Basketball

NCAA Women's Basketball Final Four, Late March.
Ticket information to NCAA tournaments are generally handled by the institution hosting each championship. For more information, you may call the NCAA at (913) 339-1906.

Web site: NCAA Championships

NCAA Men's Basketball Final Four, Late March.

Ticket information to NCAA tournaments are generally handled by the institution hosting each championship. For more information, you may call the NCAA at (913) 339-1906.
Web site: NCAA Championships

Bicycling

Lancaster County, Pennsylvania
Covered Bridge Metric Century, August
A 100-kilometer (62 mile) bicycle race through Amish farm country, including seven covered bridges. Also rides of 50 and 25 kilometers possible. Call (717) 396-9299.

France
Tour de France, July - August.
Bicycling's greatest event, ending on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. 15 million people will watch in person, making it the third-biggest spectator sports event in the world -- after the Olympic Games and soccer's World Cup. Call (212) 838-7378.
For more detailed information see: Tour de France

Card & Board Games

Dallas, Texas
Backgammon World Cup and US Open, August.
For more information, Call (301)299-8265 or e-mail Bill Robertie at: robertie@world.std.com

Chess Tournaments
For an unedited listing of chess tournaments look at: Chess Calendar.

Las Vegas, Nevada
World Series of Poker, May.
Binion's Horseshoe Casino,. Total prize money was a record $2,730,000. For more information, call: (800) 937-6537.

Monte Carlo, Monaco
Backgammon World Championship, June.
Phone: +33 92 162133

Venice, Italy
2nd Backgammon Olympiad, June.
For more information, call +(39) 41 5211029.

Jerusalem, Israel
King David Chess Tournament, June.
Also, actors on foot and on horses do battle on a giant chessboard. Call (212) 499-5600.

Football (American)

Honolulu, Hawaii
Hula Bowl, January.
Aloha Stadium. College all-star football. Call (808) 956-4852.

Miami, FL.
Orange Bowl
College Football.

New Orleans, LA.
Sugar Bowl, January.
College Football.

Pasadena, CA.
Rose Bowl, January.
College Football. The granddaddy of all bowl games.

Tempe, AZ
Fiesta Bowl,

The NFC and AFC Championship Games, January . Sites to be determined.

Top

Golf

For the complete PGA schedule for men, women and seniors, go to: PGA

Augusta, Georgia
The Masters Golf Tournament, April.
Augusta National Golf Course

U.S. Open Golf Championship, June .

PGA Golf Championship, August.

Pebble Beach, CA.
AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Golf Tournament, February.
For tickets and other information, call 408-649-1533.

British Open Golf Championship, July.

Horse Racing

Louisville, Kentucky
Kentucky Derby, 1st Saturday in May.
Call (502) 636-4400 or fax (502) 636-4430.

Ruidoso, New Mexico
All American Futurity, September.
Quarter horse race. Call (505) 378-4431 for info.

Berkshire, England
Royal Ascot, Held over 4 days every mid-June.
This famous horse race, held in Berkshire about 25 miles west of London, immortalized in "My Fair Lady", is well known for the fashions -- especially the hats -- of those who attend. The Queen and other members of the Royal Family arrive from Windsor each day in open carriages. They then drive down the course at 2pm before the first race begins. Admission to the Grandstand is by ticket only, obtainable well in advance by writing: The Secretary, Grand Stand, Ascot Racecourse, Ascot, Berkshire, SL5 7JN or call +1344/22211.

Dublin, Ireland
Dublin Horse Show

Paris, France
Arc de Triomphe Grand Prix, June.
Longchamps Racecourse. For ticket and other information, call +(49) 10-20-30 or+(49) 42 24 47 04.
Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, October.
Longchamps Racecourse. For ticket and other information +(49) 10-20-30 or +(49) 42 24 47 04.

Siena, Italy
Paleo delle Contrade , Annual pageant and race of the horses, ridden bareback through the heart of the picturesque town, in the piazza del Campo. Held twice each year - on July 2 and August 16.
For tourist information in Siena, call +(577) 42209.

Epsom, Surrey, England
Derby Day, held on the first or second of every June.
Epsom Racecourse. One of the greatest horse-racing events in the world, featuring the Derby, the main race at 3:45pm. Tickets may be ordered starting in January from: The Secretary, The Grandstand, Epsom Downs, Surrey, England. KT18 5LQ. Call +1372/47 00 47 or +0372.726311 for more information

Melbourne, Australia
Melbourne Cup , November. Annual horse racing events, part of the Melbourne Cup Carnival culminating on the 5th in the Melbourne Cup, Australia's most prestigious race. Flemington Race Course. Call (847) 296-4900 or +(03) 863-7333

Top

Hunting & Fishing

Hampshire, England
Fly Fishing for Trout on the Itchen and Test rivers. World-famous mecca for fly fishermen. For information on gaining access and accomodations to these or several other excellent streams in the area write: Southern Water Authority, Guildbourne House, Worthing, West Sussex BN11 1LD, England.

