active sports tourism

What is sports tourism and why it is so big?

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Sports tourism is BIG business. We all know that sport tourism involves sporting activity, that much is pretty obvious, but there is much more than a game of sport involved in the multi million Dollar global industry. In this article I will explain what sports tourism is, I will tell you about the different types of sports tourism and I will discuss the benefits of sports tourism.

What is sports tourism?

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Sports tourism is the act of travelling from one locality to another, with the intention of being in some way involved with a sporting activity or event .

Many people believe that sports tourism relates only to watching a sporting event. However, this is not correct. The sports industry is much more than this.

Sports tourism encompasses travelling for your own sporting purposes, such as a yoga teacher training course, a badminton competition or to learn to surf. Sports tourism includes attending sporting events such as a Formula One race or a Premiership football match. Sports tourism includes nostalgic visits to places of historical importance, such as the Olympic stadium in Barcelona or to see memorabilia related to your favourite sporting hero, such as the museum at the Maracana football stadium in Rio de Janeiro.

There are, in fact, four main types of sport tourism. These types are known as:

• Sport Event Tourism
• Active Sport Tourism
• Nostalgia Sport Tourism

Passive sports tourism

While sports tourism has not always been extremely popular, during the recent decade the amount of people attending out of area sporting events has drastically increased. People are now traveling far and wide just to attend their favorite events, and it is no wonder as to what has encouraged the sudden spike in popularity.

Sport tourism is a relatively new concept, although it has been around for a long time.

There are many academic studies which delve into the concept of sports tourism, particularly sports tourism that involves large sporting events, such as the football World Cup or the Olympic Games. Some scholars and sports tourism stakeholders have attempted to define the term sports tourism.

According to Neirotti (2003), sports tourism can be broadly described as;

‘Including travel away from one’s primary residence to participate in sports activity, for recreation or competition purposes, travel to observe sport at grassroots or elite level, and travel to visit a sports attraction such as a sports museum, for instance’.

Weed and Bull (2004), provide a conceptualisation of the sports tourism phenomenon as;

‘A social, economic and cultural phenomenon arising from the unique interaction of activity, people and place’’.

Gammon and Robinson (2003) state that sports and tourism is;

‘Not just about the management and operation of mega events; it also concerns offering consumer-specific sports and tourism-related services and experiences to the sports tourist.’

Read also: Sustainable tourism- everything you need to know

Gammon and Robinson (2003) further argue that the sports tourism industry cannot be defined easily and that there should be different definitions according to the type of sports tourism that is being discussed. They visualise this in the model below.

Today, sport is regarded as the world’s largest social phenomenon. And, tourism is predicted to become the world’s biggest industry early in the next century. So it doesn’t take a genius to work out that sports tourism is pretty big business!

The sports tourism industry has grown considerably in recent years. In 2016 the sports tourism industry was worth $1.41 trillion and this figure is expected to increase to approximately $5.72 trillion by 2021. This is a whopping 41% growth in only four years!

**Studying sports tourism? I recommend- Sports Tourism: Participants, Policy and Providers **

The sports tourism industry makes up a significant part off the overall tourism industry. Some people claim that this figure is as high as 25%, meaning that a quarter of all tourism in the world is sports related!

The importance of sports tourism is further emphasised by the media statements from the World Tourism Organisation (WTO) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which in 2004, announced their commitment to reinforce their partnerships on collaboration in the sports and tourism domain. They stated that; 

‘Tourism and sport are interrelated and complementary… both are powerful forces for development, stimulating investment in infrastructure projects such as airports, roads, stadiums, sporting complexes and restaurant-projects that can be enjoyed by the local population as well as tourists who come to use them.

This demonstrates that sports tourism has a wider economic and social impact than simply the sporting occasion itself. It provides social and economic opportunities for the local population , as well as visitors to the area.

The different types of sport tourism

Sport tourism can be segregated into four main types: sport event tourism, nostalgia sports tourism, active sports tourism and passive sports tourism. Below I have provided a short explanation of what each type of tourism is, along with some examples.

Sport event tourism

Sports event tourism is tourism which centres around a sporting event. Sporting events can be of any size and importance, however it tends to be the major sporting events which gain the most gravitas.

Hallmark events, such as the Olympics or football World Cup, are important centres for sport event tourism, bringing millions of tourists to the host destination.

Smaller events, such as the Henley Regatta in the United Kingdom or a national tennis competition also clarify as sport event tourism.

An often overlooked example of sport event tourism are amateur sporting events. Events such as regional school competitions, youth sporting leagues and non-profit community based sport events are just a few examples.

Wimbledon, also known as ‘The Championships’ is the oldest tennis tournament in the world. A prestigious sporting event, Wimbledon is often associated with the upper class, where spectators sip sparkling wine and Pimms whilst dressed in their best frocks.

Knowing very little about tennis, I attending Wimbledon a couple of years ago just to experience this famous event, which is an integral part off British heritage!

Dating back to 1877, Wimbledon has been held at the All England Club in Wimbledon, on the outskirts of London, each year. The tennis is played on outdoor grass courts, which is unlike tennis matches played in many other parts of the world.

Wimbledon is one of the four Grand Slam tennis tournaments, the others being the Australian Open, the French Open and the US Open.

The tournament takes place in late June/early July each year.

The football World Cup, known officially as the FIFA World Cup, is an international football tournament held every four years.

The  Fédération Internationale de Football Association  (FIFA) is the sport’s global governing body. The football consists of mens only teams and boats the most skilled footballers in the world.

Teams must first pass the qualification phase, which takes place over the preceding three years. After this, 32 teams, including the automatically qualifying host nation, compete in the tournament. The World Cup tournament generally lasts about one month.

The Six Nations Championship is an annual international rugby union competition that takes place. It involves what are considered to be the six best nations in terms of rugby in Europe The six nations are:

The Six Nations tournament begins on the first weekend in February each year and finishes with ‘Super Saturday’ on the second or third Saturday in March.

Each team is required to play every other team once (making a total of 15 matches). Each team will play one match at home and one match away from home.

I attended a six nations match once and whilst I’m really not into rugby (surprise!), I really enjoyed the sophisticated and supportive atmosphere at the venue.

Inspired by the ancient Greeks, the modern Olympic Games have been running since 1896. But, in fact, the games have been played in some form or another since long before this date.

The Olympics is perhaps the most famous and the most popular international sporting event. It features both summer and winter sports competitions which take place every four years. Like many other major sporting events, the Olympics are held in a different location each time.

Read also: Slow tourism: Everything you need to know

The Olympics involves thousands of athletes from around the world who compete in a range of different sports, from trampolining to running. Over 200 nations participate in the event.

The Super Bowl is the annual championship of the National Football League (NFL). Based in the Unites States of America, this is the most popular sport tourism event of the year.

Some interesting facts include The Super Bowl being the second-largest day for food consumption in the USA (after Thanksgiving) and the Super Bowl being the most-watched American television broadcast of the year.

Nostalgia sports tourism

Nostalgia sport tourism involves travelling to famous sport-related tourist attractions.

Nostalgia sports tourism may celebrate sports of the past or the present. It may include visiting museums or exhibitions, visiting sporting hall of fames or visiting sporting venues.

The nostalgia sports tourist does not need to be actively participating in sport or to be spectating. They may simply want to learn more or to reminisce.

Here are some examples of popular nostalgia sport tourism attractions.

We visited Calgary Olympic Park on travels through Canada with a baby and loved it!

WinSport’s Canada Olympic Park (COP), (formerly known as Paskapoo Ski Hill) was one of the venues used in the 1988 Winter Olympics. Nowadays, it is open to the general public and iw well known for its ski jumping, bobsleigh and luge.

Whilst we did learn a little bit about the Olympics on our visit here, we actually sent more time on the luge ride than anything else because it was so much fun!

The Maracana is a famous football stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The stadium is rich in history and was once the largest stadium in the world.

