Our recent Sports and Travel poll ran for a relatively short period of time, but we still received 525 responses which paint a picture of the importance of sports within the idea of travel.
Interest in Sports
40% are generally very interested in sports, with a further 22% being interested. That makes for almost a third of the total respondents. Less than 10% claimed they are not interested in sport at all. A similar number tends to practice a sport very often (38% of respondents) or often (19%). Here however, the non-sporty people make for a more significant total, though still only around a third of the total respondents.
Sports in Travel Decisions
Despite the above general interest in sport, when it comes to travel, most do not make decisions based on sport. 28% don’t see sport as important at all in their travel decisions, with a further 26% seeing it as not important. Less than 10% consider sport very important in their travel decisions.
Sporting Events in Tourism
Having said that, 57% of respondents have taken a trip exclusively because of a sports event. Among the popular answers of events people went to are the Olympics, the World Cup, Tour de France, bike racing, tennis matches (US Open and French Open were mentioned), cricket matches, Formula 1 Motorsports, Wrestling, Rugby World Cup Tournaments, snooker tournaments and the Iron Man Tournament. One respondent tries to run a marathon in every country in the world! Another has a life goal to attend a home game for all 130+ FBS College Football Teams.
The Olympic Games
Though the Olympics may indeed be popular, only 16.7% of respondents in this survey have ever attended them. That is perhaps surprisingly low given the travel credentials of many of the respondents and that the Olympics is a truly global sporting event.
Frequency of Sports-Related Travel
In terms of frequency, 29% never really travel for sports-related activities while at the other end of the spectrum 20% travel multiple times a year specifically to attend a sporting event. Overall, 69% travel every few years or less specifically for a sporting event, confirming the thesis above that travel decisions in our community are not primarily dictated by sport overall.
Top Sports among Nomads
In terms of which sports are most interesting to NomadManians (who could list up to 4 choices), football/soccer was the clear winner with 294 responses, with tennis a very distant second with 116. Basketball (92), formula racing (85) and hockey (65) complete the Top 5. However, many respondents chose the ‘other’ option: cycling, climbing, American football, diving, running and squash were all mentioned, and so were birdwatching and chess!
Sports-Related Trip Planning
When planning a sports-related trip, the vast majority (52.5%) goes to the official event website with around 12% each relying on social media or family. It would therefore appear that the interest in the sport is already present and then further information is deliberately sought rather than the interest developing through recommendations.
Connecting with Locals through Sports
Exactly two-thirds of the poll respondents have discussed sports with locals when abroad. And listed are some of the more interesting stories that our respondents came up with; a big thank you to all who participated with colourful stories from around the world that give a deeper insight into how sports can be a part of the travel experience.
Sports & Travel: An Editorial
Watching a football game in Bosnia & Herzegovina, I started a conversation with some fans near me about these two Bosnian players that we have in my team back in Cyprus and since they knew them we ended up talking about football in the two countries.
I travelled down to Mumbai to watch an Indian Premier League game (cricket) during a work trip to India and happened to be staying in the same hotel as both playing teams. The lobby was mobbed with fans but being a guest I found myself being the envy of all sitting next to some of the greatest names in cricket whilst waiting from my travel buddies (think Sachin Tendalkur, Anil Kumble & Dale Steyn) or even sharing the same lift with others (Harbajan Singh). Weirdly enough though I got chatting to Stephen Baldwin about cricket in the lift and the next day he remembered my name and introduced me to his daughter, Hailey (now married to Justin Bieber). A truly surreal experience!
About a decade ago, my father and I took my grandmother to Ireland for her 75th birthday. We were in a tiny town in the southwest coast and decided to go in a pub for a pint. We immediately struck a conversation with the locals, who informed us about hurling (a sport mainly found just in Ireland). They briefly described the sport to us, including the rules and similarities with other sports. The next day, we were at another pub where the TVs were playing hurling, and we got to watch it ourselves.
As Austrian I have no idea about cricket, specially in India I would never come away with it. Oh from Australia, you have a great team. Ups no, ah actually ah, well mmh ok yes, but you did do very well last time…
I’m currently visiting Azerbaijan as a Portuguese. We recently had a match against France for the Euro Cup which we lost. Many Azerbaijanis told me they are supporting France to lose in the Euros, as they dislike the country for their support of Armenia in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict.
At a football match in Nairobi, I bought a jersey of the home club and put it on. Half the stadium applauded. Afterwards, I was invited for a drink by some fans. We also talked about the problems of African football.
Because I’m from Portugal people always want to talk about CR7.
I am a Sports teacher at an Austrian high school… So I can’t help educating kids all around the world. In 1992, Ethiopia had just opened its borders, I showed the local kids at the grassed airfield in Lalibela how to make a proper handstand. Cattle all around and one a small aircraft disturbed the lessons. The kids were really good and very enthusiastic! This experience was nearly as impressive as a Holy Mass in one of the rock churches of Lalibela…
Having a very serious border guard question me on the Turkmen/Uzbek border. He tried to pronounce my name as Mikhail, I corrected him and said ‘No it’s Michael, like Michael Owen’ (a famous English footballer). He looked up smiled and shouted with glee. ‘Michael Owen, Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard!’ He shook my hand, stamped my passport and off I went through.
