Highlights from the 2022 sports map

GET SET, GO

This is a big year for sports fans. Restrictions and bio-bubbles are being eased around the world, as rounds of vaccines weaken the Covid-19 virus. Finally, major tournaments and world cups can have people in the stands again. Where the Euro Cup 2020, held in June 2021, had only a sprinkling of fans present at venues across Europe and in Russia, the Australian Open in February this year had stadiums filled to 50%. There is an unavoidable element of uncertainty involved; the Australian stands had to be emptied out again as numbers shot up in the country. But for those willing to roll the dice, here’s where the biggest sports events are unfolding in 2022.

The FIFA World Cup has never been closer to India than it is this year. (It’s usually held in Europe and South America, with a few exceptions including South Korea and Russia). Over 1.5 million fans are expected in Qatar between November and December. India currently ranks seventh on the list of countries accounting for most tickets sold, according to a FIFA press statement. Ticket prices range from 250 Qatari riyal (about Rs 5,200) to 5,850 QAR (Rs 1.23 lakh) for a seat at the finals.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in October-November is expected to add 20,000 fans to the total number of visitors in 2022, Tourism Australia told financial website Moneycontrol in April. Indians are expected to grow to be the country’s third-highest source of tourists, after China and New Zealand (India is currently at No. 6). “Every time the Indian cricket team has travelled to Australia, we have seen the halo effect which lasts beyond the actual event,” Nishant Kashikar, Tourism Australia country manager for India and the Gulf, told Moneycontrol in April. In an effort to boost visitor numbers further, Australia is also offering free extensions to Indians whose visitor visas expired between March 2020 and June 2022.

UK: From the ongoing Premier League to the upcoming Wimbledon tennis tournament (June 27 to July 10) and the India cricket tour of England in July, there’s a sporting bonanza ahead. The other big events on the sports calendar for the year are the French Open in

May-June and the US Open in August-September.