What to Look Forward to in a Summer of Sport
Although we are all looking forward to the coming summer months, the hiatus from St Andrews does mean one bad thing, no biweekly updates of everything important going on in the world of sport from The Saint. Therefore, here is a very much non-definitive list of everything to keep an eye on over the busy summer months.
May and June
If once exams are done you are left wondering how to spend your time, then the US PGA Championship from May 18th-21st in Rochester, New York may keep you entertained. However, if you are more of a water sport enthusiast, then the World Surfing Games takes place on May 30th in El Salvador. June also sees the culmination of the football season, with the FA cup final being played at Wembley on the 3rd of June and the Champions League final taking place a week later, in Istanbul. If the match on the 10th is slightly on the boring side, then the 24 Hours of Le Mans offers alternative viewing, taking place on the 100th anniversary of the first Le Mans race in 1923.
July
July is arguably the busiest sporting month of the year, kicking off on the 2nd of July in Spielberg, Austria, with the Formula 1 Austrian Grand Prix. Although this is a circuit that Verstappen has won three times, and where Red Bull have a home-field advantage, Charles Leclerc did offer an upset last year so there is a glimmer of hope for a competitive race. We also have the treat of the sprint qualifier on Saturday the 1st so the first weekend of July should be considered sorted.
There is no rest for sporting fans as on Monday the 3rd, Wimbledon kicks off. Whether you were lucky enough to get ballot tickets, think you might be queuing, or will be watching the Sue Barker-less broadcast, you will be entertained for the first two weeks of July.
If you’re looking for a three week sporting spectacle then the Tour de France will fit the bill, running from the 1st to the 23rd of July. The race will start in Bilbao with the first three stages taking place in the Basque Country before traversing through France.
August
Some cycling happening closer to St Andrews however, is the UCI Cycling World Championships, taking place in Glasgow and across Scotland from the 3rd to the 13th of August. Dundee is in fact hosting the Gran Fondo time trial on Monday the 7th, if you are staying close to the uni.
Arguably the highlight of the summer of sport is the FIFA Women’s World Cup taking place in Australia and New Zealand from the 10th of July to the 20th of August. England will face Haiti, China and Denmark in their group stage, and Ireland are facing Australia, Nigeria, and Canada. The final will take place in Sydney on August 20th at 11.00 am in the UK and is sure to be a great watch.
All in all, there are the regular summer tournaments, combined with some bigger events to be glued to, so plenty to keep you entertained over the summer without the joys of uni work to keep you going.
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