Who said watching sport should be confined to a crowded pub with a few beers and a packet of crisps? Get closer to the action with these five sporting events you simply must see on holiday, from Olympic drama in Tokyo to the tension of grand slam tennis in New York.
The 2020 Summer Olympics
Returning to Tokyo for the first time since 1964, the 2020 Summer Olympics and Paralympics will congregate in the Japanese capital for two weeks of exhilarating competition amongst the global sporting elite. This is one sporting event you simply must see on holiday – if the crazy fashion of the Harajuku district and the intricate artistic nature of Japanese cuisine is anything to go by, I guarantee your holiday to Tokyo will be complete as soon as you set eyes on the glorious Olympic opening ceremony. Showcasing an impressive 33 different sports, from jaw-dropping gymnastics to nail-biting athletics, and new additions including skateboarding, karate and surfing, the 2020 Summer Olympics promises to be something truly spectacular. Speaking of five-star (or five-ring – Ed) experiences, why not add some glamour to the proceedings with a stay at Conrad Tokyo At just a 15-minute drive from the New National Stadium, going from cheering on your favourite athletes to pampering yourself at the spa couldn’t be easier.
After a day cheering on the Olympians go for gold yourself in the hotel pool at Conrad Tokyo
The 2019 US Open
With this year’s US Open bringing of the kind of drama and controversy usually associated with the season finale of your favourite crime drama, the annual competition has gained a reputation as one of the most important Grand Slam tournaments in the tennis calendar. Witness tennis royalty dominate their opposition in this lead-up to Wimbledon in the city that never sleeps, and expect your New York holiday to be a perfect balance between nail-biting deuces and relaxing sundowners overlooking the Manhattan skyline. The ideal place to enjoy the latter is The Knickerbocker in Times Square where the iconic rooftop bar is the main attraction. Oh, and did I mention that the hotel is just a 25-minute drive from the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Centre?
Game, set… match your holiday to New York with some sport spectatorship when the US Open rolls into town
2018 Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Start your engines! The Formula 1® 2018 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix is the last motorsport event in the F1 ® calendar. Taking place from 22nd to 25th November 2018 at the world-famous Yas Marina Circuit, the high-octane encounter attracts spectators come from every corner of the globe to witness the incredible cars light up the track, with vistas of the mesmerising Yas Marina in the background. The post-race concerts add to the atmosphere too, with the likes of Sam Smith, The Weeknd, Post Malone and Guns N’ Roses headlining the four days of celebrations. Rest up on your Abu Dhabi holiday with a stay at Yas Hotel Abu Dhabi with Kenwood Travel – but the excitement doesn’t stop there. The Formula 1 track actually winds through the hotel grounds, meaning you truly can’t get any closer to the Grand Prix action.
The electricity of the Grand Prix combined with the serenity of Yas Marina makes Abu Dhabi the place to be
England Vs. West Indies Cricket Tour 2019
As if you needed yet another reason to take a holiday to the Caribbean, the England cricket team are about to embark on a tour of your favourite tropical islands, where they’ll go head to head against the West Indies. The tour kicks off in January 2019 with three test matches in Barbados, Antigua and St. Lucia respectively before five one-day internationals are played across Barbados, Grenada and St. Lucia, followed by the final Twenty20 games in St. Kitts. To make the most out of your Caribbean holiday, set up camp at Barbados’ Sandy Lane where you’ll witness the beginning of the tour before flying domestically to the surrounding islands to catch the rest of the cricket showdown. Trust me, this is one sporting event you simply must see on holiday.
2022 Qatar FIFA World Cup
Be prepared for the 2022 Qatar World Cup to be unlike any other football World Cup in history. This will be the first World Cup to be held in the Middle East – and not in June or July either; it’s instead scheduled from late November to mid-December to avoid summer’s sweltering temperatures. TV coverage of World Cups is always good, but this will be a sporting event you simply must see on holiday, and there’s nothing stopping you from planning your Qatar holiday sooner rather than later. Be front and centre at The Khalifa International Stadium in Doha, just 25 minutes from Shangri-La Hotel, Doha, as you hope, pray and cheer that the England team can exceed their semi-final exploits at the 2018 Russia World Cup. Who knows, it just might be coming home after all…
In between the football fun, make sure you check out Qatar’s glorious sights
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