Sports Travel

1Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

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 ...

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1Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

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 specta...

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23May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Guides, Sports Travel, Stadiums & Venues

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 ...

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23May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

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 Sw...

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11May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel, Stadiums & Venues

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...

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11May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

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...

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11May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel

The Sports Travel 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.  ...

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15Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel

NFL London Games 2020: Jacksonville Jaguars to play two home matches at Wembley

NOTE: NFL will not be hosting any international games in London in 2020 American football team the Jacksonville Jaguars have confirmed that they will play two back-to-back home matches at Wembley Stadium in the NFL London Games 2020. The Jags, who have played every year at Wembley since 2013, become the first NFL team to play two regular-season home games outside of the United States.  Although the opponents are yet to be confirmed, NFL.com says the Jags will play two of the following teams at Wembley in 2020: the Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, Detroit Lions or Miami Dolphins. This year there will be four matches on the NFL London Games 2020 schedule. Wembley, the home of English football, will host the two Jags fixtures while the Tottenham Hots...

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15Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel, Stadiums & Venues

Etihad Arena: naming rights deal signed for new venue at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi

Etihad Airways has secured the exclusive naming rights for a new 18,000-capacity venue at Yas Island in Abu Dhabi.  Called the Etihad Arena, the multi-purpose indoor entertainment facility is being developed by Abu Dhabi-based Miral and according to reports will open this year.    Operated by Flash Entertainment, the Etihad Arena has been designed to accommodate large-scale and private events, offering a capacity ranging from 200 to 18,000 people. Once open, the venue will host a variety of events including sporting competitions, corporate events, cultural performances and concerts.  The Etihad Arena will be a major addition to Yas Bay Waterfront, which will also include the Hilton Abu Dhabi Yas Island, a beach club as well as a pier that boasts 12 licensed cafes and restaurants, and 19...

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8Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel

Coronavirus: no Formula 1 fans will attend the 2020 Bahrain Grand Prix

Bahrain Grand Prix organisers have confirmed that the Formula 1 event from 20-22 March 2020 will be held behind closed doors because of the coronavirus outbreak.  While the Chinese GP in April was postponed, the Bahrain race, the second on the 2020 F1 calendar, will be open for participants only and will be televised.   In a statement published on Facebook, Bahrain GP officials said: “In consultation with our international partners and the Kingdom’s national health Taskforce, Bahrain has made the decision to hold this year’s Bahrain Grand Prix as a participants-only event.  “As an F1 host nation, balancing the welfare of supporters and race goers is a tremendous responsibility. Given the continued spread of Covid-19 globally, convening a major sporting event, which is open to the public...

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3Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel

Coronavirus: IOC chief Bach urges athletes to prepare ‘full steam’ for Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has urged athletes around the world to keep preparing for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games despite the coronavirus outbreak.  Japan’s capital city hosts the summer Olympics from 24 July to 9 August and the Paralympics from 25 August to 6 September.  Many major sporting events are under threat due to the spread of the virus and media reports have claimed that the games in Tokyo could be postponed or cancelled. But in a statement issued on 3 March, the IOC said: “The IOC executive board [EB] today expressed its full commitment to the success of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.  “The IOC EB heard a report on all the measures taken so far to address the coronavirus situation, which was followed by a comprehensive discussion. “A joint task force had alre...

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6Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel

2020: the year of sports tourism in Catalonia 

As a region that boasts world-class football clubs, beaches, mountains and an action-packed events calendar, it’s no surprise that Catalonia is positioning itself as a major sports travel destination.  At the end of 2019 the Catalan Tourism Board declared 2020 to be “the year of sports tourism”. With Tokyo hosting the Olympics Games in 2020, the Catalonia sports tourism year has an aim to promote the Pyrenees-Barcelona candidature to host the Winter Olympic Games in 2030.  On its website the Catalan Tourism Board says of the sports tourism push in 2020: “This thematic year is regarded as an opportunity to position Catalonia as a leading destination for sports tourism around the world.  “The quality of the tourist attractions and its excellent sports facilities, coupled with its climate ...

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23Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Rugby World Cup 2023: Groupe Couleur to manage official travel agent selection process

World Rugby and the France 2023 organising committee have announced that Groupe Couleur has been appointed as exclusive global rights holder for the Rugby World Cup 2023 official travel programme. Groupe Couleur will manage the official travel agent appointment process, which kicks off with agents around the world invited to register their interest from now until 31 March 2020. Rugby World Cup 2023 official travel agents will be appointed in September 2020, marking a major milestone for fans planning on attending rugby’s showcase event. Ticket-inclusive packages sales will be launched in early 2021.  Groupe Couleur will manage all operational responsibilities of the official travel programme, from appointing the official travel agents to delivering the tickets and ensuring all marketing...

