
Bundesliga is back on 16 May: German football is first to restart in Europe
Sports Business

Bundesliga is back on 16 May: German football is first to restart in Europe

The German Bundesliga will be the first European football league to restart after getting the go-ahead from the government.  Chancellor Angela Merkel has approved plans for the top two professional divisions to resume and the German Football League (DFL) has confirmed that the first matches will be played on Saturday 16 May.  As part of the country’s ongoing coronavirus measures all matches will be played behind closed doors. Nine rounds of fixtures remain in the Bundesliga and the new schedule will see the final weekend of the season played on 27-28 June. Bayern Munich are currently top of the table.   Christian Seifert, DFL managing director, said: “[The] decision is good news for the Bundesliga and the 2nd Bundesliga. It is associated with a great responsibility for the clubs and t...
£740m ‘black hole’: UK sport bodies face financial meltdown
Sports Business

£740m ‘black hole’: UK sport bodies face financial meltdown

Sport governing bodies in the United Kingdom are facing hundreds of millions of pounds in revenue losses from events and matches called off because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In a hearing on Tuesday industry bosses from football, cricket, rugby union, Olympic and Paralympic sports told the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee (DCMS) of the financial crisis for UK sporting organisations.  The Daily Telegraph reports that sport’s “darkest hour” will see a £740m “black hole” in the budgets of governing bodies. While the BBC puts the figure at “almost £700m”.  According to the Telegraph UK sporting organisations are facing the following: £200m shortfall for English Football League clubs £107m losses for rugby union if England’s autumn internationals are cancelled £380m ...

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