If you love watching sport just as much as getting out there and doing it yourself, why not plan your next trip – skiing, hiking, biking and exploring – around some of the world’s greatest sporting events and festivals? It not only offers you the chance to get inspired by some of the world’s best athletes, but also try your own skills and be part of the action.

Want to go snowboarding in Canada? While you’re there, check out some Winter Olympics action. Heading to France in July? You could easily catch a stage of Le Tour De France.  Whether it’s a major sporting event that catches your eye or one that is unique to the country you are visiting, there’s plenty on offer in 2010.

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January

Mainstream: Grand Slam Tennis - Australian Open
Melbourne /AUS

Catch some tennis down under as Melbourne hosts the world’s best tennis players as they compete in the first grand slam tournament of 2010 (Jan. 18-31st). After some hot days in the sun watching the sizzling tennis, why not head down the coast to the famous surf beaches including Bells Beach, home of the Rip Curl Pro, along Victoria’s Great Ocean Road. www.australianopen.com

More Extreme: Roxy Chicken Jam Europe
TBA / AUSTRIA

January is one of the best months for snow in Europe as winter is in full swing! If you’re looking for an excuse to see the Old Country and get in some turns then why not catch some of the women’s best snowboarders at the Roxy Chicken Jam Europe. January 7-10th in Austria. www.ttrworldtour.com/events

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February

Mainstream & Extreme: Winter Olympics
Vancouver /Canada

It only comes around every 4 years and this time it’s all happening in Vancouver, Canada! Vancouver and its spectacular surrounds will be home to the 2010 Winter Olympics from 12-28 February.

Rug up and get outside to watch the very best compete in skiing, snowboarding, figure skating, luge, ice hockey and much more. If you have time, check out the Winter Paralympics from 12-21 March. www.vancouver2010.com

In between events or after you caught the winter buzz head to resorts Whistler Blackcomb or Big White to carve some turns of your own.

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March

Mainstream: Men's Rugby Union
Europe & Hong Kong

March is a great month for rugby with major tournaments taking place in Europe and Hong Kong. The RBS 6 nations will see England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Italy and France battling for honours in Europe’s Premier International Rugby Tournament. www.rbs6nations.com

While in Asia there is the Hong Kong Sevens Tournament. www.hksevens.com

Mainstream: Basketball - March Madness  
Indianapolis / USA

Catch the college basketball fever with the USA's longest running tournament.  For most of March college teams battle it out to get in the Final Four where they pine for a place in the championship game.  Wether you're a college student, alumni or sport lover you can't help but get caught up in all the hype.

Opening Round starts March 16th in Ohio and the Final Four takes place at Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis, IN on Saturday, April 3rd and Monday April 5th.  (NCAA Women's Basketball Championship is March 19-20, Shirk Center, Bloomington, Illinois / Illinois Wesleyan University) www.NCAA.com

More Extreme: Roxy Chicken Jam USA
Mammoth Mtn. / California

If Europe is just too far away and you have time to play in the USA then get to Mammoth Mountain for some of the best spring snow conditions for the Roxy Chicken Jam USA.  March 24-28, 2010  www.chickejam.com
www.ttrworldtour.com/events

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April

Mainstream: US Masters Golf Tournament
Agusta, Georgia /USA

One of the most traditional sporting events in the world is the US Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta. It is arguably the most important date on the professional golfing calendar, so understandably tickets are hard to secure. But if golfing is your thing it’s worth the effort. You may well end up standing alongside the 18th Green watching Tiger Woods vying for his fifth jacket. April 5-11 www.masters.org

More Extreme: Men’s and Women’s Rip Curl Pro
Bells Beach / Australia

Every April the Easter Rally brings together both men and women top ASP surfers at the Rip Curl Pro near the iconic Australian surf-town of Torquay, which is also the birth place of both world famous brands Rip Curl and Quiksilver. www.ripcurl.com.au

While your there make sure to check out the world’s largest surfing museum, Surf World, housing the best surfing memorabilia and archive.

 
Other Events: Mountain Bike World Cup (various dates/venues across eight countries from April to September)

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May

Mainstream: Cricket - World Twent20 Championship (Men's & Women's Tournament)
West Indies

Twenty20 is the latest fad in cricket, a fast paced game that has taken the world by storm. In 2010, the West Indies will host the World Twenty20 Championships for both men and women.  

