SUMMER OF SPORTS - THE BEGINNERS GUIDE

Today’s post opens a new editorial line in our blog. After reviewing thoroughly my adventures around South East Asia between March and April, it is time now to shift onto one of my biggest passions: the world of sport, and how that affects the lives of millions. In a light-hearted way, don’t you worry.

I will not try to be a so-called ‘pundit’, trying to provide an expert technical analysis on a particular game, a race or an event. No. For that you have other sources. These will be my views on how sporting events have, are having and will have an impact in many people’s lives.

For now I will focus on two main events this summer, the Euros and the Olympics.

1. EUROPEAN FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS – AKA “THE EUROS”

I assume that, by now, you are aware that there is this football championship taking place in Poland and Ukraine. In the rare event that you are not, I can tell you that it is a BIG deal in world sport.

It is not as important as the financial troubles that all our so-called political leaders are trying to fix, but it is very important for a lot of people. Here is why:

What is it:    The best national football teams in Europe are playing to decide which team, which country, is the best of them all.

We are now in what they call the ‘knock out stages’ and by 1^st

July we will know who the new best one is.

The current holders are Spain. From the remaining teams Germany are looking quite strong, as they always do, then Spain, France and Portugal have a good chance too; with England and Italy maybe a little less.

In short, all the big European countries are heavily involved.

But even if you have not heard any of this, you surely must have heard of Cristiano Ronaldo or his girlfriend, the top model Irina Something. He’s taking part in this tournament, and she is with him. 
And Shakira, she is too. No, she is not playing, her boyfriend Gerard Pique of Spain is (and no, he is not a king, he plays for Spain). Basically everyone is involved.

Memories from watching the Euros 2008 in London

How BIG:     Just so you picture how big a deal this tournament is, every game televised in Germany of their national team is being watched by over 20 million people. That is roughly one in every four Germans, and about 3 in every 4 people watching television in Germany at that time or 75%... And that is only Germany!! Then in the United Kingdom, the England team matches are watched by around 15 million people, which also is about one in every four Brits but only about 1 in 3 watching telly at that time. It is a similar picture across the continent. While the rest of the world also watches en mass.

                   Then you have all the other TV channels, websites, newspapers, online forums, betting homes, travel agents, hotels, restaurants, pubs, airlines, apparel companies, beer and soft drinks manufacturers, technology providers, sponsors, ticket and hospitality sellers (and re-sellers), public institutions, politicians, etc, etc, etc... following this three-week tournament to get an idea of how BIG it is.

The outcome of a single game can have huge implications for all those listed above, and many more. It generates billions of Euros of money for a lot of people and industries not only in Europe but around the world.

That is what I call BIG.

Why me:      Whether you follow football or not, this tournament is affecting most people’s lives in more ways than they think, for example:

                   A guy, Antonio, watching the game alone, with family or friends, at home or in a pub has to arrange how, where to do so.

                   Antonio's girlfriend, wife, mum or sister, Jane, having to arrange their days based on the match schedule.

                   A taxi driver, Peter, taking Antonio to the pub, and taking later Jane to a friend’s house, Mary, for a DVD marathon of Desperate Housewives.

The pub bartender, Jurgen, serving the pints of beers for Antonio and his friends, or the friend of the wife, Julia, arranging snacks for the evening.

                   Jurgen deciding with the pub chef, Sven, the extra meals for the evening, or Julia going to the local supermarket ran by Mrs Mollie to buy the snacks and cakes.

                   The pub landlord, Tomas, ordering extra beer from local supplier, Ashton, for the weeks ahead, or Mrs Mollie ordering extra posh snacks for the weeks ahead from her supplier Yvonne.

You get the picture by now...

What next:   Once the winner is decided, that country will go mad for a period that can vary between two years (like in Portugal or England) and one month (like in Germany; simply because they are so efficient they only allow distractions to last for that long before focusing on the next goal).

                   And in four years time we do it all over again. Fun!

