AI-generated image depicting major sports events across Europe in 2024. The image includes iconic symbols representing different sports and European landmarks

Europe’s Major Sports Events of 2024: Traveler’s Guide to the Games and Venues

A captivating season of sports awaits us in Europe this year!  Europe’s sports calendar for 2024 is packed with exciting events across a variety of disciplines.

Starting Off with a Kick: Women’s FA Cup Final in London

On 12th May, London’s iconic Wembley Stadium will be electrified as Manchester United faces Tottenham Hotspur in the Women’s FA Cup final. This showdown is not just a battle for the prestigious trophy but a celebration of women’s sports at its finest. The kicking-off is at 2.30pm BST.

More information is here.

The French Open: 20 May – 9 June

From 20 May to 9 June, the tennis world turns its eyes to Paris for the French Open at Roland Garros. The show will be back on clay at Porte d’Auteuil for a new exciting edition.

Known for its rich history and challenging clay courts, this tournament promises intense matchups and heart-stopping plays.

novak djokovic at Roland Garros French Open

One of the major new changes to the sporting event concerns the wheelchair tennis competition sponsored by Adecco. The tournament will feature eight additional matches, with the creation of four junior events: Junior Girls’ Singles, Junior Boys’ Singles, Junior Girls’ Doubles and Junior Boys’ Doubles. Four girls and four boys will participate in this new competition.

More information and program visit the official page.

Edinburgh Marathon: 26 May

Also on 26th May, the Edinburgh Marathon beckons runners with one of the UK’s fastest courses.

This event is a perfect blend of challenge and charm, offering breathtaking views and a spirited atmosphere.

The current route begins in the city centre, moves out of Edinburgh into East Lothian, finishing at Musselburgh, East Lothian.

European Athletics Championships: 7-12 June

The 2024 European Athletics Championships will take place in Rome from 7-12 June some 50 years after the Italian capital last staged the championships.

Visit Rome’s Stadio Olimpico to see Europe’s top athletes compete in the European Athletics Championships, a venue known for its passionate spectators and rich sports history.

A Month of Football: UEFA Euro 2024

From 14th June to 14th July, football will dominate European sports as Germany hosts UEFA Euro 2024.

Leverkusen football stadium seats and green grass field

UEFA EURO 2024 kicks off in Munich on Friday 14 June and ends with the final in Berlin on Sunday 14 July. Click for the EURO 2024 match schedule.

Cities like Berlin, Frankfurt, Hamburg, and Leipzig will host this spectacular tournament, promising a month of competitive football at its best.

Formula 1 in Barcelona: 21-23 June

The excitement peaks from 21st June to 23rd June at the F1 Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona.

The Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya will roar to life with engines revving and tires screeching, as the best drivers compete over 66 adrenaline-pumping laps. Will Red Bull’s Max Verstappen win the Spanish Grand Prix again as he did in 2023?

Wimbledon: 1-14 July

Wimbledon, held from July 1st to 14th, is not only a showcase of world-class tennis but also a gathering spot for the elite, including Kate Middleton, patron of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club.

Carlos Alcaraz wins Wimbledon 2023
Carlos Alcaraz wins Wimbledon 2023, Kate Middleton hands prizes

This prestigious tournament, known for its rich traditions and the iconic strawberries and cream, captivates a global audience. It attracts various members of Kate’s renowned family and other royals from around the world, enhancing its status as a must-see event for anyone who appreciates top-tier tennis and cultural pageantry.

Tour de France: 1-23 July

The 2024 Tour de France marks the 111th edition and introduces several unique elements that make it particularly notable. The race will start in Italy, celebrating one of cycling’s foundational nations, and will conclude not in the usual Paris but on the Mediterranean coast in Nice.

This edition will also feature an unprecedented amount of climbing, presenting a substantial challenge to the riders.

Tour de France 2024 route map
Tour de France 2024 route map Photo credit: ASO

The race’s route, inspired by the spirit of General Giuseppe Garibaldi who was associated with both French and Italian national pride, promises fierce competition right from the start, especially in the initial stages in Italy.

Tour de France in Nice, cyclist racing while beachgoers at the beach enjoying sea sun sand
Tour de France in Nice 2020 Photo credit: A.S.O. / Pauline Ballet

Upon entering France, the competition intensifies early with a record-setting early climb of the Galibier. The race will not only focus on high altitudes but also include strategic stages through Burgundy’s vineyards and on white gravel roads near Troyes, further defining the competition’s leaders as they navigate through varied and challenging terrains.

Henley Royal Regatta: 3-7 July

Just before the bustle of the Paris Games, the Henley Royal Regatta offers a historic and prestigious rowing competition on the River Thames.

It’s a unique blend of social and sporting tradition, revered in the rowing community.

Qatar Goodwood Festival: 30 July – 1 August

The world famous five-day festival, affectionately known as ‘Glorious Goodwood’, presents spellbinding sport and a social occasion like no other, unrivalled style, scintillating racing and hospitality to savour make for an exquisite week where some of the greatest stars in horse racing are crowned.

Horses race at Qatar Glorious Goodwood

Don’t miss the “Glorious Goodwood” known for its competitive horse racing and social scene set against the backdrop of the rolling South Downs.

The 2024 Summer Olympics

Finally, from 26th July to 11th August and again from 28th August to 8th September, the 2024 Summer Olympics or commonly known as the Paris 2024 will feature a global gathering of athletes in traditional and new sports like climbing, skateboarding, surfing, and the debut of breakdancing.

Paris 2024 will mark the centenary of Paris 1924, and these Olympic Games will be the sixth hosted by France. The Games will be the first to feature an identical number of athletes between men and women.

Most of the Olympic events will be held in the city of Paris and its metropolitan region, including the neighbouring cities of Saint-Denis, Le Bourget, Nanterre, Versailles, and Vaires-sur-Marne.

The handball tournaments will be held in Lille, the sailing and some football games will be held in the Mediterranean city of Marseille, which is 777 km (483 mi) from the host city; meanwhile, the surfing events are expected to be held in Teahupo’o village in the overseas territory of French Polynesia, which is 15,716 km (9,765 mi) from the host city. Football will also be hosted in another five cities, which are Bordeaux, Décines-Charpieu (Lyon), Nantes, Nice and Saint-Étienne, some of which are home to Ligue 1 clubs.

A total of 15.3 million visitors are expected to visit the capital during the Olympic and Paraolympic Games. With the Games fast approaching, Paris 2024 recommends that you book your accommodation as early as possible.

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