The stadium was opened in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup. The venue has seen attendances of 150,000 or more at 26 occasions. Over time terraces were replaced with seating, and after the renovation for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, the Maracana’s original capacity was reduced to 78,838.

Nowadays, it is popular to take a tour to visit the Maracana stadium, like I did when I travelled to Buenos Aires with my friend who is football mad!

The Olympic Village, known in Spanish as La Vila Olímpica del Poblenou is an area in the Sant Martí district of Barcelona, Spain.

The Barcelona Olympic Village was built in the late 1980s and early 1990s in preparation for the 1992 Summer Olympic Games, which were held in Barcelona.

Nowadays, visiting the Barcelona Olympic Village is a popular sports tourism activity undertaken by many tourists visiting Barcelona.

Active sports tourism

Active sports tourism is when a person travels to actively participate in their chosen sport, or when they travel for other reasons, but taking part in sport is an important part of their tourism experience.

Active sports tourists can be segregated into three classifications: The amateur sports tourist; the hobbyist sports tourist and the professional sports tourist.

I would say that I would generally come under the first category. I am an amateur (at best!) at every sport I try my hand at. But, I still like to give it a go! I’ve attempted skiing in Argentina, kayaking in Vietnam and surfing in Costa Rica, to name but a few.

Read also: Business tourism: Everything you need to know

My husband, on the other hand, is usually either a hobbyist sports tourist or a professional sports tourist. He plays for badminton and football teams and loves playing a large number of sports in his free time. He is also a former athlete, having competed for Britain as a trampoline gymnast. As part of this role he travelled around the workload for professional sporting competitions. This qualified him as a professional sports tourist.

There are a large number of active sports that a tourist may choose to get involved with around the world. Here are a few that I have experienced on my travels. But there are sooo many other sports that you can get involved in as a sports tourist!

• Diving in the Galapagos
• Swimming at the Great Barrier Reef
• Playing tennis in Morocco
• Learning archery in Spain
• Going running in France
• Cycling in Amsterdam
• Taking yoga classes in Bali
• Learning tai chi in China
• Kayaking in Vietnam
• Sailing in Australia
• Skiing in Argentina
• Surfing in Costa Rica
• Playing baseball in Boston
• Hand gliding in Rio de Janeiro
• Fishing in The Gambia
• Climbing in Thailand
• Horse riding in Equador
• Walking in Jeju

Here are a few active sports tourism examples:

Did I ever tell you that I completed a Tough Mudder Race? This was a BIG achievement!

Tough Mudder is an endurance event. It is a an obstacle course, originally designed for army training. It is a test of the mind and body.

The race is usually between 10-12 miles in length. It includes a number of obstacles, many of which involve mud! The obstacles often play on common human fears, such as fire, water , electricity and heights.

**Buy now: Sport and Tourism – a recommended textbook for sports studies students!**

Common obstacles include:

• Arctic Enema – Participants plunge into a tank filled with ice water, where they must swim under the water and past an obstacle to the other side.
• Electroshock Therapy – This is where participants will run through a pit of mud where electric wires sway in the air. Participants will often get small electric shocks.
• Funky Monkey – Monkey bars over a pit of cold water. The bars are covered with a mixture of butter and mud.
• The birthing canal- A small, confined space that the participant must crawl through. The upper layer is filled with water so it feels like you are being compressed as you crawl through the tunnel.

Of course, you will need to travel to a Tough Mudder venue to be classified a sports tourism, but many people do!

Many people choose to travel to South Korea for martial arts holidays and Taekwondo-themed events. These might be amateur sports tourists, hobbyist sports tourists or professional sports tourists, depending on the level of involvement and activity type.

Portugal is a popular destination for surf holidays. You can go it alone, if you have the skills and ‘know-how’, or you can book a tour. There are a number of tour operator who offer specialised surfing holidays for all levels of sports tourists, ranging from beginner to advanced.

There are several golfing hotspots around the world. One of the most popular places to travel to for a golfing holiday is Florida . With its year-round pleasant weather and large open spaces, Florida welcomes golf tourists from all over the world to play on their first-class golf courses.

There are many parts of Asia that are known for the popularity of yoga. However, done attracts so many tourists as Bali. Bali is famous the world over for offering top quality yoga retreats and yoga teacher training courses.

Lastly, it is important to recognise that whilst sport is inherently active , not all those who participate or who are involved with the sport are themselves active. In fact, passive tourists can actually contribute more to the sport than those who are active!

A passive sports tourist is a person who is not actively participating in the sport. They are spectators or fans. Passive sports tourism involves tourists watching sport being played. This could take place at a major sporting event (qualifying this also as sports event tourism), or they could simply be supporting a family member of friend. Most passive sports tourists are fans.

Football, or soccer, is arguably the most well-known and popular sports in the world.

Manchester United is a particularly famous football club. It is estimated by the BBC that Manchester United has a whopping 659million football fans!

I always find is fascinating when I travel to a country that is so different and so far removed from my own, yet the locals are also quick to ask me about Manchester United!

Many sports tourists will follow Manchester United, or which ever football team is their favourite, around the world to watch their games.

Anthony Joshua is a British professional boxer. He has many millions of followers, both from the UK and abroad.

Anthony is a two-time unified heavyweight champion, having held the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO titles since December 2019, and previously between 2016 and June 2019. At regional level, he held the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles from 2014 to 2016.

Anthony Joshua participates in fights around the world and is often accompanies by his passive sports tourism supporters.

The British & Irish Lions is a rugby union team selected from players eligible for any of the Home Nations – the national teams of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. 

If rugby is your thing and your from Britain or Ireland, then this is a pretty big deal.

The Lions have many thousands of passive sports tourism supporters who cheat them on each match.

Cricket is pretty big in Australia. So big, in fact, that the Australian cricket team has an estimated 24million supporters! Many of these supporters travel with the team around the world as passive sports tourists.

As with any type of tourism , there are a range of benefits and advantages of sports tourism. Whilst the most obvious is perhaps the economic advantage of tourism , there are also positive social impacts as well as environmental impacts . Below I provide some examples:

• Sports encourages tourists to visit the area
• Sports tourism creates economic growth through tourists booking hotel rooms, eating in restaurants and opening money in local shops
• Sports tourism helps to create exposure and enhances a positive image for the local community
• Many sports tourism infrastructures and facilities can also be used by members of the host community
• The development of sports tourism helps to build a sense of community
• Sports tourism has the potential to attract high-yield visitors and repeat visitors
• It can provide opportunity to develop new infrastructure in the area
• The media can help to promote the destination
• Sports tourism can improve overall tourist numbers
• Money made from sports tourism can be reinvested into the local economy
• Sports tourism creates jobs for local people
• Sports tourism which relies on the natural environment may result in better environmental management and preservation

Whilst there are many positive impacts of sports tourism, however, it is also important that there are a number of negative impacts too. Aspects such as environmental degradation when gold courses, employing foreign rather than local people for major sporting events and locals who feel that their cultural norms are being overlooked (such as not covering your shoulders in the Middle East, for example), are just a few example of negative impacts of sports tourism.

It is clear that sports tourism is big business. Whether its events sports tourism, active sports tourism, nostalgic sports tourism or passive sports tourism, there is a huge market for tourists worldwide. However, as with any type of tourism, sports tourism must be carefully managed to ensure that it is sustainable .

For more information on sports tourism, I recommend the texts below;

• Sports Tourism: Participants, Policy and Providers – explains sports tourism as a social, economic and cultural phenomenon that stems from the unique interaction of activity, people and place.
• Sport Tourism Development – a text book covering the growth and development of sport tourism.
• Sport Tourism Destinations: Issues and Analysis – with contributions from international experts, this book looks at the dramatic effects sports tourism has on the economy and future of tourism destinations. 
• Sport and Tourism – This book proposes a groundbreaking theoretical model which explores globalization, mobility and authenticity providing insight into the unique interrelationship that exists in a sport tourism context between activity, people and place.