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7Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Endeavor buys majority stake in NFL On Location Experiences 

Entertainment giant Endeavor has completed its takeover of NFL-backed On Location Experiences (OLE).  The deal sees Endeavor acquire a majority equity ownership stake while the NFL, through its strategic investment arm 32 Equity, will continue to be a minority shareholder and retain its seat on the board of directors. According to a news release, ex-Bloomberg, Westwood One and Time Inc executive Paul Caine will lead the newly-integrated entity. John Collins, OLE’s CEO for the past four years, will serve as an advisor to the company and Endeavor through the integration period.  Ariel Emanuel, CEO of Endeavor said: “By bringing together a leader like On Location with Endeavor’s access and reach, we can advance the way consumers and brands think about money-can’t-buy experiences.  “Partne...

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22Dec By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Four million grand prix fans attend Formula 1 races in 2019

Formula 1 has announced that 4,164,948 spectators attended at least one of the 21 grands prix during the 2019 season.   According to data supplied by race promoters, 2019 had a +1.75% attendance increase compared to the previous season, despite the Saturday cancellation of the Japanese Grand Prix due to Typhoon Hagibis.  Adding to this total the 80,118 F1 Paddock Club ticket holders (+7.15% compared to 2018), the average attendance per race was 202,146 (+1.85%).  Three GPs had an attendance of more than 300,000 spectators over a race weekend – Great Britain (351,000), Mexico (345,694) and Australia (324,100) – while a total of eight attracted crowds of more than 200,000, including Singapore and USA (268,000 each), Belgium (251,864), Hungary (230,000) and Austria (203,000).  Five circui...

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15Dec By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Clarity Sports named official team travel partner of the Football Association of Wales

The Football Association of Wales (FAW) and Clarity Sports have announced a new partnership that will see Clarity provide all domestic and international travel for the Welsh national teams.  Clarity Sports, who also work with a number of top-flight English and Scottish football teams, has signed a three-year contract that will see the business provide its best-in-class services at an exciting time for the FAW, with Euro 2020 on the horizon. Wales have been drawn against Italy, Switzerland and Turkey and will play games initially in Baku and Rome.  The women’s international team will continue their 2021 European Championship qualifying campaign, where they currently sit second in the table, in April 2020.  Rob Slawson, director of sports travel at Clarity, said: “The role we play is to t...

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25Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

4,000 meetings take place at 2019 Scottish Golf Tourism Week

The 2019 Scottish Golf Tourism Week (SGTW) was a resounding success with more than 4,000 meetings taking place during the event. Held from 28 October to 1 November at the five-star Fairmont St Andrews in Fife, the fourth edition of the trade event saw golf businesses network with international tour operators.  Organisers said on Twitter: “The Scottish Golf Tourism Week is the biggest tourism event for all businesses deriving revenue from the golf market. Over 100 businesses carry out more than 4,000 face-to-face meetings with over 100 international tour operators.” The 2018 SGTW is expected to directly contribute £19.1m worth of additional business to Scotland by 2021, and organisers expect the 2019 edition to be even more successful.  It’s also been announced that next year’...

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25Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Viagogo buys StubHub from eBay for $4.05bn: ‘a win-win deal for fans’

A major business deal has been confirmed in the sports ticketing industry with news that eBay Inc has agreed to sell StubHub to viagogo for $4.05bn in cash. The sale is expected to close by the end of the first quarter of 2020, subject to regulatory approval and customary closing conditions. Eric Baker, viagogo’s founder and CEO, also co-founded StubHub while in business school, but left before the business was sold to eBay for $310m in 2007. He said it has been his “wish” to unite the two companies.  “I am so proud of how StubHub has grown over the years and excited about the possibilities for our shared future,” Baker added.  “Buyers will have a wider choice of tickets, and sellers will have a wider network of buyers. Bringing these two companies together creates a win-win for fans -...

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20Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

WSL Sydney Surf Pro in Manly to generate AUD$3.7m and 25,000 visitor nights

Manly beach in Sydney, Australia, will host the World Surf League’s newest event – the Sydney Surf Pro – for the next three years. The NSW Government, through its tourism and major events agency Destination NSW, has secured the event exclusively for Sydney as part of the new global WSL Challenger Series. The WSL Sydney Surf Pro will include men’s and women’s events and is locked in for Manly from 2020 to 2022, with the first event to take place between 8-14 March next year.  James Griffin, member for Manly, said: “Manly staged the first-ever world championships in May 1964, and in March this year our iconic four-kilometre beach attracted 11-time world champion Kelly Slater to compete. “Where better to kick off the WSL Challenger Series than in the hub of surf culture that is Manly?”  ...

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19Nov By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

IOC and Airbnb agree Olympic partnership: all the details about the deal

International Olympic Committee (IOC) and Airbnb have announced a major partnership agreement to support the Olympic Movement through to 2028.  The nine-year, five-Games deal includes accommodation provisions that will reduce costs for Olympic Games organisers and stakeholders, minimise the need for construction of new accommodation infrastructure for the Olympic Games period, and generate direct revenue for local hosts and communities. Working together with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), Airbnb will also promote accommodation that supports accessibility for people with disabilities or other accessibility needs. Reactions to the partnership IOC president Thomas Bach “This innovative partnership underpins our strategy to ensure that the efficient staging of the Olympic Gam...

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