It’s no secret – Melbourne is a sports mad city. Named by SportAccord in 2010 as the “Ultimate World Sports City”, Australians uphold Melbourne as the nation’s sporting capital, with more annual sports events than anywhere else in the country. Visitors to Melbourne can catch an AFL match, join the excitement of a game of summer cricket, or enjoy a punt at the races.

 

 Major sporting events in Melbourne include the Spring Racing Carnival, the Formula One Grand Prix, the Australian Open Tennis Championship, the AFL Grand final and the Boxing Day Cricket Test Match. 

 

Melbourne was the first city in the southern hemisphere to host the Olympic Games, back in 1956. Sports buffs can visit the National Sports Museum, the 2006 Commonwealth Games Village, the F1 racetrack at Albert Park, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Rod Laver Arena and Etihad Stadium. And of course, on the first Tuesday of November every year, Flemington Racecourse is transformed by the ‘Race That Stops the Nation’ – the Melbourne Cup. 

 

The Great Games

 

AFL this week in Melbourne