The Highlands of Scotland
The Glorious Twelth, August 12.
The opening of the four-month grouse hunting season in the highlands of Scotland. For more information call +3-4171 in Inverness, Scotland.

Suldalslagen, Norway
International Salmon Fishing Festival, Early September.
Call +52797284 for more info.

The Red Sea, Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt
Sinai International Sport Fishing Tournament, November.
Rod, reel & line, maximum 80 pounds, to offer the fish "free and fair resistance". Call (212) 332-2570.

Ice Hockey

NCAA Mens Hockey Championship, (Div. I), April.
Ticket information, call (617) 624-1998.
Web site: NCAA Championships

Ice Skating

World Figure Skating Championship, March- April.

Top

Lacrosse

NCAA Lacrosse Championship, (Div. I), May. Ticket information to NCAA tournaments are generally handled by the institution hosting each championship. For more information, you may call the NCAA at (913) 339-1906.
Web site: NCAA Championships

Vail, Colorado
The Vail Lacrosse Shootout, June - July .
The most prestigious club lacrosse tournament in the world, with competitions in Men's, Women's, High School, Masters, 8-16 year old and Chumash tournament divisions. For more information, check out their website at: Vail Lacrosse Shootout.

Marathons, Road Racing & Triathlons

Boston, Massachusetts
Boston Marathon, April.

Hawaii
Ironman Triathlon, Kailoa-Kona, The Big Island of Hawaii. October.
140- mile triathlon, incuding running, swimming and bicycling. Call 1-800-634-5086.

London, England
London Marathon, held the 3rd week of every April.

New York, NY
New York City Marathon, November.

Oslo, Norway
Oslo Marathon, September.
Call +22 56 53 70.

Tromso, Norway
Midnight Sun Marathon, July .
. Run at midnight. Call +(47-77) 68.40.54.

Top

Rodeos

Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Calgary Stampede, July.
Citywide celebration with multiple events each day. For information call (800) 661-1260. For tickets, call (800) 661-1767.

Cheyenne, WYO.
Cheyenne Frontier Days , July.
Outdoor rodeo, billed as world's largest; country entertainers. Call (307) 778-7200.

Joseph, Oregon
Chief Joseph Days, Late July.
Four rodeos, two parades, encampment of the Nez Perce' and Umatilla Indians.

Oklahoma City, OK
International Finals Rodeo , December.
The year's top 15 money-winning cowboys and cowgirls compete. Call 1-800-224-0223 for this year's dates.

Salinas, Calif.
Salinas Rodeo, July.
Call (408) 757-2951.

Top

Rowing and Sailing

Antigua, The Caribbean
The Annual Antigua Sailing Week, English Harbour. Late April - early May .
For more information, call (212) 541-4117 or check out the race web site at: Sailing Week.

Auckland, New Zealand
The America's Cup. Sailboat races, February 2000. For more information, check out this web site: America's Cup.

Cambridge, Massachusetts
Head of the Charles Regatta, October.
Rowing races. Call (617) 536-4100 for date.

Cowes, Isle of Wight, England
Cowes Week, August 3 - 10.
The world's largest annual sailing event. Nearly 900 vessels will compete in 30 classes in more than 200 races. The royal yacht Britannia, with the Queen and Prince Philip aboard, will make its last visit. Call +(44-1983) 295-744.

Newport, Rhode Island
Classic Yacht Regatta, August 30 - September 1.
Call (401) 847-1018.

San Diego, CA.
Harbor Days Festival, September.
Tall ship parade, food and entertainment at Chula Vista Marina. Call (619) 656-0563.

Henley-on-Thames, England
Henley Royal Regatta, Late June - Early July.

Leith, Scotland
Cutty Sark Tall Ships' Race, July.
Call +(131) 313 6081.

London, England
Head of the River Race, Held annually, around March 20.
This is a professional contest for 8-man racing shells. The course extends from Mortlake to Putney on the River Thames. 420 crews, one behind the other, start at 10-second intervals, and the one that returns in the fastest time wins. The best place for viewing is from the Surrey Bank, just above Chiswick Brisdge. Ariive about 30 minutes before the race begins, then walk along the towpath toward Putney.

London, England
The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race, Held annually, around the last week in March.
The two universities first raced each other on the Thames in 1829, and have competed annually since 1845. The course runs from the University Stone, Putney, to Mortlake. Good views can be had from the Putney and Chiswick Bridges, from the Dove Inn at 19 Upper Mall in Hammersmith, or from the Ship Inn on Ship Lane in Mortlake.

London, England
The Great River Race, Held annually, around September 25.
More than 150 traditional boats sail 22 miles on the Thames, from Richmond to the Docklands. The flotilla includes gigs, skiffs, Chinese dragonboats, Hawaiian war canoes, Irish curraghs, and whalers The race begins just below Ham House in Richmond at 10am and finshes at Greenwich Pier around 1pm.

London, England
Thames World Sculling Challenge, November 16.
River Thames. Call +(44-181) 748-3632.