In the men’s draw, Pakistan will defend its 2009 title, while England will be hoping to make it two in a row for the women. During the semis and finals the two tournaments will link up, in a move that is likely to be a major boost for women’s cricket.
www.world-twenty20.com

More Extreme: Cheese Rolling 
Gloucestershire / UK

This sporting endeavour attracts only those people who are madder-than-a-hatter. Imagine chasing a 10kg roll of cheese down an incredibly steep hill without breaking your neck. Even being a spectator is fraught with danger.

By the time that 10kg piece of cheese gathers momentum; it will be travelling at 100km per hour. My advice: Don’t get in its way. www.cheese-rolling.co.uk

More Extreme: Pro Wakeboarding Tour & Queen of Wake
USA

April and May launch the Pro Wakeboarding Tour including the Queen of Wake series for female riders.  Wakeboarders compete until August around the country at stops including Florida, Texas and Nevada. www.alliancewake.com

Other Events: French Open Tennis, Kentucky Derby (USA), English Premiership League

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June

Mainstream: Soccer - FIFA World Cup 
South Africa

What a way to discover South Africa, where nine cities will be hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup. In between watching games you can go surfing in Durban, explore the spectacular Garden Route, or relax in the cosmopolitan Cape Town. Head to Kruger National Park, east of Johannesburg, for some awesome game viewing. 11 June – 11 July www.fifa.com/worldcup/

More Extreme: Odd Events
Wales / UK

Wales has some of the most bizarre sporting events in the world, all year round. This includes the Man versus Horse Marathon in June and the World Mountain Bike Bog Snorkelling Championship in July. We can’t even begin to explain. www.green-events.co.uk

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July

A bumper month, July has so much sport on offer it’s hard to know where to begin. There's the world’s most prestigious tennis event Wimbledon; a spectacular bike ride Le Tour De France; and two major golf tournaments. In 2010, England is also hosting two major events in women’s sport – the Softball World Championship and the Hockey Champions Trophy.

Mainstream: Wimbledon
Wimbledon / England

Wimbledon is steeped in history and tradition. From the first ‘garden-party’ tournament in 1877 to this year’s record-breaking win by Roger Federer, this event is the pinnacle for most players. It’s also popular with fans, who have been known to queue in the rain for that all important ticket. 22 June – 5 July www.wimbledon.org

Mainstream: Le Tour De France
Europe

Starting in Rotterdam, in the Netherlands, the 2010 Le Tour de France promises to be a fierce battle. Will Lance Armstrong improve on this year’s third placing to take his eighth tour win? Can Cadel Evans put this year’s disappointment behind him to get back on the podium? Or will Contador continue to dominate? Add to this, some spectacular French scenery, and you’ve got one of the world’s most memorable sporting events. www.letour.fr

More Extreme:  Vans Warped Tour 
USA

One of the best places to catch your favourite skaterboarders and bmx riders is at the Van’s Warped Tour, along with some of the hottest punk and rock bands. This iconic festival tours across the US bringing together action sport and music from June to September hitting a record number of stops in July and August.  www.warpedtour.com

Other Events: British Open Golf, US Women’s Open Golf, ISF Women’s Softball World Championship (England), Samsung Women’s Hockey Champions Trophy (England), Calgary Stampede (Canada), Running with the bulls (Pamplona, Spain)

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August

Mainstream: Women’s Rugby World Cup  
England

England has also won the right to host the 2010 IRB Women’s Rugby World Cup, which will be staged across West London and showcase the top 12 international teams in women’s world rugby. Aug 20 - Sept.5

Since the first tournament was held in 1991, there has been unprecedented worldwide growth of the game. The biggest question is whether or not England can reverse the 2006 result by beating New Zealand, who has a stranglehold on the event winning three successive world cup titles.

More Extreme: La Tomatina Festival
Buñol / Spain

On the last Wednesday of August, the Spanish town of Buñol comes alive with revellers pelting each other with large, red ripe tomatoes. It begs the question, why? But it’s part of a week-long festival featuring music, fireworks and plenty of food. Make sure you are wearing old clothes. www.latomatina.org

More Extreme: ESPN XGames
Every year the world’s best action sport athletes descend upon Los Angeles to compete in everything from skateboarding to motorsport.  Check the schedule closer to the event at the XGames website.

Other Events: Women’s British Open Golf

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September

Mainstream: AFL Grand Final
Melbourne / AUS

For many Australians (particularly Melburnians) Australian Rules Football (AFL) is akin to religion. As such, going to a game of AFL is a must-do cultural experience for any Australian visitor.

