Events

9Sep By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Hotels & Resorts

Portugal Masters 2019: Thomas Bjørn to play in Algarve’s top golf event

European Ryder Cup-winning captain Thomas Bjørn will return to play at the Portugal Masters for the first time in four years. Held at Dom Pedro Victoria Golf Course in Vilamoura, the Portugal Masters will see many top European Tour players return to the Algarve from 24-27 October.  Bjørn, who led Team Europe to Ryder Cup victory in 2018, told EuropeanTour.com: “I have always enjoyed playing in Portugal. I have fond memories of the country as I reached the milestone of ten victories there nearly ten years ago.  “A number of my fellow players have a lot of great things to say about this tournament, so I’m looking forward to coming back in October.”  Championship director Peter Adams added: “With just a few short weeks to go until we return to Vilamoura, we are all very excited for this y...

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28Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

Rise in international paddlers for 2019 Vaka Eiva in the Cook Islands

This year’s Vaka Eiva canoe racing festival in the Cook Islands will see an increase in international paddlers taking part.  The Matson Vaka Eiva - the biggest event on the Cook Islands’s sporting calendar - will take place from 22-29 November and is the 16th edition of the festival. It will feature the coveted Pacific Cup and Pacific Paddle trophies for the open women and men’s 36km race around Rarotonga. Eva Allsworth, the Matson Vaka Eiva event coordinator, said: “Preparations for the event are going well, with the number of international paddlers already up by 15-20% in comparison to last year. “We are extremely thrilled to bring the juniors ‘Oe Mapu’ event back after a three-year hiatus and will be hosting this across two days. The event has been made even more exciting as we hav...

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25Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

Event focus: 2019 Scottish Golf Tourism Week, Fairmont St Andrews

The 4th Scottish Golf Tourism Week (SGTW) will see more than 90 golf organisations participate in the event at the five-star Fairmont resort in St Andrews. Taking place from 28 October to 1 November 2019, SGTW features familiarisation trips around Scotland, a gala dinner and more than 4,000 face-to-face meetings between industry buyers and suppliers.   According to the organisers last year’s event is expected to directly contribute £19.1m worth of additional business to Scotland by 2021, and it’s expected that the 2019 edition will be even more successful.  What the organisers say Tom Lovering, event organiser: “We’re hugely excited to be returning to Fairmont St Andrews. We identified that there was a gap in the market for an event such as this and, following a full evaluation, we wer...

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24Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Holidays & Trips, Hotels & Resorts

Palma Marathon travel and hotel packages available for Mallorca event

A number of hotels are offering special marathon packages for the 2019 Palma Marathon in Mallorca on 13 October.  Held on one of the most picturesque marathon routes in Europe, the breathtaking course traverses through the Balearic Island capital of Palma and its old town, alongside the promenade of Palma Bay following the shores of the Mediterranean Sea and past the emblematic medieval cathedral known as “La Seu”.  There are three race options for visitors wishing to participate. The full marathon and half marathon will both begin at 9am and the 10k race will start at 9.45am.  Following the race there will be two event ceremonies and an after-race party held for participants starting at 7.30pm in the Mega Park at Playa de Palma.  Palma Marathon travel information For 2019, ...

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27Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Holidays & Trips, Hotels & Resorts

Sports travel ideas: wild swimming and stay at Loch Melfort Hotel in Scotland

Loch Melfort Hotel on the coast of Argyll in the Scottish Highlands is offering a Corryvreckan wild swimming travel package in August. The hotel is partnering with swimming experience experts SwimTrek to offer a unique two-night stay which includes a fully guided swim across the Corryvreckan, Scotland’s most iconic open water swims.  During tides, this spectacular narrow straight is transformed into the third largest whirlpool in the world and is famous for its standing waves.  Post swim, guests are invited to warm up in Loch Melfort’s cosy lounge, accompanied by their favourite whisky dram and uninterrupted views over isles of the Inner Hebrides. About the Corryvreckan wild swimming package Where: Loch Melfort Hotel, Arduaine, Argyll, PA34 4XG, Scotland Available dates: 14 August ...

