Ranking in size of International Sporting Events

[GBModerator]

Does anyone have any information on the ranking (in size) of International sporting events?

Thanks in advance.

[Rafa]

An extravagant year in sport

   * Winter Olympics - Turin, Italy

     Aerial skier Alisa Camplin will hope to emulate her amazing feats of 2002.

   * Commonwealth Games - Melbourne

     The largest sporting event ever to be held in the Victorian capital.

   * FIFA World Cup - Germany

     The dozen official host cities include historic locations such as Nuremberg, Leipzig, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Cologne.

   * Ryder Cup - Ireland

     For the first time, golf's greatest matchplay contest will be hosted in Ireland.

   * Asian Games - Qatar

     Athletes from 45 countries will participate in 40 sports, some of which you don't see at the Olympics.

1 Winter Olympics, February - Turin, Italy

An extravagant year in sport takes off like a Ferrari with the opening ceremony of the 20th Winter Olympics on Friday, February 10, at the Stadio Comunale in the trendy Santa Rita quarter of the northern Italian city of Turin. Many of the most popular spectator events, however, will occur at mountain valley locales near Turin, notably at Sestriere, a famous ski town long associated with the Agnelli dynasty of Fiat fame. Sestriere will be the backdrop for the men's super-G, freestyle downhill and men's and women's giant slalom. Other venues include Pragelato (ski jumping) and Fraiteve (women's alpine). Australian interest will peak at Sauze d'Oulx, a small village 80 kilometres from Turin, where aerial skier Alisa Camplin (pictured right), Australia's first Winter Olympic gold medallist, will hope to emulate her amazing feats of 2002. The Winter Games end on Sunday, February 26.Details: http://www.torino2006.org.Tickets: http://torino2006.ticketone.it/home.jsp.

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2 Commonwealth Games, March - Melbourne

The XVIII Commonwealth Games in Melbourne from March 15-26 next year will be the largest sporting event held in the Victorian capital. About 4500 athletes from 71 nations and territories are expected, plus about 1 million spectators. Info: http://www.melbourne2006.com.au.Tickets: The ballot opens March 13 and closes Friday, April 22. Application forms and ballot details will appear in local newspapers. For packages phone Qantas Holidays on 131 415.

3 FIFA World Cup, June-July - Germany

The world game's main event kicks off in Munich on Friday, June 9, 2006, culminating a month later on Sunday, July 9, in the Olympiastadion, Berlin. The dozen official host cities include fascinating, historic locations such as Nuremberg, Leipzig, Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Cologne. But strike now! Applications for match tickets are only being accepted until March 31. For details see www.fifaworldcup.yahoo.com. For ticket applications see www.fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/tickets.

4 Ryder Cup, September - Ireland

For the first time, golf's greatest matchplay contest will be hosted in Ireland. The 36th Ryder Cup, (22 September 24 September, 2006) will be held at Kildare Golf and Country Club, at Straffan in County Kildare. Also known as the K Club, it has two championship courses both designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer. See http://www.rydercup2006. If you wish to register for the ticket lottery, write to: Ryder Cup 2006, PGA European Tour, Wentworth Drive, Virginia Water, Surrey GU25 4LX England.

5 Asian Games, December - Doha, Qatar

Qatar will be the next host of the prime sporting contest for Asian sportsmen and women. Athletes from 45 countries will participate in 40 sports, some of which you don't see at the Olympics, including sepak takraw (volleyball using the feet), kabbadi (a game from India in which teams set out to try "to touch or capture" opponents) and chess. Info: http://www.doha-2006.com. Tickets: A bit early.

[Sir Rols]

There was a thread where we tried to work this out about a year ago. The Baron has mentioned it recently and can probably remember how it finished up.

I think the big question is what criteria do we use for the rankings:

* Number of countries participating?

* Number of competitors?

* Global TV audience/TV broadcast rights value?

[Sir Rols]

I bumped that old thread up to the top, and here's a link to it:

Second to Summer Olympics?

[baron-pierreIV]

Of course that whole list is now out the window with the addition of the latest Games/committee that I head: the SuperMegaOlyBowlNasWorldCupExpo-siade Games. Last count was 375 national committees, 3 planets, 2 galaxies, and 25,000 atheltes, cheerleaders, campfollowers to be processed.  So SMOBNWCES Games is far and away ahead!!

[Alexjc]

Of course that whole list is now out the window with the addition of the latest Games/committee that I head: the SuperMegaOlyBowlNasWorldCupExpo-siade Games. Last count was 375 national committees, 3 planets, 2 galaxies, and 25,000 atheltes, cheerleaders, campfollowers to be processed.  So SMOBNWCES Games is far and away ahead!!

??? How are you going to handle security?

[baron-pierreIV]

Of course that whole list is now out the window with the addition of the latest Games/committee that I head: the SuperMegaOlyBowlNasWorldCupExpo-siade Games. Last count was 375 national committees, 3 planets, 2 galaxies, and 25,000 atheltes, cheerleaders, campfollowers to be processed.  So SMOBNWCES Games is far and away ahead!!

??? How are you going to handle security?

Outsourced; to Al's Queda Security Agency and Imperial Troopers.

[parisphoto]

It is said that the Gay Games are the largest sporting event, with roughly 12,000 participants, most of whom are in the sports portion of the Games (there is also a cultural program).