Massive public investment

Guests can expect a unique blend of African hospitality and western modernity and comfort. The country, and its major host cities Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban have in recent years undertaken the massive task of upgrading facilities, stadiums and transport systems to accommodate the influx of an expected 500 000 foreign visitors over the six week tournament. New stadiums, purpose built for the 2010 Football World Cup have been built – Soccer City in Johannesburg inspired by the bowl-shape of the African calabash will host the final and 94,700 fans on the 11 July.

Cape Town, widely believed to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world, has a spectacular addition in the Cape Town (Green Point) stadium. This modern and sleek European based ‘canvas-facade’ sealed 70,000 seater would be equally at home in major European city. Guests based in the southern tip of the country will be able to catch the on-field action all the way up to the semi-final draw. Despite being winter, over the interior of the country the weather will be fine and dry, so be sure to bring sunglasses and sunscreen if you’re making your way south for the Cup.

Culture and comfort combined

The Local Organising Committee (LOC) has ensured the public and foreign partners that every measure will be taken to ensure a successful and enjoyable 2010 World Cup tournament. Transport links from airports, and within the city, will ferry players, teams and guests to the matches. Parks for fans will be in place to bring the action to thousands of fans via giant screen TVs.

Host cities throughout the country have also gone through a tremendous process of maintenance, upgrading and preparation of public areas, amenities and facilities. Many South Africans are leasing their properties, apartments and villas to guests, with services and travel arrangements all inclusive in these hospitality packages over the tournament. Prices for these packages range from the affordable to luxurious. Owners asking as much as £22 000 a week for penthouse arrangements in the exclusive suburbs of Camps Bay, Clifton and Sandton.

Exciting soccer action

The World Cup 2010 action promises to be as exciting as ever, with relative minnows taking on the giants off the football world. Favourites include Italy, Spain, Portugal and Germany – support your team all the way to the final! The big question is, can the local side Bafana Bafana, led by coach Carlos Parreira, stage a near miraculous effort and go well past the group stages. With the support of the local fans, as passionate as any of the dominant football playing nations of the world surprise results could be on the cards. Surely this African spectacle will prove to be a melting pot of passion, culture and celebration. Viva Africa! Viva 2010!

What to look out for this year

Sport stars are busy this year, travelling all around the world to compete in many events, some of which stand out a bit more than others, like the football World Cup hosted in South Africa. Kicking off on 11 June with a match between the host nation and Mexico (England take on America the following day), the event is set to be one of the highlights of the 2010 schedule especially when it comes to global sports.

Though football has naughty sports stars, it seems the more gentlemanly game of golf has started to acquire its own bad boy in Tiger Woods. All eyes will be on Tiger Woods’ swing – on the golf course of course, not at the parties, because all signs show he’s back on his game. It’s a big year for golf with: The Masters Cup in Augusta in April; The Players Championship in Sawgrass in May; The US Open in Pebble Beach; The British Open in St. Andrews in July; The PGA Championship at Whistle Straights in August; The Fed Ex Cup playoffs in August and of course the much anticipated Ryder’s Cup in October.

This year’s BT Paralympic World Cup in May has introduced a new sport to its predominantly swimming, wheelchair, basketball and athletic disciplines. This year 7-a side football will also be on the cards at the event taking place at Manchester Regional Arena and Manchester Aquatic Centre.

Then on top of that there’s the Cricket World twenty20 among others, Champion’s League football, the Common Wealth games in New Dehli, India, and the WBC super middle weight title fight between Carl Froch and Mikkel Kessler with plenty more.

The Fifa World Cup – South Africa

One of the most important sporting events of the year, the Fifa World Cup, might turn out to be the highlight of 2010 summer sport with host country South Africa pulling out all the stops to host a sporting spectacle. For the first time ever, the cry of the vuvuzela (noise-making trumpet) will punctuate the action. Brazil, the most successful World Cup team ever, along with Germany, Spain, Italy and a very hungry Egypt are the teams to watch. The Fifa World Cup kicks off on 11 June. While you wait for the action, why not entertain yourself with the PS3’s Fifa World Cup 2010 game?

The Tour de France

The best cyclists in the world will be getting on their bikes for the Grand Deport in Rotterdam at the beginning of July this year. This, the 97^th Tour de France, will cover almost 2,300 miles over 20 stages. The treacherous le Tourmalet will be climbed twice, and some of the highest mountain passes ever will be scaled this year. The man to watch is Lance Armstrong, who is confident that he will win his eighth title. The Tour de France starts on Saturday 3 July.

Wimbledon

What is summer sport without champagne, strawberries and Wimbledon? From Monday 21 June to Sunday 4 July, all eyes will be on Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, key contenders for the title. Nadal, who won his first Wimbledon title last year, went on to become the first Spaniard to win the Australian Open, as well as being the first player since Andre Agassi to secure majors on three surfaces. And the player he defeated last year, Roger Federer, currently ranked number two in the world, will be doing his best to make a comeback.

And if these summer sports highlights aren’t enough for you, don’t miss the UEFA Champions League final on 22 May, the Monaco Grand Prix on 23 May, and the much anticipated one day cricket international between England and Australia at Lords on 3 July.

