Sports are exciting to watch, but they’re even better in person. Whether it’s roaring along with the crowd at a World Cup match, feeling the whine of Formula 1 engines in your chest or seeing the puck hit the back of the net in sudden death overtime, there’s nothing quite like experiencing international sports in person. This year, there are a number of must-see events that will take place around the world.
The first international sporting event was the Ancient Olympic Games in 776 B.C. Athletes from city states of Ancient Greece traveled to Olympia to compete, setting a precedent for the international sporting events we know today. At that time, athletes were considered amateurs, meaning they primarily competed for the love of sport and not for financial gains or fame.
Since then, the Olympics has grown into a full-blown international spectacle, with the Modern Olympic Games beginning in 1896. The modern Olympics are held every four years and feature the best athletes from each country, as well as a wide variety of sports.
Other major international sports include the FIFA World Cup, the Ryder Cup (men’s golf), the Australian Open (tennis), the Calgary Stampede (rodeo), Giro d’Italia (cycling), and the America’s Cup (sailing). There are also regional multi-sport events that cater to a specific continent or region. These include the Asian Games, African Games, Pan American Games, and European Championships. Lastly, there is the Special Olympics, which features able-bodied and para sport events for people with intellectual disabilities.