This year will be picking up the baton from 2012 – Great Britain’s golden sporting year – with world class events coming to cities across the UK in 2013.
UK Sport’s Gold Event Series is aiming to create ‘a stage to inspire’ following London 2012 and has targeted 70 of the world’s most prestigious events to host in the UK over the next six years.
With bids for 18 ‘gold’ events already secured through the National Lottery funded programme, throughout 2013 sports fans can look forward to World and European competition in sports ranging from rowing to rugby league.
Many of the world’s top athletes are likely to be back on show in the UK, with events such as the ITU World Triathlon Championships Series Final set for London’s Hyde Park in September. Yorkshire’s Olympic stars Alistair and Jonny Brownlee will be among the favourites for the world title, as they return to the scene of their Olympic triumph.
Taking place across England and Wales in October and November, the Rugby League World Cup will welcome the top 14 nations in the world to compete for the ultimate prize in the sport.
With members of GB’s London 2012 Olympic squad certain to feature, the European Team Athletics Championships will take place in Gateshead in June.
And as the British Rowing Team start their journey towards Rio 2016, Eton Dorney Lake welcomes the world’s best rowers back to the Olympic venue in June.
Whilst continuing to enhance the UK’s reputation as a world-leading host of major sporting events, these championships will also engage hundreds of thousands of spectators and provide an economic boost to host cities and regions.
Director of Major Events at UK Sport Simon Morton said: “Following the incredible scenes we witnessed up and down the country last summer, we are looking forward to the British public experiencing even more unforgettable sporting moments right here in the UK in 2013.
“The Gold Event Series has the ambitious goal of securing 70 of the world’s top sporting events following the Games, and this year will see that aim start to be realised.”
2013 Gold Event Series preview
What: BMX Supercross World Cup Series
Where: Manchester
When: 19-20 April 2013
Website: http://www.britishcycling.org.uk
The home of British Cycling, Manchester, will host the opening round of the 2013 BMX Supercross World Cup Series.
Supercross BMX is raced on a 350m circuit. Eight riders launch themselves from an eight-metre high ramp and race over a track alternating bumps, banked corners and flat sections. The battle for first place is fierce, as it is necessary to finish in the first four of the heats to have a place in the next round and then in the final. Depending on the lay-out of the section, the riders try either to land quickly in order to gain speed, or to gain height (riders reach up to nearly five metres high).
Keep up to date by following British Cycling on Twitter and Facebook.
What: FINA Diving World Series
Where: Edinburgh
When: 19-21 April 2013
Website: http://www.swimming.org/britishswimming/
The 2013 edition of the annual Diving World Series will comprise six international rounds, visiting Beijing, Dubai, Edinburgh, Moscow, Guadalajara and Mexico City. Divers collect points depending on their results to determine the overall World Series champions.
The diving programme for men and women includes 3m springboard, 10m platform, 3m springboard synchro and 10m platform synchro. Britain’s Olympic bronze medallist Tom Daley is the defending champion in the 10m platform, having won three silver medals and a gold over the course of the series.
Keep up to date by following British Swimming on Twitter and Facebook.
What: World Rowing Cup
Where: Eton Dorney
When: 21-23 June 2013
Website: http://www.wrcupetondorney2013.com/
The second World Rowing Cup of 2013 will be held from 21-23 June at Eton Dorney - providing a great opportunity for fans to cheer on some of the world's finest rowers at one of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games' most iconic venues.
Commenting on the event, UK Sport’s Simon Morton said: “We’re so pleased that Eton Dorney, which played host to so many golden moments during the Olympic Games, will once again welcome the best rowers in the world.
“We’ve been working hard to build an incredible programme of major international sporting events for the UK to host after London 2012, and a World Rowing Cup on the Olympic course will be a great addition to this programme.”
Get involved: Apply to volunteer at the event here
Keep up to date by following British Rowing on Twitter and Facebook.
What: European Team Athletics Championships
Where: Gateshead
When: 22-23 June 2013
Website: http://www.gateshead2013.com/
Gateshead will host European Athletics' flagship team event for the first time after hosting its predecessor, the SPAR European Cup, in 1989 and 2000.
Great Britain hold the Championship record in the men’s 4x100m and 4x400m relays, while Dai Greene also holds the record for the 400m hurdles. GB will be looking for a strong showing in front of the home crowd.
European Athletics President Hansjörg Wirz said: "We are very pleased to confirm that Gateshead will be the hosts of the European Athletics Team Championships Super League in 2013. Athletics has a huge following in Great Britain and we have been assured today that we can look forward to an excellent event.”
Get involved: Apply to volunteer at the event here
Keep up to date by following UK Athletics on Twitter and Facebook.
What: World Youth Netball Championships
Where: Glasgow
When: 22-31 August 2013
Website: http://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/events/WYNC2013/Pages/default.aspx
From 22-31 August 2013, Scotland will welcome the World Youth Netball Championships (WYNC) to Glasgow. These Championships will see the sport of netball showcase its best players at under 21 level from 20 countries throughout the world.
Keep up to date by following Netball Scotland on Twitter and Facebook, and England Netball on Twitter and Facebook.
What: ITU World Triathlon Championships Series Final
Where: London
When: 11-15 September 2013
Website: http://london.triathlon.org/
The ITU World Triathlon Championships is a series of events that take place across the world, culminating in a grand final race, which this year will be staged in London’s Hyde Park, the same location that Alistair Brownlee was crowned Olympic champion ahead of brother Jonny who won bronze last summer. Jonny won the title last year, with Alistair triumphing the year before, while Helen Jenkins was the women’s champion in 2011.
Keep up to date by following British Triathlon on Twitter and Facebook.
What: Rugby League World Cup
Where: England and Wales
When: 26 October-30 November 2013
Website: http://www.rlwc2013.com/
Fourteen of the world’s best rugby league nations will descend on England and Wales in October, including defending champions New Zealand and debutants USA and Italy.
The tournament will kick off at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff with a spectacular first day including the opening ceremony, host nation Wales taking on Italy and co-hosts England playing Australia.
Tickets: Tickets already available here
Keep up to date by following the Rugby League World Cup on Twitter.
What: Squash Men’s World Open Championships
Where: Manchester
When: 26 October-3 November 2013
Website: http://www.englandsquashandracketball.com/
Manchester follows Rotterdam, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait City as recent locations for the sport's leading individual championship, staged under the auspices of the Professional Squash Association (PSA), which will be held at the National Squash Centre from 26 October to 3 November.
England Squash & Racketball Chief Executive Nick Rider said: "The outstanding success of English squash on the world stage continues to attract the attention of the international community. The chance to host the World Championships endorses Manchester as a world leading centre for excellence providing elite coaching and facilities of the highest standard.”
Keep up to date by following England Squash and Racketball on Twitter and Facebook.