Meantime:   There is the World Cup in the summer of 2014 in Brazil. I know, nice, isn’t it?

This is like the Euros but with Brazil and Argentina, too and the rest of the world is also given a chance.

Spain also happens to be current holder. Which confirms that, as you must be guessing by now, our economic power is, indeed, inversely proportional to our football talent. Oh well, one of those things.

2. LONDON OLYMPIC GAMES – July 27 to August 12

Also this summer the Olympic Games take place. If the Euros are big, this is HUGE, really is.

What is it:    This is like the Euros and the World Cup, put together, multiplied by 100 and squeezed together into a two-week sporting extravaganza, mostly in one city, with hundreds of daily world-class competitions covering lots of sports from athletics to swimming, from gymnastics to table tennis or hockey, and plenty of festivals and celebrations happening around them.

How BIG:     In an effort to have a number in your head and as a rule of thumb, we can safely assume that the Olympic Games coming to London will have generated by the time they finish, directly of indirectly, a whooping £25+ billion worth of business - and that is just a very general estimation. 
                   That is what I call HUGE in my world.
                   To put things into perspective, and according to Wikipedia, a global giant like The Walt Disney Company generates roughly the same amount of total revenue IN AN ENTIRE YEAR around the world. Apple Inc, who have brought us the iPhone and the iPad generate about just over double that; I mean we are talking about Apple, right?
                   
                   It is the largest sporting event happening in the world, by all accounts:

10,000+ athletes taking part, roughly split 50/50 men and women.

10,000+ performers in the Opening Ceremony.

200+ countries represented.

25+ different sports, with many events within each sport.

                   8,500,000+ tickets for sale, with average prices varying from £20 to £200 – you make the numbers...

                   14,000,000+ meals served on site to all attending the events, including athletes, officials, spectators etc.

                   900+ Gold, Silver and Bronze medals.

                   And that is before we look at all the international coverage, or the Paralympics taking place later this summer, etc, etc, etc.

The Olympic rings welcome arrivals at St Pancras International Eurostar 

Why me:      Because we all like to dream. And to dream, if possible, that our team wins. As a spectator, this is the one time every four years where you follow table tennis, archery, diving, handball or wrestling with the same passion as you follow your football every week during the year, or Desperate Housewives for that matter.

                   Taking part is all that should really matter. But deep inside us, we know that what we want is to say that “our country has won another medal”. It feels good to know that and to say it and to share it, and to rub it off some of your friends too – yes you know it. Unemployment may be at an all time high, but hey at least "we've won a gold medal in archery".

                   Great thing being, IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A GOLD MEDAL. As long as it is a medal we are generally happy. Gold is definitely  a bonus.

Now, that doesn’t happen many times in life generally speaking. When going for a job interview and they tell you “sorry but you came second best” or “I am afraid that was the last chocolate cake”.

                   Of course, in life like in sports, there are ways around issues and it is about getting over them what counts. There are more jobs, and more cakes. In sport the are more Games too.

                   In addition, your boyfriend, your husband or your dad will definitely be watching some or most of the Games at home, at work, in the pub or on his phone (or all of the above). It is like a lockout for two weeks where sport is all that matters to us – so why not try to join at times to spend some time together.

                   And hey, who knows, you may even get a medal too!

What next:   We do it all over again in 2016, in Rio de Janeiro...

I KNOW!!!!! Brazil again!!!! How kind from them, eh?!?! Let’s get those bookings sorted!!!!

Meantime:   It is back to reality for most of those 10,000+ athletes, and for most of us too. Table tennis or wrestling will not be as exciting again; we may keep an eye on the odd 100 metres race or a basketball world championship final. But in reality, we’ll go back to focus on our football, or formula one, or golf, tennis or rugby, or cricket. Or Desperate Housewives for that matter.

And of course there is also the tennis at Wimbledon, the European Athletics Championships, Formula One or Moto GP motor racing, the Tour de France cycling and many, many more taking place this summer... But we’ll take care of those in due course.

For now, sort out your agenda for the summer and enjoy!