Cheering for victory

England Captain Johnny Wilkinson has a lot to prove after his gut wrenching defeat at Muarrayfield two years ago. England fans, however, are supportive, and will be cheering for the team to lead in victory against their opponents at the finals.

For every fan

To make sure that English rugby fans remain happy, upbeat and positive, there are a few essentials for every English rugby fan.

Finding a place to relax and get together with people who are as fanatic about the game as you are is important. Whether it is at a house, a pub, or if you have been lucky enough to have scored tickets to a match, being with like minded people makes all the difference in the world.

Rugby fans travelling abroad may need to brush up on their foreign language skills, as well as their knowledge of cultures and customs of the countries they will be visiting. And if you are one of the lucky ones watching the game abroad, be sure to get hold of some rugby gear to let your team know you’re rooting for them.

On the web

For die-hard rugby fans who are following more than the Six Nations Tournament, but don’t have to time to catch all the games, websites like SCRUM .com keep score of all the matches, so rugby fans can have their finger on the pulse, no matter which team is playing on either side of the globe.

Six Nations Rugby tickets are selling fast, so be sure to get yours for the final game as soon as possible.

8 April – 11 April

Tee-off is scheduled for 8 April, with the final hole being played on 11 April. The 2010 US Masters is the first major in the 2010 PGA tour and, as such, often carries the weight and excitement of months of speculation in the lead up to the tournament.

The Tiger Woods factor

Though many would like to draw attention away from it, it is rumoured that the 2010 US Masters will be the first major tournament the returning Tiger Woods will play in since his highly publicised personal scandal. The player, who had taken an indefinite leave of absence from golf, seems to have put his worries behind him and, if he does compete, will surely be the bookie’s favourite to win the tournament. Outside of just Tiger, major sponsor Nike will see first-hand if their decision to keep Tiger Woods, while other sponsors like Gillette dropped him, pays off.

A place for records

The 2010 US Masters will have a tough time following the record-breaking act last year’s Masters resulted in. The final hole, contested between Argentine Angel Cabrera and Kenny Perry saw Perry all but throw away a sure lead with a double bogey and Cabrera needed the assistance of a tree to stay in contention.

In victory, Cabrera became the lowest ranking player to ever win a major, only the second Argentine to win any major, and the very first Argentinean player to win one of the biggest accolades in all of Golf – the US Open.

The 2010 US Masters, the official ‘major’ curtain raiser to the 2010 PGA Tour, starts 8 April 2010.?

Rooney grabbed headlines after coming on as a forty second minute substitute for Michael Owen, who was benched due to a hamstring injury that has bothered him throughout his career.

Next up: UEFA

Now that the Carling Cup is over, Football fans will have to find ways to pass the time before the next big championship match, the UEFA Championship Football League, starts later on this year. Luckily there are plenty of ways to keep eager football fans occupied until kick-off.

In the meantime…

For starters, fans can keep their heads in the game and their minds active by turning on that game console that has probably been sitting in the corner, collecting dust while the Carling Cup has been on. Popping in one of the many football games that are out there may just be the fix that football fans need.

Getting a bunch of friends together for a friendly football match, or joining a football club, is a great way to stay in touch with the game. Kicking a ball around with mates after work is an easy and fun way to relax, de-stress and get some exercise.

After all that exercise, why not pop down to your nearest local and have a pint or two with some friends. If you’re really fiending for more football then take part in a football quiz night, or visit the National Football Museum.

By the time the next Championship Football League starts again fans will surely have their fingers on the football pulse.

Grand National Tip 1: Research

Number one in this list of Grand National 2010 race tips is to make sure you research your horses thoroughly and only bet what you can. Thorough research always reveals trends that indicate which horses to put your money on, and not spending more than you can means you get to enjoy a great race regardless of the outcome.

Grand National Tip 2: Age

One of the most obvious, yet often overlooked, Grand National 2010 tips is to look at the age of the horse. The average Grand National Winner is between 8-12 years old, with the highest concentration in the last 20 years being between 9 and 11 years of age. To emphasis just how important this criterion is, the last time a 7 or 13-year old horse won the Grand National was in 1940.

Grand National Tip 3: The horses

The last of the Grand National 2010 race tips is to bet on capable horses. Based on recent form, both in the Grand National and in other high profile races, a small subset of horses have emerged as favourites to make it happen. Black Apachali had been looking a sure thing for years, had it not been for accidently unseating its rider in 2009 and falling in 2008. 2008 winner and 2009 runner-up Comply Or Die has shown enough consistency that ruling him out would be foolish. And finally, defending champion Mon Mome who made a great account of himself at odds of 100-1 last year looks to prove that victory was no fluke.

Fun for all

The Grand National is as big of a deal for equestrian manufacturers as it is for bookies and racegoers and, as is usually the case at these events, major brands will use the Grand National as a platform to promote their saddlery and riding equipment.

Adding the three horses selected based on tip three to the two or three horses selected based on tip one will put you in good stead to prove the naysayers wrong by showing Grand National can be predicted, and big winnings can be had, too.