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What it is : Sports tourism is a type of tourism activity which refers to the travel experience of the tourist who either observes as a spectator or actively participates in a sporting event generally involving commercial and non-commercial activities of a competitive nature.

Why it Matters : Sports tourism is a fundamental axis, generating around 10% of the world’s expenditure on tourism. It has an estimated growth rate of 17.5% between 2023-2030, moving masses intra and intercontinentally. Sports tourism can promote social, economic and environmental action, it accelerates development and can leave a long-lasting positive legacy.

Sports and Tourism are interrelated and complementary. Today, sports tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in tourism. More and more tourists are interested in sport activities during their trips whether sports are the main objective of travel or not. Sport events of various kinds and sizes attract tourists as participants or spectators and destinations try to add local flavours to them to distinguish themselves and provide authentic local experiences. Mega sport events such as the Olympics and World Cups can be a catalyst for tourism development if successfully leveraged in terms of destination branding, infrastructure development and other economic and social benefits.

Sports Tourism Events

1 st World Sports Tourism Congress

2 nd World Sports Tourism Congress

UN Tourism International Conference on Tourism and Sports

UN Tourism / South Africa International Summit on Tourism, Sport and Mega-events

UPCOMING SPORTS TOURISM EVENTS

3 rd World Sports Tourism Congress (more information coming soon)

UN TOURISM PUBLICATIONS ON SPORTS TOURISM

Sport & Tourism

Sport and Tourism are two driving forces for the promotion and sustainable economic development of tourism destinations. To better understand the links between tourism and sport and to increase the awareness of the benefits of their joint contributions, UN Tourism and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) jointly organized the First World Conference on Sport and Tourism in Barcelona on 22-23 February 2001. This publication contains the studies prepared for the Conference as well as the speeches delivered there.

Sport Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Tourism can contribute to sustainable development and the achievement of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This overview illustrates how sport tourism can contribute to the SDGs and what needs to be considered when developing sport tourism to ensure its contribution to sustainable development. The comparative strength of sport tourism lies in: Engagement in physical activities; Opportunities for interactions; and High development potential almost anywhere. Thanks to these characteristics, sport tourism can play an important role in achieving various SDGs if developed with consideration.

Maximizing the Benefits of Mega Events for Tourism Development

A mega event benefits a host destination in terms of attracting visitors to the event and drawing global attention to the destination. However, in addition to such short-term benefits, it can be a catalyst for longer-term tourism development in various aspects from economic to social. This publication on Maximizing the Benefits of Mega Events for Tourism Development provides practical references on what a host destination can do to fully leverage the event opportunity for tourism development with a variety of illustrative cases. Although the report refers to insights from mega events, the practical references can be applied to any scale of events in any destination.

Walking Tourism – Promoting Regional Development

Walking tourism is now one of the most popular ways to experience a destination. It allows tourists to better engage with local people, nature and culture. It also meets the growing demand of travellers of outdoor activities in general, including when they travel. Walking tourism can be developed anywhere as a sustainable tourism offer with a relatively small investment. It can bring about social and economic benefits to residents and communities if properly developed and managed. This report showcases various successful examples of walking tourism and aims to serve as a practical reference for destinations with a focus on the role of walking tourism in regional development.

Sports Tourism in Latin America

Tourism and sport are key cultural elements of today’s world and have significant impact on modern society and international tourism. With this in mind, the WTO has carried out a new study aimed at providing a more complete analysis of the role that sports tourism and sports in general among the products offered in Latin America by European tour operators and tourism websites.

Sport and Tourism – Introductory Report

Sport and Tourism have a major socio-economic impact, appreciated in most civilian societies and increasingly recognized by governments. This is one of the many conclusions of this report which was prepared for the First World Conference on Sport and Tourism jointly organized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and WTO.After developing a theoretical framework for the system of Sport and Tourism and analysing the future trends of sport and sports tourism this report looks at the different socio-economic impacts of sport and tourism and how they can be managed best.

What Is Active Sport Tourism?

By Robert Palmer

Active Sport Tourism – A Thrilling Way to Explore the World

Do you love to travel and have a passion for sports? If yes, then active sport tourism might just be your thing.

Active sport tourism is a type of travel that focuses on participating in different sports and physical activities while exploring new destinations around the world. It’s not just about watching sports events, but rather engaging in them.

Active sport tourism offers an opportunity to combine two of the most exciting things in life – traveling and sports. Whether it’s cycling on scenic routes, hiking through majestic mountains, surfing on pristine beaches, or skiing down snow-covered slopes, active sport tourism offers a memorable experience that will leave you with lasting memories.

What is Active Sport Tourism?

Active sport tourism involves traveling to different destinations for the purpose of participating in various sports activities. These activities can range from extreme sports like bungee jumping and skydiving to more leisurely pursuits such as golfing or yoga sessions. The main idea behind active sport tourism is to engage in different physical activities while experiencing different cultures and exploring new destinations.

Types of Active Sport Tourism

There are several types of active sport tourism that you can engage in depending on your interests and preferences. Some popular types include:

1. Adventure Sports: This type of active sport tourism involves participating in adrenaline-pumping activities like rock climbing, white-water rafting, bungee jumping, and zip-lining.

2. Water Sports: Water sports are perfect for those who love being in the water. Activities like surfing, scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, and swimming are popular water-based activities.

3. Winter Sports: For those who love winter wonderlands and snow-covered mountains, winter sports like skiing, snowboarding, ice-skating are perfect.

4. Cycling: Cycling tours are a great way to explore scenic routes while getting some exercise at the same time.

5. Golfing: Golfing holidays are perfect for those who love the sport and want to explore new golf courses around the world.

Benefits of Active Sport Tourism

1. Physical Fitness: Active sport tourism is a great way to stay fit and healthy while exploring new destinations. Participating in physical activities like hiking, cycling, or skiing can provide an excellent workout for your body. Mental Health: Engaging in physical activities has been shown to reduce stress levels and improve mental health. Active sport tourism provides an opportunity to disconnect from the daily routine and enjoy nature, which can have a positive impact on mental health. Cultural Immersion: Active sport tourism allows travelers to experience different cultures and traditions while participating in sporting activities. This exposure can provide a unique opportunity to learn about different cultures around the world. Fun and Adventure: Participating in active sports is an exciting way to experience adventure and have fun while traveling.

Active sport tourism is an excellent way to combine travel, adventure, and sports into one unforgettable experience. With so many types of active sport tourism available, there is something for everyone.

10 Related Question Answers Found

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New study assesses active sports tourism facilities across 50 countries

Active sports tourism particularly, in which holiday-makers participate in rather than spectate sports, is expected to see an increased consumer interest post covid, due to the attraction of a more health-conscious lifestyle.

Sports tourism represents around 10% of the global expenditure on tourism and is set to be worth close to 7 billion euros by 2023. Active sports tourism particularly, in which holiday-makers participate in rather than spectate sports, is expected to see an increased consumer interest post covid, due to the attraction of a more health-conscious lifestyle.

Considering this, Gymcatch has evaluated the sports tourism facilities of the world’s top 50 holiday destinations, to find the countries with the most potential to become the global ‘sports tourism’ market leaders.

The study considers the number of yoga and wellness retreats, water-sport facilities, cycling routes, ski-slopes and hiking routes per tourist. By taking into account the average cost per traveler, the study can determine which countries are positioned to be the most attractive and affordable destinations for ‘active travelers’ as international travel re-opens.

Brazil placed 2nd, scoring particularly well for its cycling facilities. This substantiates Allied Market Research that developing nations like Brazil and India (which took 6th place in the study) are expected to drive the global sports tourism market as they invest in more sports infrastructure. Europe, which as per a 2018 report is the largest market in the global sport tourism industry, featured six countries in the top 10, including Norway which placed 3rd and Switzerland which placed 4th.