Meeting an old lady in Samara during the WC 2018, who rented out two rooms in her apartment to Aussie fans: ‘Tomorrow I am going with my Australians to the park to see the life streaming of the football. I don’t speak English and they don’t speak Russian, but we understand each other so well. Never thought that I will become a fan of football and Australia at my age.’
Seeing Liverpool vs Man United at a pub abroad with only Liverpool fans present and then telling them that you had two favourite teams in England – first and foremost Man United and secondly Liverpool. To your surprise finding that they accepted that since you were a foreigner. Sitting in a pub in Scotland watching England play against another nation in the football world cup. I did not think at all and cheered like hell when the other team scored. To my surprise finding that the entire pub did the same, and that I suddenly had 50 new “friends” that evening.
In Tarapoto, in the jungle of Peru, a waiter of the restaurant knew and told me all the Swiss footballers after I told him I was Swiss.
One of the strangest experiences I have had was when I went to Japan to for the Rugby World Cup and found out that the Canadian Women’s Football team would be visiting Japan for a friendly match ahead of the Tokyo Olympics. As the game was between scheduled Rugby matches and was conveniently between locations I immediately planned to attend. My first issue was trying to buy a ticket to sit with the other Canadian fans; a request that in spite of a translation apps and a few locals who could speak a little English seemed to be very confusing. Eventually they gave me a ticket for the end opposite the official Japan supporters section. Once I got inside, I understood their confusion as I was seemingly the only Canadian fan present! I had been given a ticket to an otherwise empty section. I then had volunteers come over to help me tie up my Canadian flag. Then the local news reporters came over to interview me and finally a Japanese fellow wearing a Canadian jacket and sweatshirt etc. came over to sit with me. He indicated that he had a Canadian friend who had given him the gear and knowing that the Canadian team was likely to have little or no travelling fans had decided to show his support on behalf of his friend. Seeing me, he had decided to come over to sit with me. He even insisted on buying me food and drink as a visitor to his country.
When travelling on Atauro island (Timor-Leste), I discovered a Zumba class run by local ladies. It was so much fun to practice something I enjoy on the other side of the world and see the kitchen staff go from curious stares to trying it out themselves and giggling at the back of the class!
In some remote parts of the world like Africa, not many people what or where Ukraine is, but almost everyone knows about Shevchenko or Klitschko (our most famous footballer and boxers). So whenever I’m telling I’m from Ukraine, they say “ah, Chevchenko!” so it’s a good way to connect with locals – exchange what are your favourite or least liked team is etc.
Trying to get a cab in Argentina we had a local join us and we got into football talk, they remembered a goal that Romania scored against Argentina 15 years prior.
The Liverpool fan base is so wide that you can find yourself having a conversation with a Cambodian street kid about what formation makes best use of the full backs.
Cricket, practically a religion in South Asia, also brings people together in all British Commonwealth countries. And it’s a surprise often to locals that a Finn is a keen follower of the sport, their teams, stars. Really breaks the barrier, say with Taliban.
During a trip to London in the spring of 2023, I had the chance to witness the electrifying atmosphere of a Six Nations rugby match at Twickenham. It was England versus Wales, a classic rivalry that promised an afternoon of intense action.
Before the game, I found myself in a cosy pub not far from the stadium, surrounded by fans donning their team’s colours—white and red for England, red and green for Wales. As I sipped on my pint of ale, I struck up a conversation with a group of Welsh supporters. Their passion for rugby was infectious. They regaled me with tales of past encounters between the two teams, each story steeped in history and emotion.
One man, Gareth, told me about his first trip to Twickenham back in the 90s when Wales had pulled off a stunning upset. His eyes sparkled with the memory of the victory, and he was hopeful for a repeat that day. We chatted about the current squads, the key players, and the strategies each team might employ.
The Welsh fans were particularly excited about their young fly-half, who they believed could be a game-changer. In contrast, the English fans at the next table were confident in their seasoned forwards, predicting a dominant performance in the scrums. The conversation flowed easily, fuelled by a shared love of the sport and a mutual respect for the rivalry.
As the time to head to the stadium approached, we wished each other luck—though, naturally, with a competitive edge. Walking to Twickenham together, the crowd’s energy was palpable, a sea of red and white converging on the iconic venue. Inside the stadium, the atmosphere was electric. The anthems were sung with fervour, and as the match kicked off, the roar from the stands was deafening. Every tackle, every pass, every penalty kick was met with a wave of cheers and groans, depending on which side you were on.
By the end of the match, England had clinched a hard-fought victory, much to the delight of the home fans. Despite the loss, Gareth and his friends remained in high spirits. We reconvened at the same pub, where the post-match analysis began. There was camaraderie in the air, a testament to how sport can unite even the fiercest of rivals.
That day at Twickenham, I experienced more than just a rugby match; I witnessed the essence of sportsmanship and the unifying power of shared passion. It was a memorable occasion, marked not just by the game itself, but by the stories and friendships formed along the way.
