Sport Tourism: Four Sporting Events You Shouldn't Miss in 2018

If you love to travel and you love to watch sports, you quite literally have the world at your feet. Combining the two gives you the perfect chance to see parts of the world you might not otherwise get the chance to visit and to do so in the company of thousands of like-minded fans. You also get to support your favorite teams and athletes in the most direct way possible.

For the players themselves, such support often makes the difference between winning and losing, which is why so many take the time to thank the crowd, especially those fans who have traveled from afar, at the end of each performance. If you want to join the ranks of these well-traveled superfans, here are a few events to add to your calendar for the year ahead.

Le Man, France

When you attend the 24 hour Le Mans race, you are witnessing an event that is dripping with history. Many of the world's greatest drivers and motor manufacturers have taken on the challenge over the years, and you never know for sure who will succeed around the 13-mile circuit.

To get the most out of your visit, be sure to pitch a tent in one of the nearby campsites, many of which turn into mini-villages during the course of the event. You can view pristine vehicles belonging to car clubs, eat and drink delicious local produce or just mingle and make new lifelong friends.

Winter Paralympics, South Korea

If you want to witness some extraordinary athletes and also visit one of the most extraordinary countries in the world, make your way to South Korea for the Winter Paralympics which begin in March. Enjoy the thrills of a wide range of sports including wheelchair curling, alpine skiing, ice hockey and snowboarding and be blown away by the power of the human spirit in the process.


To get into the spirit of things, compete in your own mini Olympics if you cannot make your way to South Korea. Compete with your friends and family and see if who the best of the best in winter sports.

ISA World Championship Finals, Barcelona

For those who love stunt and freestyle BMXing, skateboarding and scootering, the finals of the International Scooter Association World Championship will take place in Barcelona in June. It's a chance to see the very best riders from all of the world fighting it out for the top slot, from many different continents.


If you want to do more than just watch others take part in stunt scootering, you might want to consider a scooter of your own. There are many excellent brands to choose from, but Chilli Pro (who also supported the event) has a reputation for building models ideally suited to everyday riders. Their designs and slick and the build quality is excellent leaving you in no doubt these machines are built to last. Find out more by visiting www.skates.co.uk.

Field Hockey World Championships, India

If you need an excuse to travel to the Indian subcontinent, the staging of the men's Field Hockey World Cup in Bhubaneswar, India in November provides the perfect excuse. It may surprise you to learn that field hockey is one of the five most popular sports in the world with more than 2 billion fans.


It's particularly popular in India where it is considered the national sport and all games get a huge following. Not only will you get to travel to a fascinating country, but you can also experience a whole new perspective on the sport at the same time.


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This is a contribution from one of our contributing writers.