The UK came 14th in the study, ranking in the top of 28% of destinations. The UK scored particularly well for its number of yoga retreats (10th most per tourist), hiking trails (9th most per tourist) and cycling (13th most per tourist). In total, the UK offers over 75 water-sports facilities, 159 km of ski slopes, 143 yoga retreats, 13,842 hiking trails and 283,226 cycling routes to get stuck into.

The study can also reveal the best destinations for enthusiasts of each category. Germany, France and Italy have the most listed cycling routes, and when considering tourist numbers, Germany is the world’s best cycling destination, with 40,051 routes per one million tourists.

Next is Switzerland which has 18,253 per one million tourists, and Poland which has 17,662 per million. Taking into account tourist numbers, Switzerland offers the best choice for skiers, with 3,603 km per five million tourists, followed by Austria with 1,234 km per five million tourists and Norway with 1,098 km.

Australia offers the best choice to hikers, with 5,475 routes per 5 mill tourists, followed by the US with 15,406 routes per five mill tourists and Canada with 4582 routes. When it comes to watersports Egypt offers the best choice, with 455 facilities per 5 million tourists, followed by Vietnam with 307 facilities per five million tourists and Indonesia with 251.

And finally for Yogis, India was the clear winner, with 256 retreats per five million tourists, Indonesia has 142 per five million tourists, and Portugal has 72 per five million.

Finally, the study can also reveal which locations are trending for each category, and active holidays in general. By using Google Search Trends analytics, we can see that, likely due to travel restrictions, the most searched for destinations for active holidays are the UK and in Europe.

Per sport, ‘skiing in Japan’ is the trendiest search term. ‘Hiking in Spain’ was most popular, as was ‘cycling in the USA’, and India had the most relevant searches for watersports and yoga.

Vicky Karantzavelou

Vicky  is the co-founder of TravelDailyNews Media Network where she is the  Editor-in Chief . She is also responsible for the daily operation and the financial policy. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Tourism Business Administration from the Technical University of Athens and a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Wales.

She has many years of both academic and industrial experience within the travel industry. She has written/edited numerous articles in various tourism magazines.

• Vicky Karantzavelou https://www.traveldailynews.com/author/vicky-karantzavelou/ Emirates joins IATA’s Turbulence Aware Platform
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This volume serves to expand theory-driven understandings of active sport tourism by showcasing five empirical studies examining a variety of active sport tourism contexts. These include table tennis at the World Veteran’s Championships, ultramarathon, running/cycling/triathlon, skiing/snowboarding, and a range of issues such as active ageing and travel-related carbon footprints. The volume also seeks to explore possibilities for future directions in active sport tourism and act as a catalyst for ongoing scholarly inquiry.

Travelling to take part in active sporting pursuits is growing in popularity around the world. Active sport tourism encompasses travel to participate in a myriad sports, as well as in competitive participatory sport events. Much of the recent growth in active sport tourism is associated with travel to compete in participatory sport events, notably the "big city" international marathon events; amateur running, triathlon, and cycling events; Masters Games; and team sport tournaments. While the broader sport tourism research literature has tended to focus on spectator-oriented sports events, particularly the mega events such as the Olympic Games, it is only recently that a concerted research agenda in active sport tourism has emerged, making this volume innovative and relevant.

This book was originally published as a special issue of the Journal of Sport & Tourism .

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About the author.

Heather J. Gibson is a Professor in the Department of Tourism Recreation & Sport Management at the University of Florida, USA. Her research focusses on understanding leisure, sport, and tourism (sport tourism) behaviour in the context of gender and life stage, and the meaning and wellbeing associated with such participation.

Matthew Lamont is a Senior Lecturer at Southern Cross University, Australia, with research interests in active sport tourism and sport- based leisure.

Millicent Kennelly is a Senior Lecturer at Griffith University, Australia. Her research interests revolve around active sport tourism and sport event management, with a particular focus on participatory sport events and amateur athletes.

Richard J. Buning is a Lecturer in the tourism discipline at the University of Queensland, Australia. His research interests include sport tourism and event management. Within this area, his research agenda is focused on the progressive experiences of participant based active travel at the individual, event, and community level.

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Evaluating the Economic Impact of Active Sports Tourism Events: Lessons Learned from Cyprus

• Conference paper
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• Achilleas Achilleos 3 ,
• Christos Markides 3 ,
• Michalis Makrominas 5 ,
• Andreas Konstantinides 3 ,
• Rafael Alexandrou 3 ,
• Effie Zikouli 4 ,
• Elena Papacosta 6 ,
• Panos Constantinides 6 &
• Leondios Tselepos 7  

Part of the book series: Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics ((SPBE))

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It is widely acknowledged that Major Sport or Mega Sport Events have a huge economic impact and help in promoting sports tourism at the host destination. In fact, many works examine and demonstrate the economic impact of major (passive) sport events, but the importance of active sports events in promoting sports tourism is scarcely examined in the literature. This paper outlines, examines, and critically describes the case study of “Active Sports Events for Tourism”. This case study aims at exploring the economic impact of active sports events, through a major international swimming event performed in Cyprus. The work is performed in the Research-in-Startups local project, which developed a web platform and recommender system dedicated to a niche market (i.e., active sports events) and conducted a survey with a sample of \(N = 51\left( {{\text{out of the}}\,512} \right)\) participants in an international swimming event. The emphasis in this paper is placed on the analysis of the survey results, which demonstrates the economic impact of active sports events and the potential that such events offer to the growth of a niche market; i.e., active sports tourism.

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Acknowledgements

The work presented in this manuscript is performed based on the research funding received from the European Regional Development Fund and the Research Promotion Foundation of Cyprus as part of the Research in Startups SportsTraveler76 project (START-UPS/0618/0049–RESTART 2016–2020).

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Computer Science, Frederick Research Center, Nicosia, Cyprus

Achilleas Achilleos, Christos Markides, Andreas Konstantinides & Rafael Alexandrou

SportsTraveler76 Ltd, Nicosia, Cyprus

Effie Zikouli

Business, Accounting and Finance, Frederick University, Nicosia, Cyprus

Michalis Makrominas

Physical Education and Sports Science, Nicosia, Cyprus

Elena Papacosta & Panos Constantinides

Cyprus Sports Organisation, Nicosia, Cyprus

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Achilleos, A. et al. (2021). Evaluating the Economic Impact of Active Sports Tourism Events: Lessons Learned from Cyprus. In: Katsoni, V., van Zyl, C. (eds) Culture and Tourism in a Smart, Globalized, and Sustainable World. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-72469-6_3

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What is sports tourism? 

According to a market report by Allied Market Research , the global sports tourism industry was pegged at $323.42bn in 2020. However, it is expected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 16.1% from 2021 to 2030.

The report revealed that by region, Europe and North America held the largest share in 2020 – accounting for nearly two-fifths of the market, due to the presence of a large population and high participation in sports activities. However, the global sports tourism market across Asia-Pacific is projected to register the highest CAGR of 17.7% during the forecast period of 2021 to 2030, owing to increase in sports participation and sports event hosting.

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Sports tourism: a fast-growing niche

The sport and travel industries go hand-in-hand. Whether it is fans attending a match or an event, or if it is teams and officials travelling to fixtures or competitions, sports tourism is now a major niche in the travel industry.

It’s not just Fifa World Cups, the Olympics or major events that are driving the sector, but also team travel, school sports and smaller competitions. 

Did you know that the global sports industry is estimated to be worth between US$480bn and US$620bn, according to research by A.T. Kearney . Globally, travel and tourism’s direct contribution to GDP was approximately US$4.7trillion in 2020, according to a report by Statista .

UN Tourism describes sports tourism as “one of the fastest growing sectors” in the travel industry. It also states that international sports tourism is worth US$800bn and accounts for 10% of the world’s tourism industry. 

