The New Year is finally here and what an incredible year to be a sporting enthusiast.
Get 2019 off to a flying start and book your sporting adventures early. You don’t even have to go for the final score; just go for the scenery, the fireworks and the drama of new and undiscovered places. No excuses. The options are endless.
The ICC Cricket World Cup takes place in England and Wales from 30 May to 14 July 2019. 10 of the best teams in the world (not like with American tournaments, where only Americans compete in the World Series…) will converge on the pitches of the United Kingdom to bat, bowl, and field for 3 years of bragging rights as the best cricketing nation in the world. It is a glorious time in the UK as they enter their summer season, and the beauty of the greens (off field in the countryside) have inspired poets for centuries – well worth an extended stay.
But bring your A-game. The Brits and the Welsh are extremely passionate about sport, and although the Welsh are not participating, their voices will undoubtedly be added towards the Barmy Army’s cries for England (I can practically hear it echoing already).
The ninth edition of the IRB Rugby World Cup will see teams vying for the coveted William Web-Ellis Trophy from 20 September to 2 November 2019. For the first time ever, the tournament will be held in Asia, away from its traditional heartland.
The opening match will take place at the Ajinomoto Stadium in Tokyo, and the no doubt nail biting final will be held at the Nissan Stadium in Yokohama. In between the opener and the final, matches will be played all over Japan, including venues in Hong Kong and Singapore.
If you have always wanted to experience the East, now is the perfect time to get clicking for tickets to not only the Rugby World Cup, but to the experience of a lifetime with all the colour, culture and tradition Japan has to offer.
If a World Cup doesn’t trigger your competitive spirit, visit Aspin, Colorado for the Winter X Games from 23-29 January or travel to Cameroon from 12 January to 3 February for the African Cup of Nations Soccer Tournament. 14-21 March, book your seat to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates for the Special Olympics Summer Games. Remember the sunscreen. June 7 to July 7 sees a month jammed full of soccer as the Women’s Soccer World Cup kicks off in France. Off course, a tourist favourite and a bucket list must is sure to serve the most memorable moments as the Wimbledon lawns are trimmed and the souvenir stalls are stacked with tennis memorabilia for the tournament’s first serve on 1 July and “game, set, match and tournament” on 14 July. Take an umbrella, just in case. The World Swimming Championships will be held in Gwangju, South Korea from 9 to 25 August, while Doha, Qatar will host the IAAF Athletics World Champs from 28 September to 6 October.
There is no reason to stay on your couch this year. Don’t wait for a live stream. Plan a play. Score a try. Serve an ace. Hit a six. And do it live. The world is waiting.
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