Venice, Italy
Historical Regatta, (Regatta Storica), First Sunday in September.
Procession of ceremonial boats followed by two-oared gondola races. Call +(041) 5226356.

Pichit, Thailand
Traditional Boat Races on the Nan River, September.
Tahiti Hawaiki Nui Va's Race, A 72-mile outrigger open sea canoe contest in three laps, beginning at Huahine and ending at Bora Bora, with the six-member crews changing twice. Call (310) 414-8484.

Rugby

Five Nations Rugby
Web site: 5 Nations Rugby.

Top

Skiing

The Mens and Womens World Cup Schedule
World Cup Skiing.

Top

Soccer

NCAA Men's Soccer Championship, (Div. I), December.
Ticket information to NCAA tournaments are generally handled by the institution hosting each championship. For more information, you may call the NCAA at (913) 339-1906.
Web site: NCAA Championships

NCAA Women's Soccer Championship, (Div. I), December.
Tickets, call 1-800-357-1728 or (910) 334-3250.
Web site: NCAA Championships

Top

Tennis

New York, New York
U.S. Open Tennis Championship, Late August- Early September.
Call (718) 760-6200 for ticket and other information.

London, England
Wimbledon Tennis Championship, Last week in June through Early July (two weeks).
All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. For tickets and other information: call +946-2244 in London or try Keith Prowse & Co., ticket agents in New York (800) 223-4446. Or contact the British Tourist Authority, 625 N. Michigan Ave., Suite 1510, Chicago, IL. 60611 or call them at (312) 787-0490, or fax them at (312) 787-7746 and request application and information forms for Wimbledon. Note: Forms must be submitted to the All-England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, P.O. Box 98, Church Rd., London SW19 5AE, England, by the previous December 31.

Paris, France
French Open, Late May - Early June.
Roland Garros Stadium.

Rome, Italy,
Italian Open, May.

Track & Field

Boise, Idaho
NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championship, (Div. I), June.
Mens and Womens. Web site: NCAA Championships

Goteborg, Sweden
World Track and Field Championships, August.
This is the world's fourth-most popular sporting event -- after the Summer and Winter Olympics and World Cup Soccer (and bigger than the Super Bowl). For tickets and other information: click here

Oslo, Norway
Bislett Games, July.

Top

Volleyball

NCAA Women's Volleyball Championship, (Div. I), December.
Ticket information to NCAA tournaments are generally handled by the institution hosting each championship. For more information, you may call the NCAA at (913) 339-1906.
Web site: NCAA Championships

NCAA Men's Volleyball Championship, May.
Ticket information to NCAA tournaments are generally handled by the institution hosting each championship. For more information, you may call the NCAA at (913) 339-1906.
Web site: NCAA Championships

Top

Wrestling

NCAA Wrestling Championship, (Div. I), March.
Web site: NCAA Championships

Top

Miscellaneous Sports

Acapulco, Mexico
International Acapulco Cliff Diving Competition, December.

Anchorage, Alaska
Iditarod, March .
Sled dog race, 1,049 miles from Anchorage to Nome. Call (907) 376-5155 for more info.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada
The Spruce Meadows Masters horse show-jumping competition. Call (403) 974-4200.

Chincoteague Island, VA.
Pony Swim and Auction, July.
Wild ponies rounded up on Assateague Island and swum to Chincoteague for auction. Those not sold are swum back. Call (804) 336-6161.

Eagle River, Wisc.
World Championship Snowmobile Derby , January.
Call (715) 479-4424.

Huntington Beach, California
Surfing U.S. Open, August.
The only stop in the continental U.S. of the World Championship Tour. Call (310) 286-3700.

New York, NY
Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show. February.
Madison Square Garden. Since 1877.

San Diego, Calif.
World Body Surfing Championships, August.
Oceanside Beach. Call (619) 966-4535.

Shelbyville, Tenn.
Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration, Late August - Labor Day Weekend.
Horse show. Call (615) 684-5915.

Virginia Beach, VA.
East Coast Surfing Championships and Beach Sports Festival, August.
Call 1-800-861-7873 for more info.

United States (various locations)
Swim Across America, August.
A series of swims across the country, to raise money for cancer research. Call 1-888-794-6872.

Weatherford, Okla.
World Championship Hog-Calling Contest, February.

Lillehammer, Norway
World Nordic Dog Sledding Championship, January.
Call +(61) 254 299.

Pamplona, Spain
Running of the Bulls, July 7. Held every year on the Festival of San Fermin.

Scotland
Braemar Royal Highland Games, September.

Seville, Spain
The Bullfight in the Plaza de la Maestranza. Sunday afternoons.

Alice Springs, Australia
Lions Camel Cup, July. Annual camel race, other events, polo played with camels. Call +759-4329.

Kamakura, Japan
Yabusame, September.
Horseback archery demonstration from the samurai warrior era.

Selcuk, Turkey
Camel Wrestling Festival, January.
Selcuk is the site of ancient Perseus. Call (212) 687-2194.