Issy Trapnell Hoyle – Senior Sports Editor
‘Okay, this is going to sound crazy but I have £20 tickets to the Women’s Football Semi-Final in my basket, do you want to go to the Olympics?’.
I imagine my friend and former flatmate has been woken up on a Sunday morning to many more rational questions. Nevertheless, within a week of this conversation we had flights, tickets and a suspiciously cheap hostel in Lyon booked in preparation for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
The average student holiday is regularly stereotyped as being a bar crawl and club filled extravaganza. So, it’s understandable that in the months leading up to our Olympic outing we were faced with many confused faces when explaining that yes, we are going to Lyon just for a football game, and no, we don’t know who is playing yet.
After nearly getting lost at Lyon airport, we eventually made it our hostel which, despite what the price tag initially suggested, was surprisingly nice and even complete with a life-size Tardis. The match itself was not until later that day so, with the assistance of a friend in Lyon, we spent the morning exploring. From the old town to the river front and ruins, we made the most of the city for two people only attending for less than 48 hours.
For two aspiring Sports Journalists, the match itself was of course the main draw of our micro-holiday. Being in the Stadium to watch the USWNT secure a 1-0 victory over Germany before going on to win the Gold at Emma Hayes’ first major tournament as the national team manager, I couldn’t help but feel I was watching a small piece of Women’s football history unfold.
However, this is probably not enough to persuade you to make the trip. So why should you go on holiday to watch sports? The first and most significant reason is the atmosphere.
With many major tournaments, such as the Women’s Rugby World Cup or the Women’s Euros, only a train or short plane ride away next year, there is no better time to experience the combined buzz of live sport and a holiday in one. Why not kill two birds with one stone? Whether you decide to venture within the country to the Women’s Rugby World Cup or further afield to Switzerland for the Euros next year, there is a great amount of opportunities to explore. Why not grab a cheap overnight sports holiday for yourself? Whether you are supporting a specific team or simply supporting the sport itself, where finically feasible, making a sports game into a holiday gives you a unique insight into a place and it’s relationship with sport. I have been to many football games, yet few have been as exciting as the atmosphere felt within the stands of Parc Olympique Lyonnais.
So, if you are looking for something a bit different for your summer holiday next year, may I humbly suggest a trip to a stadium?