Here we look at what sports tourism is and an expert’s view on its impact…

The United Nations’s definition 

What UN Tourism said about sports tourism:

“ Sports tourism is a fundamental axis, generating around 10% of the world’s expenditure on tourism. It has an estimated growth rate of 17.5% between 2023-2030, moving masses intra and intercontinentally. Sports tourism can promote social, economic and environmental action, it accelerates development and can leave a long-lasting positive legacy.

“ Sports and Tourism are interrelated and complementary. Today, sports tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors in tourism. More and more tourists are interested in sport activities during their trips whether sports are the main objective of travel or not. Sport events of various kinds and sizes attract tourists as participants or spectators and destinations try to add local flavours to them to distinguish themselves and provide authentic local experiences. Mega sport events such as the Olympics and World Cups can be a catalyst for tourism development if successfully leveraged in terms of destination branding, infrastructure development and other economic and social benefits.”

Impact of sports tourism 

Akis Tsolis, CEO of Active Media Group , organisers of the Navarino Challenge and Santorini Experience in Greece, wrote on gtp.gr :

“Aside from the obvious and vast benefits of travel, sports tourism is great for the economy for one simple reason: it generates economic impact through direct spending into a community.  Sports tourism is a rapidly growing niche in the travel/tourism industry. In fact, we at ActiveMedia Group share the belief that it is the fastest growing segment within the travel industry today, generating billions of dollars every year. Sports tourism is a trend that’s not going away and is expected to continue growing.”

The ChatGPT answer to this question…

What is the definition of sports tourism, how does it benefit the economy and what can we expect in the future.

Sports tourism refers to the act of traveling to a destination with the purpose of participating in or watching a sporting event. It involves a wide range of activities, including attending professional sports games, participating in amateur sports tournaments, and visiting sports-related attractions such as museums or stadiums.

Sports tourism can benefit the economy in several ways. Firstly, it generates revenue for local businesses such as hotels, restaurants, and retail stores. Secondly, it creates employment opportunities in the tourism and hospitality industries. Thirdly, it attracts investment in sports infrastructure such as stadiums and training facilities, which can benefit the local community beyond the tourism industry. Additionally, sports tourism can help to promote a destination as a sports hub, which can attract further sporting events and opportunities.

In the future, we can expect sports tourism to continue to grow, driven by the increasing popularity of sports and the ease of travel. Technological advancements such as virtual reality may also create new opportunities for sports tourism, allowing fans to experience sporting events remotely. Additionally, as sustainability becomes an increasingly important factor in tourism, sports tourism may shift towards more eco-friendly practices, such as promoting sustainable transportation and reducing waste.

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Tennis grand slam: 2024 french open roland garros, 2024 uefa champions league final, wembley, london, icc men’s t20 world cup west indies & usa 2024, mlb world tour: london series 2024 – mets vs. phillies, men’s football: uefa euro 2024 germany, privacy overview.

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International Journal of Event and Festival Management

ISSN : 1758-2954

Article publication date: 3 December 2021

Issue publication date: 10 January 2022

Sports tourism has gained much attention in recent decades due to its socio-economic and environmental impact on destinations. This study at first examines travel motives that might trigger participation in active sports tourism (AST). Further, it compares these travel motives and their impact on participation intention in AST (between India and Poland).

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected online through a self-administered questionnaire in both countries ( N  = 273 in India and N  = 255 in Poland). Descriptive data were analyzed using SPSS statistics 24, and SPSS AMOS 25 was used for testing the measurement model and multi-group analysis.

The results show that in both countries, participants are motivated mainly by travel exploration, social bonding, and stress relief, which are the primary travel motives commonly associated with tourism. However, the significance of these motives varies across both nations. Interestingly, active sports tourists are not motivated by physical strength, self-enhancement, and social recognition.

Originality/value

The study presents a framework to discuss travel motives in Active Sports Tourism (AST). It also describes the motives that influence Indians and Polish citizens' participation in active sports tourism.

• Active sports tourism
• Intention to participate

Mishra, S. , Malhotra, G. , Johann, M. and Tiwari, S.R. (2022), "Motivations for participation in active sports tourism: a cross-national study", International Journal of Event and Festival Management , Vol. 13 No. 1, pp. 70-91. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEFM-06-2021-0045

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Sports tourism in Russia: essential aspects and development problems

Arthur Kuchumov 1 * , Elena Pecheritsa 2 , Irina Gladskaya 3 and Aleksandra Chaikovskaya 4

1 St. Petersburg State University of Economics, Department of Economics and Management in the Service Sector, 191023 Sadovaya street, Saint Petersburg, Russia 2 St. Petersburg State University of Economics, Department of Economic Security, 191023 Sadovaya street, Saint Petersburg, Russia 3 Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Department of business management, 125993 Leningradsky prospect 49, Moscow, Russia 4 Saint-Petersburg State University of Industrial Technologies and Design 191186 Bolshaya Morskaya street 18, Saint Petersburg, Russia

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

The article examines the concept of such an activity as “sports tourism.” This category is considered both as a type of tourism and as a type of sport. The authors formulate their definition of the concept of “sports tourism” and consider the difference in approaches to the definition of sports tourism by Russian and foreign scientists, proposing to understand sports tourism as a temporary departure of a traveler from their home destination for the purpose of active or passive participation in activities, in one way or another related to sports. Problems in the development of sports tourism in the Russian Federation are formulated, to which the authors attribute its poor infrastructure, lack of state support, inaccessibility of some destinations and lack of dedicated specialists.

© The Authors, published by EDP Sciences, 2021

The Russian Federation has a lot of unique natural landscapes. The Far East, Kamchatka, Altai and Krasnodar Krai, Karelia, the Central Russian Upland, the Pskov region, and Siberia amaze with their natural diversity. The listed tourist destinations (and the list is far from being complete) annually attract large numbers of tourists visiting for sports. Sports tourism is a unique phenomenon in the life of modern society. However, if in Russia, when defining this concept, it is customary to treat this phenomenon mostly as a sport, then in other countries (except for the former Soviet republics) this phenomenon is rather considered as one of the types of tourism.

The statistics collected by VTSIOM experts conducting a telephone survey of 1 600 respondents over the age of 18 for the Center for Regional Policy Development on November 13 and 16, 2019 (who were asked the question: “What domestic destinations for sports tourism would you like to visit in 2019?”) revealed the following data: 21% of respondents would like to visit Sochi and 3-4% each would like to visit Altai, Krasnodar Krai, the Caucasus and Dombai [ 1 ]. The results of this survey probably did not include such sports and tourist destinations as the Urals, The Far East, Kamchatka, etc. due to the duration of flights and crossings, as well as the high cost of air and railroad tickets.

As for the purpose of travel of Russian travelers within Russia (which have also been identified by the VTSIOM specialists), sports in one or another form in travel and recreation attract only 4% of Russian tourists (for this reason the absence of the Karelia, which has a great potential for the development of sports tourism, in the list of “desired destinations” becomes clear). The first places were taken by the goals of visiting new places and cultural tourism, gaining 49%, 42% of tourists who would like to just relax and have fun; the goal of another 40% of tourists is to visit relatives and friends. Tourists getting out into the wilds constitute 21%. The categories of responses “rest and have fun” (7%) and “see nature and wildlife” (21%) raise questions about what these trips mean, whether it is just cooking kebabs in the wild or road trips, as well as hiking, skiing, horse riding or cycling. If the purpose of a trip to nature or for entertainment is not just contemplation of nature or watching TV, but also active recreation in the form of, for example, skiing or cycling, then we can already talk about a sports form of tourism. The remaining variants of answers were business tourism, 6%, educational tourism, 2%, and other types, 4% [ 2 ]

The purpose of this study is defined by the authors as definition of a category apparatus of sports tourism to avoid confusion in the concept of “sports tourism” and to identify problems of its development in the Russian Federation.