The sixteen time Grand Slam tennis champion is known for his breakthrough and dominance, and says he is happy to have started the year on such a positive note. His win seems to have paved the way for the next set of challenges he will be facing in 2010.

Number one

Ranking as the tennis world’s number one player certainly has its perks, and as far as endorsement deals go, Federer seems to have struck the right chord with big names such as Gillette, Lindt, Rolex, Nike and Wilson to name a few.

So what makes a world number one tennis pro? For a start, the right shoes can make all the difference. Federer has a lucrative ten -ear endorsement deal with Nike, and wears the Vapor V Tennis shoe when he’s on the court. As for tennis rackets, the Grand Slam tennis champion uses a Wilson K Factor KSix One Tour Tennis Racket when he beats and dominates his opponents.

Down time

Down time is an important factor for the tennis pro, and when he isn’t training or participating in championship tennis tournaments he takes time out to relax with his wife and two daughters. And believe it or not, he enjoys playing sports other than tennis, including golf and football.

Hard work and intense training factor into Federer’s success in the world of championship tennis, but he has been known to carry a good luck charm with him in the form of a tweety bird dressed as a ladybug. Hey, if it works for one of the greatest tennis players of all time, it could work for your everyday tennis player, dreaming of making it in the big leagues one day.

Sustainable games

The organisers signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) that they intend to host ‘sustainable games’, and will consider the environment when constructing and renovating venues. The new measures to be taken by the City of Delhi, known as the ‘Ecological Codes’, will be promoted with the assistance of UNEP in the run-up to the start of the 2010 Commonwealth Games.

Opportunity for transformation

In a UNEP press release, UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP’s Executive Director, Achim Steiner, said that the Commonwealth Games 2010, not unlike other major sporting events like the Fifa World Cup and the Olympic Games, ‘represent an inordinate opportunity to pilot innovative ideas and transformational policies able to deliver a low carbon, resource efficient green economy.’

Targets set

The preparation leading up to great sporting events often has a dramatic impact on the environment. It is hoped that the Commonwealth Games 2010 will cause at least 50 per cent less global warming than past sporting events. The Ecological Codes drawn up in the aim of achieving this aim contain six categories: air, energy, carbon, waste, water and land. A target has been set for each category, and a way to achieve that target outlined. According to the Codes, water consumption and electricity consumption as a result of preparation for the games should be reduced by 25 per cent, and 20 per cent, respectively.

India’s first green stadium

Thyagraj Stadium, hailed the first green stadium in India, should be ready by late March (three months after its original expected completion date in December 2009). The stadium will be the first government building to use an environmentally friendly alternative to electricity – for power, it will rely on a gas-based turbine. While the delayed completion of the stadium has left people wondering whether Delhi will be ready for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, Thyagraj stadium, a netball competition venue, has demonstrated to the world India’s commitment to UNEP initiatives.

India faces challenges

India, an emerging economy home to one-sixth of the world’s population, faces major challenges with regard to greenhouse gas emissions and carbon neutrality. In a major city like Delhi, transportation alone is a major contributing factor to climate change and air pollution, and it is hoped 2010 Commonwealth Games will help raise awareness in India.

The Common wealth Games 2010 might be remembered for more than just great sporting events – including table tennis, weight lifting, squash, wrestling, cycling and athletics. The 2010 Common Wealth Games may well be remembered as the sporting event that helped India go green.

March 16 – March 19

The Cheltenham Festival schedule shows the tournament starts on Tuesday, 16 March until 19 March. The weeklong festival is expected to attract over 200,000 attendees from around the globe. Attendees will see over 25 of the best steeplechase and hurdle horse racing on the planet.

The 2010 Cheltenham Festival will feature around 500 horses competing for prize money that exceeds £3.4 million. The big bucks, however, is expected to be spent by pundits with bookies expected over £500 million in bets to be placed.

St. Patrick’s Day

Cheltenham racecourse will play host to alcohol distributors, too, who make a pretty penny during the festival. In this regard, one of the major dates is Wednesday, 17 March, which coincides with St. Patrick’s Day, means the festival will have an added celebratory atmosphere because of the large Irish contingency at Cheltenham.

For fans and purists alike

While its high-rolling attendees finance the 2010 Cheltenham Festival, it is also a major attraction for equestrians and aspirational riders as well. The prize money guarantees the UK and greater Europe’s best riders compete, which makes the festival a hotbed for the world’s most accomplished jockeys. This collection of riding talent on display on the Cheltenham racecourse, coupled with ambitious upcomers makes the 2010 Cheltenham Festival particularly important for riding equipment companies like Charles Owen a key platform for promoting their goods, too.

The Gold Cup

The ultimate goal, of course, is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, the most sought after trophy in world jumps racing. With Gold Cup winner Sam Thomas ruled out through injury, the focus has shifted to stable mates and former winners Ruby Walsh-ridden Kauto Starr and AP McCoy-ridden Denman. What adds a bit of sizzle to this rivalry is the Irish-English faceoff between Walsh and McCoy.

Bookies, gamblers, enthusiasts and riders have less than a week to wait until the big event, and the high paced action on Cheltenham racecourse is sure to be matched by the fun in the bleachers, too.