This summer, two major sporting events will enable even the most unathletic observer to join the excitement while soaking up a little culture: football’s European Championship will be contested in Portugal between June 12 and July 4, and the Athens Olympics will take place from Aug. 13 to 29. But those contemplating going had better start planning now; you’re competing with fans who live and breathe this stuff.
Olympic athletes, officials and journalists snapped up many Athens hotel rooms long ago. One of the best alternatives is to rent a private villa or apartment through filoxenia2004.com, which still has availability for groups of two to six for a six-night stay. Prices range from $3,045 to $7,000 total, including air conditioning (you’ll need it), satellite TV, maid service and airport transfers. Filoxenia can also arrange tickets for all events–even the most sought-after opening and closing ceremonies, track and field, swimming, diving and gymnastics.
Some sports involve a trip out of the capital: rowing and canoeing take place in the seaside town of Schinias, where locals gather at taverns on the beach to eat fresh fish. Cycling, baseball, fencing and the triathlon are set in a stadium overlooking the sea in the city’s south. Ticketholders get free public transport and Filoxenia has a map of the venues on its site. The current round of ticket sales ends April 16, with a new cycle starting June 1. Non-European residents need to consult their national Olympic committee for tickets.
The European Championship in Portugal started to sell out as soon as tickets became available in April 2003. Played in 10 stadiums across eight Portuguese cities, the tournament features games in some of the country’s less-visited areas. In addition to Lisbon, Porto and Faro, matches will take place in more remote Aveiro, a genteel port town close to beaches and a bird sanctuary; Braga, well known for ornate baroque churches and palaces, and the splendid medieval city of Guimares, with its 10th-century castle.
Some potentially exciting matches are still open–watch out for the dark-horse Czech Republic, which went unbeaten in the qualifying rounds. Tickets (maximum of four per match) have to be booked online at euro2004.com through a series of cumbersome forms. To enjoy big games that are already sold out, head to the Sports Bar at Lisbon’s Jose Avalade Stadium, where there are 20 screens and special drink promotions. “Sport has become the common denominator,” says Livingstone. “It’s the language we speak when we go abroad.” And the inviting settings of this summer’s events may inspire a trip even if the only word you know is “Goal!”