In an attempt to understand what at this modern stage of the society development the phenomenon of sports tourism is, we have conducted an analysis of Russian and foreign scientific literature on this topic. According to the authors Devine, A., Boyle, E. and Boyd, S. [ 3 ], sports tourism is certainly one of the types of tourism for tourists unsatisfied with traditional recreation (sun, sea and sand) who are looking for a variety of ways to spend their leisure time. The authors of [ 4 ] also believe that sports tourism is one of the types of tourism, while noting that sports tourism is based on sports events attended by tourists. The authors of the paper [ 5 ] agree with this opinion, while, considering sports tourism, focus on the sports activities offered at the destination. This thesis is shared by the authors of the paper “Cost and benefits of sports events tourism: The case of the Singapore Grand Prix” [ 6 ]. The authors of [ 7 ] are taking this idea further and consider sport and event tourism as an incentive for city rebranding.

Of interest is the paper [ 8 ], the authors of which divide sports tourism into three separate segments: attending sports events, attending sports-related attractions and participating in sports events, and take into account both professional athletes and amateurs.

A number of authors consider sports tourism as both a sport and as recreation exclusively in an economic or social context. For example, the paper [ 9 ] examines the views of golf course managers, golfers, and the general population about the economic and social impact of golf courses in tourist destinations. In the paper [ 10 ], the authors explore the social impact of a small sporting event and its impact on the willingness to support future events. The authors of [ 11 ] and [ 12 ] consider similar issues in the context of a large city and a large-scale sports event. In [ 13 ], its authors consider the differences in marketing and promotion of sports hotels versus ordinary ones. The authors of [ 14 ] studied the degree of satisfaction of the runners of the First Knoxville Marathon.

As for Russian and Belarusian studies, they mostly consider sports tourism as a sport. For example, the papers [ 15 - 18 ] view sports tourism as a national sport, referring to the allRussian sports register. Supporting this thesis, we can note that in the Russian Federation there is an Order of the Ministry of Sports of the Russian Federation of April 16, 2018 No. 345 “On the Approval of the Federal Standard of Sports Training in the “Sports Tourism” Sport”[ 19 ]. For the first time the concept of “sports tourism” (as a sport) was introduced in the Soviet Union. The USSR ceased to exist about 30 years ago, but the tourist heritage is successfully developed by its modern descendants. The essence of this phenomenon lies in the organization of hikes of different levels of complexity, with the use of various vehicles and without, both alone and with groups of like-minded people. During the development of sports tourism in the USSR, tourists-athletes mastered new routes, made safety rules, determined the levels of difficulty and requirements for participants. Experience allows creating several classifications of routes according to the level of difficulty, taking into account age categories and the presence of special training.

Nevertheless, in the papers [ 20 - 22 ] Russian authors consider sports tourism solely as a form of recreation. And the authors of the paper [ 23 ] view sports tourism as a sport and a type of recreation simultaneously.

One of the most interesting papers is an article by Nizhny Novgorod authors M.V. Efremova, I.P. Smirnova, N.A. Shimin, dedicated to the study of the conceptual apparatus in the field of sports tourism. Analyzing the regulatory legal acts and specialized literature, the authors identified definitions with overlapping subject areas, including “sports tourism”.

In preparation of this article, the following methods were used: analysis, classification, logical and content analysis, search, system approach and comparison.

Having analyzed the articles of Russian and foreign authors, we can conclude that there are different approaches to the definition of sports tourism. On the one hand, a number of authors when considering the concept of “sports tourism” refer exclusively to a sport with a similar name. On the other hand, a number of authors attribute to sports tourism one of the types of tourism, which is divided into two types depending on the purpose of the trip: active and passive.

Active and passive forms of sports tourism vary in purpose. If a passive sports tourist goes on a journey as a fan, spectator or sightseer to attend sports competitions, sporting events or sports tourism facilities, then for active sports tourists the purpose is to practice some sport when they move from home destination to another one, for example, into the neighboring region or to another continent, that is, in this case, the tourist acts as a participant.

If we consider sports tourism as a sport, the following types classified by means of movement are officially registered: motor, cycling, water, mountain, equestrian, skiing, sailing, hiking, underwater and speleo tourism, hiking based on competition on routes, or overcoming obstacles.

The variety of sports tourism can also include tourist-oriented multisport events, which are competitions in the mastery of a variety of tourist equipment and tactics.

Thus, we present a classification of sports tourism types (represented in Figure 1 ).

Based on the data presented in the Figure 1 , we can conclude that sports tourism can be considered as a sport and as a form of recreation. At the same time, sports tourism as recreation can be divided into active and passive, with the difference being that in the passive form of tourism, a tourist travels as a spectator or a fan, while an active form of sports tourism assumes that a tourist travels as a participant in certain sporting events, sometimes even with a non-competitive purpose, but only with a recreational one. Sports tourism as a sport always has a competitive goal and implies active participation in the process.

In accordance with the definition of tourism given in the Federal Law of the Russian Federation “On the Basics of Tourism Activities in the Russian Federation, ” dated 24.11.1996 No. 132-FZ [ 25 ], the term “tourism” refers to temporary departures (travel) of citizens from their place of permanent residence with medical and recovery, recreational, educational, sports, professional and business, and other purposes without engaging in activities related to obtaining income from sources in the place of temporary residence. At present, due to the development of marketing tools and the widespread development of the Internet and social networks, the definition of tourism, including sports tourism, provided in the Federal Law No. 132-FZ is outdated and needs to be corrected. Of course, usually people go on vacation to relax from their work and making money. However, in the current conditions, when the pace of life, especially among people in large cities, is extremely tense and full of various events, few will refuse earning extra money. And tourists on vacation, including those involved in sports tourism, are no exception. The easiest way to combine business with pleasure is to advertise sports equipment on the Instagram social network. Moreover, it can be advertised by both consumers of this equipment going on vacation, for example, to a ski resort, and sellers of this equipment, for which services of sports tourism can be used specifically. Therefore, we propose to understand sports tourism as a temporary departure of a traveller from the home destination for the purpose of active or passive participation in activities that are somehow related to sports.

Unlike other types of tourism, sports tourism often does not incur special costs, due to the fact that tourist routes are laid in the natural environment. This type of tourism can be attributed to the social type. According to scientists, sports tourism is chosen by young people, students, teachers, doctors, and intellectuals. This type of tourism allows to experience a certain enjoyment of natural and cultural landscapes, in addition it is a complex kind of recreation. Table 1 presents the main destinations for the development of sports tourism in Russia.

As can be seen from the Table 1 , almost the entire territory of the Russian Federation can be used for the development of sports tourism.

As for the problems of the development of sports tourism in Russia, there are quite a lot of them.

1) Russia has quite a lot of natural landscapes and beautiful places of interest at any time of the year. However, with the increase in housing construction in major cities, such places are becoming less accessible, due to the fact that previously residents of commuter towns could literally walk into the forest for hiking or skiing; now almost in any case they have to use commuter trains or private transport to reach them. In addition, tourist routes do not correspond to the scale of the country in terms of quantity, quality and safety. Therefore, one of the activities of regional authorities should be helping in the creation of conditions for the development of civilized tourism.

2) State support. In Russia there is no propaganda that could unite the population and encourage residents to develop this type of tourism. Tourism clubs in Russia today exist in Moscow (at the expense of trade unions), St. Petersburg (St. Petersburg Club, which has become a joint stock company), and in Yekaterinburg (has the status of municipal and is kept at the expense of the city budget). There are also a few clubs for tourists at higher educational institutions on a voluntary basis. Modern legislation in the field of physical culture and sports practically deprives tourists of the opportunity to receive state financial support. Basically, the legislation regulates creation of public sports organizations, while the created organizations must independently find sponsors or are forced to work exclusively as commercial structures. Moreover, in 2015, amendments were made to the Federal Law “On Physical Culture and Sports in the Russian Federation”, which further limit the possibilities of organizers of physical culture and sports events. In this document, amendments were made to the Article 39 [ 26 ]: “the organizers of physical culture events and sports events are obliged to provide medical support to their participants.” It turns out that, for example, weekend hikes, which are inherently physical activities, require medical support, that is, every collective skiing, hiking, kayaking, etc., now, according to the interpretation of officials, should be observed by a doctor.