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27Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Holidays & Trips

Team GB Live launch Tokyo 2020 Olympics ticket and travel packages

Fans of the Great Britain and Northern Ireland Olympic team can now start planning for the 2020 Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.  With one year until the games begin in the Japanese capital city, Team GB Live, the official travel company for Team GB, has launched its range of fully-inclusive ticket and travel packages for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.  On its website, Team GB Live says: “The Olympic Games are sport’s greatest journey. It is the ultimate experience for athletes and has the power to unite nations behind a wave of pride, commitment and achievement and you can be part of this journey.  “Team GB Live is Team GB’s official travel company and will take supporters from across Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the forefront of this magical event at Tokyo 2020.  “With guaran...

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27Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Holidays & Trips

2020 Ryder Cup ticket and travel packages on sale now at PRIMESPORT

The PGA of America and PRIMESPORT have launched the sale of official ticket and travel packages for the 2020 Ryder Cup.  Taking place from 22-27 September 2020 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin, golf’s top team event will see Ryder Cup defending champions Europe take on hosts United States.  PRIMESPORT is the official Ryder Cup travel package provider of the PGA of America. Zack Long, chief marketing officer of PRIMESPORT, said: “The Ryder Cup is one of the biggest events in sports, and for 2020 we are elevating our offerings to deliver an unforgettable fan experience.  “PRIMESPORT serves as a one-stop planning services for golf enthusiasts looking to get fully immersed in the action. We make it our mission to deliver tailored, unforgettable experiences for all of our guests.”  ...

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26Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Guides

2019 Fifa Club World Cup, Qatar: teams, fixtures, dates, travel details

Fifa has released the fixture dates for the 2019 Club World Cup in Qatar.  Seven teams will play in the tournament, which begins on 11 December and ends with the final on 21 December.  Three clubs have already been confirmed for the Club World Cup, including the reigning Uefa Champions League winners Liverpool.  The Premier League side will be joined in Qatar by Concacaf Champions League winners CF Monterrey from Mexico and OFC Champions League winners Hienghène Sport from New Caledonia. Clubs from CAF, AFC and CONMEBOL will be confirmed in the coming months. As the Uefa representative, Liverpool will enter the tournament directly at the semi-final stage. Fifa says the draw for the second-round matches and semi-finals will be held in Zurich on 16 September. Stadiums, ki...

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25Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

Ryder Cup returning to Ireland in 2026 at Adare Manor

It’s been a huge week for Irish golf. On 21 July Irish star Shane Lowry won The Open at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland and just four days later it’s been confirmed that the 2026 Ryder Cup will be hosted on the Emerald Isle. On 25 July it was announced that Adare Manor in County Limerick, Ireland, had won the bid for the 2026 Ryder Cup - golf’s biennial team event between Europe and the United States. It’s the second time Ireland will have held the Ryder Cup and will come 20 years after The K Club in Dublin saw Team Europe record an 18½-9½ victory over Team USA.     Reactions to the announcement Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar “I am delighted that Ireland will be the host of The Ryder Cup in 2026. It is great news for Ireland, and for County Limerick and the west of Ireland in particular...

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25Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

China’s winter sports industry boosted by Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics

The Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games is having an immediate effect on China’s winter sports industry.  An International Olympic Committee (IOC) Coordination Commission meeting in July was told how there are plans to get 300 million Chinese people involved in winter sports. There has also been an increase in events and facilities.  According to information published by the IOC, by the end of 2018 there were 742 ski resorts and 596 ice rinks throughout the country, with more facilities being built every year.  During the 2018-2019 snow sports season, there were 4,401 district level, municipal and national level winter sports events in China, with 8.15 million people taking part.  The Beijing 2022 Organising Committee said there has been an overall growth of the winter spo...

