The world’s most famous sporting cities have far more to offer than just games. With fascinating sporting history to discover, they are places where you can spend days exploring, visiting famous landmarks and discovering more about the history and culture which give the destination its identity.
London
Home to football’s Wembley Stadium, The Oval cricket ground and Wimbledon’s tennis courts, the English capital is synonymous with world-class sport. Three-times host to the summer Olympic Games, it has several great sports museums to explore, including the World Rugby Museum in Twickenham and the Bourne Hall Museum in Epsom, which celebrates the history of one of the world’s most famous horse races. If you visit London in the spring, don’t miss the acclaimed Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race on the river Thames.
Cape Town
This beautiful South African city is known for horse racing, cycling and the Two Oceans Marathon. It also features some of the world’s best golf courses, including the former World Cup site Erinvale, as well as world-class cricket and rugby in Newlands. The Springbok Experience Rugby Museum celebrates both the history of the sport and one of the world’s best teams. Sailing enthusiasts, meanwhile, will appreciate a visit to the Iziko Maritime Museum.
Philadelphia
Few cities have teams at the top level in as many sports as this one, with the Philadelphia Phillies, the Warriors, the Eagles and the 76ers all guaranteed to be worth watching. It also excels in rugby, soccer and ice hockey, while rowing is popular on the Schuylkill River. Visit the Athletics Museum and the Philadelphia Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, or check out the famous steps in front of the Museum of Art used for the boxing training scenes in Rocky.
Rio de Janeiro
Its team may not have won the World Cup it recently hosted, but Rio de Janeiro’s Maracanã Stadium is still a worthwhile place to visit, and Brazilian soccer games offer an amazing spectator experience. Volleyball, motorcycle racing and horse racing are the city’s other great passions, and if you want to combine your sporting vacation with a little relaxation, you can watch the surfers or catch a game of local hybrid futevolei on Copacabana Beach.
Sydney
With tennis, cricket, soccer, golf and motor racing on offer, Australia’s busiest city is also its most exciting for sports fans. If you’ve ever thought about taking a trip down under, make it your number one stop, and watch surfing contests, kite flying competitions and the dragon boat races held to celebrate Chinese New Year. Check out the international Boat Show and visit Olympic Park for world-class athletics – then spend a relaxing afternoon looking around the Tennis Museum.
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