The currently silent and vacant sporting landscape has brought on much reflection. Many Australian competitions appear likely to go to ruin in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and concerns around what our sporting face will look like in a few months are genuine.
As frustrating and alarming as that may be, there is sadly little any of us can really do about it. Aside from enthusiastically returning to the stands when sport does restart, punters, players and administrators have little control in the current climate.
Hence many fans have enjoyed engaging with articles of reflection here on The Roar, with experts and fan columnists taking a look back at many great moments and some less so. Others have focused on the athletes themselves, hypothesising match-ups and recalling rivalries.
With plenty of time on all our hands right now, I am sure you have enjoyed reading them as much as I have, and considering how much we all enjoy exercising our civil rights in elections, a bit of a vote seems in order.
The sheet below outlines the biggest, best, most famous and most prestigious sporting events from around the globe. I thought it might be an interesting experiment to see which ones would be the most popular in terms of events that people either have attended or hope to in the future.
Think of them as bucket list items. The sporting events that in your view must be attended at some point in life. Perhaps some have been ticked off already, while others are soon to be.
The form has been set up to accept no more than ten responses per submission, and I will use the data gathered in a piece that reports on the final results later in the week.
Early favourites might be the Rugby World Cup final, Wimbledon or perhaps the FIFA World Cup finals. Maybe a trip to the Caribbean following the Australian cricket team or a high-energy holiday to the Daytona 500 will tickle more people’s fancies?
I’m not really sure what will trump in the survey, but we might all have a bit of fun in our search for the answer. Vote away, Roarers, and I’ll report back later.
Monorchid
Roar Rookie
I'm very late to this article Stuart. But this is interesting. I'd love to see the whole Tour de France. I've stood at the Arc de Triomphe and imagined the peleton whizzing around the Arc, and wondering if I'll ever see it happen. You've only got one sailing regatta. I'd like to see the competition off the Isle of Wight. I'd like to see a winter Olympics. And finally, I'd just like to dust off my passport and travel overseas again.
Jwoody74
Roar Rookie
I’m super lucky because my job has taken me all over the world to work on live sporting events from a TV broadcast side. It’s been over 20 years and sometimes I pinch myself as to how lucky I’ve been and how I was simply in the right place (living in Auckland working for Sky NZ) at the right time as new technology was introduced that I got on the ground floor with. Getting the chance to start on Super Rugby, AB tests and Warriors matches as well as NZ cricket. I went freelance when I moved home to Australia in 01 and have worked on international cricket in all test countries bar Bangladesh and Zimbabwe including the Ashes in both Oz and the UK , 4 Olympics (Tokyo would have been my 5th) 3 cricket world cups including 2 finals (Barbados 07 and Lords last year)The Oz Open tennis every year since 2003, Wimbledon and the US Open and the ATP tour, 10 plus years of AFL (until I moved to the UK) the IPL (where I met my British wife) Rugby World Cups, EPL and an assortment of random events. I don’t wanna work on the following but I’d love to do a day at the British Open,The Tour de France I’d love to follow one year and a definite is getting to Anfield for a Champions League match. See some college sports in the states. March madness would be great fun. I went and watched the Mets last year but the match got rained off after 4 innings which was up there on the to do list and got what they call “Bruin Drunk” at a NHL match in Boston. So many memories from work but would love to add more as a fan in the stands.
Jwoody74
Roar Rookie
I was in Athens working on the Olympics for AOB and a mate of mines dad worked for the IOC but it was kept on the quiet. We ended up at the closing ceremony and my mate knew I was a massive fan. I’d actually sprinted from the aquatics centre to try and catch the 1500 knowing I’d miss the 5000 (or maybe I’d already missed it I can’t remember) but had to settle staring at a big screen as I got closer. Anyway Hicham El Guerrouj was inside at this function and my mates dad arranged for me to say hello. I was a bit dumbstruck so I just shook his hand and congratulated him on his gold medals. When we took our seats we were joined by Juan Antonio Samaranch his wife and grand kids. To say it was surreal is an understatement. At one stage Mrs Juan Antonio berated the kids for not offering us any popcorn. It was the first Olympics I worked on and is still one of the best sporting memories I have.