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17Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

F1 Abu Dhabi GP 2019: The Killers and Travis Scott headline after-race concerts

It has been announced that the 2019 Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-race concerts will feature The Killers and Travis Scott as two of the headline acts. Du Arena on Yas Island will host the Yasalam concerts with hip-hop star Scott headlining on Friday 29 November and stadium rockers The Killers on Sunday 1 December.  The F1 Abu Dhabi GP is the final race on the 2019 calendar and previous winners include Lewis Hamilton (2011, 2014, 2016, 2018) and Sebastian Vettel (2009, 2010, 2013). Al Tareq Al Ameri, CEO of Yas Marina Circuit, said: “We are delighted to announce The Killers will play the headline show on Sunday night at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix after-race concerts.  “With their huge collection of global anthems, massive fan appeal, and incredible live performances,...

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17Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

2019 Silverstone Classic: cars to see, what’s on and ticket details 

The Silverstone Classic returns to the historic British circuit for three days of motor racing and entertainment at the end of July. Attracting crowds of more than 100,000 people, the motor sport festival from 26-28 July will feature more than 1,000 race entries, live music, a free funfair, shopping village, interactive experiences and a classic car auction.  The huge showcase will also see more than 130 clubs display more than 10,000 classic cars over the weekend.  Other highlights include Bentley’s 24 Hours of Le Mans-winning Speed 8 prototypes, which will race for the first time ever in the UK. Also on the schedule are races and demonstrations featuring historic cars from Formula 1, Sports Cars, GT and Touring Cars.  Some of the cars to see at the Silverstone Classic Bentley’s Sp...

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16Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

Event focus: Charlestown Harbour Classic Sail Festival

Charlestown Harbour in Cornwall will host its first ever Classic Sail Festival in 2019.  The festival, from 30 August to 1 September, will see a fleet of classic ships sail into the harbour and also feature food and drink stalls and live music with Mad Dog Mcrea the headline act.  Visitors to the Sail Festival at the UNESCO World Heritage Site will be able to purchase a gangway pass that allows them access to the inner harbour and a tour of the ships in the grade II listed port.  Rolf Munding, owner of Charlestown Harbour, said: “The Classic Sail Festival is gearing up to be a spectacular event. A lot of planning has gone into it and we hope the people of Charlestown and beyond in Cornwall can join us. “The festival is a real opportunity for us to celebrate traditional vessels ...

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16Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business

The Sports Tourism Blog: Lewis Hamilton was right – the 2019 F1 British GP scheduling was bad

Sunday 14 July 2019 will go down as one of the greatest days in British sporting history. England won the Cricket World Cup in memorable fashion against New Zealand at Lord’s, Novak Djokovic came through a five-set epic against Roger Federer at Wimbledon and the European Tour’s Scottish Open title was secured by Austrian golfer Bernd Wiesberger.   Also on the agenda was the Formula 1 British Grand Prix at Silverstone - a major UK sporting event that arguably took a back seat to the dramatic cricket and Wimbledon finals.  More than 140,000 fans attended the 2019 British GP but for world champion Lewis Hamilton he felt that this year’s scheduling of the race denied sports fans the chance to embrace F1’s biggest race because of the TV competition with the cricket and tennis.  Speaking ahe...

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16Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

Man Utd vs. AC Milan tickets still available | International Champions Cup, Cardiff

International Champions Cup (ICC) football heads to Cardiff on Saturday 3 August when Manchester United face AC Milan at the Principality Stadium. It’s the third and final ICC fixture for the two European giants as they prepare for the new Premier League and Serie A seasons.  United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has confirmed that he will pick a full-strength team for the clash in Cardiff. Welsh international Daniel James, the club’s new summer signing, could make an appearance in front of his country’s fans.  In an interview with the ICC, Solskjaer said: “We’re getting close to the league then and playing against AC Milan in Cardiff is a great chance for us to put the full team out to test ourselves just before the league starts. “We’re going to have to play our top team because we wan...