3) Lack of specialists. Indeed, the development of this type of tourism leaves much to be desired, so it is necessary to learn from experience of foreign partners, creating courses, conducting various trainings and seminars, and conferences. Perhaps after all these events, we could get to a new stage of development. To reduce the potential danger of sports tourism (if we talk about its active form), a system of training tourist personnel is needed, and first of all, instructors in types of tourism (water, mountain, skiing, etc.) and guides. To date, universities practically do not train specialists of this profile. Higher educational institutions are engaged in the areas of “Social and cultural service and tourism”, “Management in tourism”, “Tourism”, “Hotel business”. None of the universities has an “Instructor in the types of tourism” major with the “instructor in hiking, water, etc. tourism” qualification. Accordingly, such training should be carried out, taught by experienced professionals in sports tourism, and in no case by managers.

4) Infrastructure. The most important problem of all Russian tourism, and sports type is no exception, is the high cost of the key tourism components: both travel and accommodation. The tendency to build expensive luxury accommodation facilities and the destruction of public sanatoriums, boarding houses, holiday homes including departmental, in the territories of which housing is built directly or under the guise of accommodation: “apartments” are also, in fact, housing. For the development of sports tourism in Russia, it would be very important if the legislative bodies of the Russian Federation solved this problem, and left public recreational areas for the people and accommodation affordable for the majority of the population.

Major tourist destinations in Russia.

After analyzing over two dozen scientific papers on the development of sports tourism, we can conclude that despite different approaches to the definition of such a form of activity as “sports tourism”, this category should be considered both from the point of view of tourism and from the point of view of sport. In order to generalize this social phenomenon, we suggest that sports tourism should be understood as a temporary departure of travelers from the boundaries of their home destination for the purpose of active or passive participation in activities in one way or another related to sports. Analysis of the development of sports tourism in Russia showed that several large clusters of sports tourism have been formed in the Russian Federation, including Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, Sochi, Krasnodar Krai, Crimea, Urals, Caucasus, Siberia, Far East, Volga region and Karelia. However, their successful development is hampered by some problems, such as poor infrastructure, lack of government support, difficult access to some destinations and lack of dedicated specialists.

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Not a gym rat? Here’s how to get started on an outdoor exercise routine

Racers competing outside for the title of “King and Queen” of The Alpine Training Center Gym in Boulder, Colo., on July 26, 2023. (Scott Griesser via AP)

April Herring poses with her bike along the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal on July 2, 2021. (Kellie A. Tikkun via AP)

FILE - Catherine Parenteau returns the ball during a pickle ball match at the Goodyear Blimp Base Airport Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in Carson, Calif. The health benefits of spending time in nature have long been established, and exercise in general improves physical and mental well-being. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun, File)

FILE - Kayakers ply the choppy waters of Grand Lake on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020, in Grand Lake, Colo. The health benefits of spending time in nature have long been established, and exercise in general improves physical and mental well-being. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

A couple cycles in the Cleveland MetroParks in Parma Heights, Ohio on March 25, 2020. The health benefits of spending time in nature have long been established, and exercise in general improves physical and mental well-being. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)

April Herring poses with her bike on the Great Allegheny Passage trail on June 29, 2021 in western Pennsylvania. (Kellie A. Tikkun via AP)

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Between the sweat smell, fluorescent lights and omnipresent television screens, April Herring has never connected with going to the gym.

Instead, she runs, bikes, hikes, plays tennis, pickleball and football — anything to get her exercise outside as often as possible.

“Fresh air, sunshine, the variety of the trees as the seasons change,” said Herring, an administrator at Carroll Community College in North Maryland. “There’s something about the energetic healing quality of nature.”

The health benefits of spending time in nature have long been established, and exercise in general, of course, improves physical and mental well-being.

Combine the two and you double down on what adults need to stay healthy, said Debbie Rhea, professor in kinesiology at Texas Christian University.

“We’ve got to get outside. We’ve got to be active,” Rhea said. “If we’re going to live long lives, this is what it’s about.”

Getting started on an outdoor routine, however, might not be as easy as signing up for another gym membership. Here’s how to get going.

START SIMPLE WITH WHAT YOU LIKE

If you haven’t been active for a while, think back to the activities you enjoyed years ago, suggested Connie Sciolino, founder of the Alpine Training Center in Boulder, Colorado, a gym that trains athletes for outdoor mountain sports.

People who like occasionally hiking or biking should start building an aerobic base by taking progressively longer walks or rides. Once you’re comfortably in the 35- to 45-minute range, start adding some intensity to build strength, she said.

“If jogging is their main activity, I would send them to bleachers or do some up-down on stairs, either in sprint format or put a pack on their back,” she said.

Rhea cautioned against jumping back into a sport you used to play without preparing your body for the proper movement.

“Let’s say they’re in their 30s, 40s, 50s, and they haven’t sprinted and now they try to run around those bases,” she said. “They’re probably going to hurt an Achilles or a hamstring or something by doing something too fast.”

THEN BUILD STRENGTH WITH WHAT’S AROUND

A side benefit of exercising outside is that there’s no need to buy expensive equipment, trainers say.

After warming up with your preferred aerobic activity, add strength training by using your body weight and what is available in the built environment. That could be finding a picnic table or low wall and placing your hands shoulder-width apart to do leaning pushups. Then turn around, put your hands on the same surface and lower your body for dips that work your triceps.

For working your legs, add squats with your feet shoulder-width apart, looking straight ahead with your back straight. Add lunges by taking giant steps and bending down into the space between your feet. For the core, find a patch of grass to do sit-ups.

Start with eight to 10 repetitions, or no more than you are comfortable with, and add sets with short breaks in between as you get stronger.

For a more complete workout, find a park or trail with outdoor exercise equipment, which is installed in one-third of park agencies , according to the National Recreation and Park Association. The equipment can range from basic pull-up bars to gym-style bench presses and rowing machines.

And many cities, including Chicago , San Antonio and Atlanta , offer free group classes outdoors.

HOW TO STAY MOTIVATED — EVEN IN BAD WEATHER

When it inevitably rains or the weather turns colder, it helps to keep in mind an old axiom: There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

“If we have the clothing for whatever the temperatures are that we may be in, then we’re more likely to go outside to be active when we need to,” Rhea said.

She suggested investing in a jacket that breathes and a light hat with a brim you can use on sunny or rainy days.

Trainer Katie Higginbotham recommended having a contingency plan for inclement weather. Pick an area with surfaces that won’t get slippery when wet or somewhere with some tree shelter so as not to be bombarded by rain.

On those days, having a regular exercise buddy really helps, said Higginbotham, who oversees quality control for TrainFitness, a U.K.-based private training provider.

“If you know someone is there waiting for you, it’s difficult to say no at the last minute,” she said.

Finally, it helps to set a goal, whether that is training for a 5K charity walk or a triathlon. If you’re working toward something, it keeps you motivated to keep going, Sciolino said.

“When you have that day marked on your calendar, you have to perform these things or die out there,” she said.

EDITOR’S NOTE: Albert Stumm writes about food, travel and wellness. Find his work at https://www.albertstumm.com

Ukraine-Russia war latest: Moscow warns it could go to war with NATO over US move - as Germany follows Washington in approving strikes inside Russia with its weapons

Germany has followed the US in approving strikes inside Russia using its weapons - as Moscow warns the moves could cause a war with NATO. Meanwhile, Ukraine reportedly launched a large missile and drone attack overnight.