Highlights include witnessing fanatical supporters and watching athletic players flying through the air to grab the ball (which is called ‘taking a mark’ or a ‘speccie’). There really is nothing like strolling to the ‘G’ (Melbourne Cricket Ground) on a cold, blustery winter’s day for an afternoon at the footy. There is even a song called ‘One Day in September’, which is dedicated to the AFL Grand Final Day in late September. Don’t miss it! www.afl.com.au

More Extreme: Hurling
Ireland

Similar to hockey, hurling is played with a small ball and a curved wooden stick. The game is mentioned in Irish folklore, as it was a Celtic pastime more than 2,000 years ago (making it Europe’s oldest field game). The All-Ireland Hurling Final takes place early September, but you can check out a regular season game during the European summer months. www.gaa.ie

Other Events: US Open Tennis

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October

Mainstream: World Series Baseball
USA

If you can’t get a ticket for the World Series in October, check out a game during the regular season. It is also a wonderful cultural experience – sitting in the bleachers, munching on crackerjacks, and then, standing up during the seventh inning stretch to sing, ‘Take me out to the ball game’. Awesome! And that’s not evening mentioning the game itself. www.mlb.com

Mainstream: Commonwealth Games
Delhi / India

Originally known as the British Empire Games, the Commonwealth Games are, as the name suggests, competition between countries in the British Commonwealth. Many of the events, such as athletics and swimming are similar to the Olympic Games. However, there are additional sports such as netball and lawn bowls. Delhi will host the 2010 games, with Glasgow winning the bid for 2014. Oct. 3-14 www.cwgdelhi2010.org

More Extreme: World Championship Ironman
Kona / Hawaii / USA

It’s the crème de la crème of the fittest bodies in the world chasing their dream of completing the 2.4mi.(3.86km) swim, 112mi. (180.2km) bike and 26.2 mi. (42.2km) run to top it off, in record time. If you’re looking for some inspiration to jump-start your next fitness regime, look no further.

The bonus is the scenery in which the athletes compete on the beautiful big Island of Hawaii. You can catch a surf while hanging around race week enjoying the festivities. http://ironman.com/worldchampionship

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November

Mainstream: Melbourne Cup
Melbourne / AUS

They don’t call Melbourne the sporting capital of the world for nothing! Billed as the “event that stops a nation” the Melbourne Cup is one of the most famous horse races in the world. In Melbourne the day is a public holiday, while around the country workplaces allow their employees to have “Melbourne Cup” parties, run sweeps and, of course, stop work to watch the race. www.melbournecup.com

More Extreme: Pro Kite Tour World Cup
Mexico

Check out the PKRA World Tour which stopes in Mexico this November for the World Cup and hopefully will come again in 2010.  The PKRA is made up of the world’s best kiteboarders (or kitesurfers) and stops at some of the most beautiful beaches around the globe. The athletes that compete aren’t too bad looking either!

Look out for ExplorerGirls Ambassador Johara Sykeys-Davies!

Other Events: Australian Masters Golf, World Rowing Championships (New Zealand), New York Marathon

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December

Mainstream: Cricket - The Ashes Tour (2010/2011)
Australia

Australia versus England is one of the longest-standing traditional rivalries in test match cricket. The term ‘Ashes’ was first used by the Sporting Times in a mock obituary to English cricket after they lost to Australia for the first time on English soil at The Oval on 29th August, 1882.

Since then, the two countries have had regular battles for the ‘Ashes’. With Australia’s loss in England, the return series in 18 months time promises to be fiercely competitive. www.theashescricketlive.com

More Extreme: Triple Crown of Surfing
Hawaii / USA

Held on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii, the Triple Crown of Surfing is one of the best places in the world to see top surfers as they ride some of the biggest and most spectacular waves.

Arguably the most important date on the surfing calendar (for both women and men), the event is decided over three events and is a great test of the surfer’s ability on a coastline famous for its winter swell. www.triplecrownofsurfing.com


Further Ahead:
2011 World Netball Championships – Singapore
2011 Rugby World Cup – New Zealand
2012 Olympics – London

While it’s fairly straightforward organising tickets to sporting events online, there are also many tours companies specialising in packages for sporting events, including:

Premier Sports Travel www.sportstravel.com
Total Sports Travel www.totalsportstravel.com.au
Gullivers Sports Travel www.gulliverstravel.co.uk

Of course, there are plenty of other events scheduled for 2010 that haven’t been included here. So if you have a favourite sport that we’ve left off the list please let us know by writing a comment below or sharing your experience by writing a blog!


www.ExplorerGirls.com / Karen Graham, Courtney Crow

Images: Sport the library, Roxy, istock, Johara Sykes-Davies