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7Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Festival: tickets, dates and what’s on

The Telegraph Ski & Snowboard Festival returns to London in 2019 at Battersea Park. Taking place over four days from 24-27 October, the snow sports event features the UK’s largest real-snow open-air ski slope.  Tricks and stunts Held on “Mount Battersea”, which features real snow from The Snow Centre in Hemel Hempstead, competitions will see professionals show off their tricks, stunts and skills on the slope throughout the weekend. What’s on? Visitors to the festival can also enjoy games, entertainment, a street food village and get winter sports holiday inspiration from more than 150 exhibitors. Opening times and dates Thursday 24 October: 12pm-10pm  Friday 25 October: 11am-10pm  Saturday 26 October: 11am-7pm   Sunday 27 October: 11am-5pm How much are tickets? According ...

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5Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

Active East: a month of activities in London’s Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park

Free sporting activities feature throughout the month of July during Active East at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London.  People of all ages and abilities are encouraged to visit London’s former Olympic Park to enjoy free activities including football, yoga, rowing, tennis, cycling and dancing. Visit International Quarter London’s Endeavour Square to experience what it’s like for the pros in the Wimbledon and Tour de France simulators and slip on your dancing shoes to learn ceilidh or swing. Try out a mountain bike or road track session at Lee Valley VeloPark and set free your inner Andy Murray with a game of tennis at Lee Valley Hockey and Tennis Centre. Also, why not take to the water to try out some canoeing or rowing from the brand new pontoon in the south of the park? A...

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4Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

Women’s sports events the highlight of Scotland’s summer

Women’s sport will take the spotlight in Scotland over the next three months with a number of major events taking place.  Scotland will play host to six European and international sporting events kicking off with the Uefa Women’s Under-19 European Championship in July and ending with the biggest women’s golf team event, the Solheim Cup, in September. Other major sporting events in Scotland this summer include:  Hockey: Women’s Eurohockey Championships II  Cycling: Women’s Tour of Scotland cycling  Golf: Aberdeen Standard Investments Ladies Scottish Open   Cricket: ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup T20 Global Qualifier Catriona Matthew, Team Europe’s captain at the 2019 Solheim Cup, said: “There is no doubt that women’s sport is benefitting from an enhanced profile both domestically...

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28Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

Video: new format and finals for Fed Cup women’s tennis event

The International Tennis Federation (ITF) has announced that the women’s tennis Fed Cup tournament will be relaunched with a new format and new finals event. A “World Cup of Tennis” format will see the number of nations increase from eight to 20 and they will compete each year to be world champions.  According to the official news release 16 nations will compete in the 2020 qualifiers on 7-8 February on a home-and-away basis over five matches to earn one of eight places in the finals.  The eight qualifying nations will join the 2019 finalists Australia and France, host nation Hungary and one wild card in the 2020 Fed Cup by BNP Paribas Finals - a new event that will be held from 14-19 April 2020 in Budapest, Hungary. The finals will be staged at the Laszlo Papp Budapest Sports Arena f...

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27Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events

Schumacher’s Ferrari F2002 car is up for auction at F1 Abu Dhabi GP

Formula 1 fans attending the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix will get the chance to bid for Michael Schumacher’s 2002 title-winning Ferrari F2002 when it goes up for auction.  Potential buyers must have deep pockets though as the Ferrari F2002 is estimated to be sold for between US$5.5m and US$7.5m. The car, chassis no.219, is the headline lot for the Abu Dhabi GP auction which is hosted by RM Sotheby’s in partnership with Formula 1.  Also going under the hammer is a restored 1990 Ferrari F40 signed by four-time F1 world champion Sebastian Vettel. The F40 has an estimate of between US$1.5m and US$1.75m. Earlier this year at the Bahrain GP, RM Sotheby’s and the Formula 1 Group announced their partnership.  Golden era The Ferrari F2002, chassis no.219, saw F1 legend Schumacher to vic...

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