Friday 31 May 2024 13:48, UK

• Biden partially lifts ban on Ukraine using US arms to attack Russia, US officials say - with cross-border strikes allowed  
• Moscow warns it could go to war with NATO over US move - as Putin ally says Russia 'not bluffing' over nuclear threats
• Germany follows US in announcing Ukraine can now use its weapons to strike targets in Russia
• At least four dead in Kharkiv from overnight Russian missile strikes
• Analysis: Sharp change of US policy increases chance of direct confrontation with Russia
• The big picture : What you need to know about the war right now
• Live reporting by Dylan Donnelly

Fresh off signing a security pact with Sweden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said it is a matter of time before Ukraine uses Western weapons to strike Russian territory.

The Ukrainian president has just signed his 13th security agreement with a Western nation, and is signalling that Kyiv will be striking north of Kharkiv after the US and Germany gave the green light to do so.

He says: "I think that using any weapon, Western kind of weapon, on the territory of Russia is a question of time."

Going further, Zelenskyy called for next month's NATO summit to address letting Ukraine join the military alliance.

Russia has consistently threatened to retaliate if Ukraine is allowed to join NATO.

Later today, Zelenskyy will sign more security agreements with Norway and Iceland - both also NATO countries.

Russia and Ukraine have today carried out their first prisoner swap since February.

The exchange, brokered by the United Arab Emirates, saw 75 Ukrainians and 75 Russians released.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy says four of the Ukrainians released were civilians held as prisoners of war.

Ukrainian officials added that 19 were defenders of Snake Island, which became the focus of global attention when a soldier stationed on the rocky outcrop told a Russian warship "go f*** yourself" at the start of the war.

Russia also handed back the bodies of 212 Ukrainians.

The Ministry of Defence says it's likely there have been 500,000 Russian casualties since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine.

It says in its defence intelligence update that, during May, Russia has suffered its highest rate of reported casualties since February 2022 - at more than 1,200 per day.

By Alex Rossi , international correspondent

The change in US policy will not be a game changer in the Ukraine conflict but it does represent a significant shift in Washington's position.

It has far-reaching ramifications - and not just on the battlefield.

The frontlines on Ukraine's north eastern border around Kharkiv are looking increasingly shaky.

The second city is now in striking distance of Russian artillery.

Washington’s change in policy is limited in scope but it means the defenders will now be able to fire US munitions into Russia in this area only, to try and stymie a new front opening further and stop Russian forces advancing.

Again, the emphasis is being placed on defensive action rather than offensive operations - but that is a matter of interpretation and will look very different in Kyiv, Washington and of course Moscow.

Using American weapons for attacks inside Russia has always been a red line for the Americans.

Since the conflict started, the Kremlin has continuously played up with bellicose rhetoric that such moves could lead to a direct conflict with America - and the spectre of a nuclear war.

But the precarious situation in North East Ukraine and the subsequent appeals from the Zelensky administration appear to have changed the calculation of policy-makers in Washington.

It marks a sharp departure from where the Americans were at the beginning of the war.

Then the supply of weapons was only meant to be defensive in nature and to be used inside Ukrainian territory.

Now you have a situation where American guns and rocket launchers can be used to target positions inside a nuclear armed country and enemy.

Russia's response has been predictable - it's warning that the move is a serious escalation and will have serious consequences.

The move though is unlikely to change the course of the war.

For many months Ukraine has been striking deeper inside Russian territory and it has not changed Russia’s will to fight.

But it's hoped the power of American weapons will help Ukraine stabilise an area that has been under constant attack for the last three weeks and looks increasingly weak.

Time is a valuable commodity on the battlefield and the change in policy will give Kyiv the room to regroup and solidify positions as it takes arrival of the latest weapons package from the US, which was approved by Congress last month.

But America's decision also brings with it peril.

Moscow has made many empty threats since it launched its calamitous invasion but, although incremental, this represents an even deeper involvement by the US and its allies in the war.

And increases the possibility of a direct confrontation with Russia in the future.

The Kremlin says Ukraine is already trying to strike targets inside of Russia with American weapons - less than a day after Joe Biden gave Kyiv the green light to do so.

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov says: "What we know is that generally, there are already attempts to strike Russian territory with weapons produced by the United States.

"This is enough for us and it speaks volumes about the degree to which the United States is involved in the conflict."

He doesn't specify what attempts have been made by Ukraine to strike inside Russia.

As other officials have said today, Peskov blames the West for escalating the conflict and says that support for Ukraine in Europe is being whipped up to the point of "pre-war hysteria".

Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev said earlier today that Ukraine striking with US weapons inside of Russia could mean war with NATO (see 9.14am post).

Two Russian soldiers were found stabbed to death in Crimea this morning, according to Telegram report.

Sapa 15, a Russian-language Telegram channel, reports a 40-year-old local resident attacked three men with a knife.

Two men, who were servicemen, died in the attack. The third man was hospitalised in shock and suffered injuries to his hand and to the area near his kidneys.

Sapa 15 named the two men killed as Niyazbek, 39 from Vladikavkaz, and Alexander, 32 from Rostov-on-Don.

According to the Telegram channel, some reports claim the three men attacked a passerby and began to beat him. The passerby then took out a knife and stabbed the trio.

Other reports say the three men "made a remark to a group drinking on a bench" before a fight broke out.

Sapa 15 also said that "it is known that the attacker was convicted of robbery almost ten years ago".

China has insisted its demands for an international peace conference that is recognised by both Russia and Ukraine are "fair" and "impartial", and not directed at any party.

Mao Ning, a foreign ministry spokesperson, made the remarks at a news briefing after Reuters reported that China would not attend a Ukraine peace conference to be hosted by Switzerland next month - to which Russia is not invited.

"China attaches great importance to Switzerland hosting the first Ukraine Peace Summit, and has been working with the Swiss side and all parties involved since the beginning of this year," Ms Mao said.

While continuing to insist it is neutral in the conflict, China remains a strong ally of Russia - with Vladimir Putin being welcomed for a state visit in the country earlier this month.

Berlin has announced Ukraine can now use German weapons to strike inside Russia, following the US and NATO allies in loosening rules on Kyiv.

In line with the US, a government spokesperson says Ukraine can use military supplies to strike targets behind the border, but only to defend Kharkiv from attacks from the north.

"We are jointly convinced that Ukraine has the right, guaranteed under international law, to defend itself against these attacks," government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said.

"To do so, it can also use the weapons supplied for this purpose in accordance with its international legal obligations; including those supplied by us."

Ukraine says at least four people died after Russian missiles struck an apartment building in Kharkiv overnight.

Kyiv's air force say Russia launched five S-300/S-400 ballistic missiles at the besieged city overnight, with one hitting the block of flats around midnight last night.

Regional governor Oleh Syniehubov says another missile struck first responders at the scene 25 minutes later.

It marks another attack on Kharkiv - Ukraine's second biggest city, and just 12 miles away from Russia - as Moscow continues its fresh offensive from the northern border.

Last Saturday, a Russian strike on a construction supply store in the city killed 18 people. 

Russian defence minister Andrei Belousov says Moscow stopped a Ukrainian attack using American-made missiles in Crimea last night.

He said Kyiv's "massive" bombardment used eight ATACMS - secretly sent to Ukraine by the US in March - to target the Kerch Bridge.

Russia's Ministry of Defence said air defence systems shot down the missiles and eight drones on Thursday night.

However, the general staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said yesterday that they successfully struck the Kerch ferry crossing.

Two ferries were "significantly damaged" by the attack, the general staff said, and one of the ferries was stranded and reportedly "blocked the functioning of the entire Kerch crossing".

Nikolai Lukashenko, a Russia-appointed official in Crimea, also acknowledged the strike in the port of Kerch, but said yesterday it was debris from downed Ukrainian missiles that damaged the vessels.

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