Munro Mike
Roar Rookie
Right now.....just a local game of anything!!! From the AFL perspective - would love to get to Denmark and see a DAFL match involving the mighty Farum Cats. And to get to a Euro 9s tournament. Would also love to get to India for the AFL India nationals. And to the US for the 49th parallel cup event. And next year....for hopefully the 101st Varsity match between Oxford and Cambridge.
woodart
Guest
personally ,I wouldnt cross the road to watch cricket, or aussie rules. so its all a matter of choice for sporting bucket lists.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Hopefully we’ll share a few Kronenbourgs there Hery
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Another one high on my list ... Wallabies in Argentina. Perhaps one of our regular posters (Carlos?) could advise the pros and cons of the capital (BA) and the regional centres for attending a test match.
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Galle is a wonderful cricket ground and that Sri Lankan south coast a great part of the world.
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Likewise TWAS. France is one of the great places to watch rugby, wonderful country and atmosphere. Was lucky enough to see the Wallabies win in Paris in 1993 at the old Parc de Princes and have also seen tests in Lille and 6 nations games at the new French stadium. RWC 23 will be fantastic, particularly the final Australia v France.
Lachlan Rayner
Roar Rookie
Would love to get along to any international Formula 1 Grand Prix weekend. Had Japan planned for this season, but I somehow doubt that will go ahead (at least with crowds!). Monaco GP would have to be the highest priority.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Bathurst is an Australian event and would therefore be the only one on the list. As for the others, whilst a few may catch those events on Fox Sports from time to time and as enjoyable as they are, I don't feel they really rate in terms of the collective appeal that the other events hold. Had to draw the line somewhere.
woodart
Guest
a few motorsport meetings you have missed . knoxville nationals (sprint cars), nhra drag finals at indy. your own bathurst. isle of man tt. bonneville speedweek.
Anthony Anlezark
Roar Rookie
Cricket mate, went to all Aussie games, 2 Semis and the Final, cost me a pretty penny but money very well spent, even got spotted on tele half a dozen times, including next to Big Merv at the final.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
I went to Might and Power's Melbourne Cup and Adelaide's Cox Plate wins. Great days both (Cox Plate at Moonee Valley less so - too small a space for that crowd) but one of my great racing memories was Rapper Dragon winning the HK Derby at Sha Tin. The parade ring had a bigger crowd than most race days here in Adelaide. I have also been to BBL and A-League finals (both involving Adelaide team wins) any many other great sport days/events. One of my most memorable days was last year's SANFL Grand Final win by Glenelg. As a long suffering fan it was good to release all of that pent up disappointment amassed over many years (since 1986). Sometimes it is about the background to the day rather than the prominence of the event itself.
Phil
Guest
Pedro,also Australian Open tennis(the other 3 slams are on the list).I have been to all you mention except A-League and BBL final.Bledisloe 2000 still my highlight,but Might and Powers' Cox Plate was close.
Greco Dominicus
Roar Rookie
At the moment I'd settle for a club game.
Nick
Roar Guru
I was long distance...but I came to it late (only really started getting cracking at uni). By then any moment for me had passed. Have always loved following it since I was a kid though.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
So get off the street. It's safe there.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
The USA? What the ... Revert to abuse when losing the argument. Love your work and your disrespect. Return to type. Thanks for sharing Carlo! When is the circus leaving town?
Carlos the Argie
Roar Guru
Do you want me to tell you the laws in the USA? (And in many places). You are obligated to provide three feet from the outermost point of your car to a cyclist. Do you know how many cars do not keep the safe distance BY LAW? A crash between a 2 ton metal and a plastic bike with lycra wearing spandex rider is not fun. We also have three cars, we pay three registrations, taxes, fuel, etc. If you don't like the law, write to your representative. Basically, people with your attitude suck. You don't get it. We have the same rights, we pay the same fees, the same taxes like you. We expect respect. Oh, and I don't deny that there are rude cyclists. We try to constantly educate them about proper behavior. When you see one cyclist doing something stupid, you assume all cyclists are stupid. When you see ONE driver doing something stupid, you just say that THAT driver did something stupid, not ALL drivers are stupid. On our highways, the overwhelming majority of people drive ABOVE the speed limit. Trust me, I can't ride above the speed limit. And we are not allowed to ride on highways.