Known for its love of sports, Australia has hosted some of the most beloved games in the world and does not shy away from being proud of the fact that they are a tremendously multicultural country that enjoys all sorts of sports that have been introduced by other countries over the years, some of which they have come to call their own. Listed below are 5 sports that have been deemed worth watching in Australia due to the love and support the Australian people have for them.
- Bathurst 1000
There is nothing more Australian than sitting down with a beer and a meat pie or sausage roll and watching the Bathurst 1000 race with your mates. Even better is to attend the race in person at Mount Panorama in New South Wales and take in the electric atmosphere that this iconic motorcar race provides. There have been plenty of champions over the years including Craig Lowndes, Garth Tander, Bob Jane, and of course the legendary Peter Brock who has won the race a record 9 times. The closest contender to this record is Jim Richards who has won a total of 7 times. Opening in 1938, the track is 6.2 kilometres in total distance and the race itself goes for 1000 kilometres and is traditionally held in early October every year. If you are a fan of motorsports and find yourself in Australia in October, then do yourself a favour and attend the race. You won’t be disappointed.
- Australian Open
The first of the four Grand Slams in tennis, the Australian Open has become one of the most attended sporting events in the world. The first event was held in 1905 and was played in different courts in Australia but has been mostly played in Melbourne for the majority of its long history. Recent events saw a dip in attendance but the 2018 competition was the highest-attended event out of all the four major Grand Slam events. 2023 should be a good year for the tennis community with some of the best players to have ever played the game competing for the trophy and hopefully winning all four major events.
- Big Bash Cricket
Although invented in England, cricket has become synonymous with Australian culture and is one of the most popular sports in the country. There have been variations of the game since its inception here in 1877. The most recent has been the Twenty20 Big Bash League which was established in 2011 and has become a mainstay of the cricket scene ever since. The Big Bash League 2023 season is shaping up to be quite eventful for all involved. The Perth Scorchers are looking to defend their title after convincingly winning the 2021-2022 finals against Sydney Sixers by 79 runs. The game is fast-paced compared to traditional versions such as test matches and provides the audience with an arguably more exciting game that is drawing in more and more crowds each year.
- AFL Grand Final
The AFL Grand Final is one of the most-watched and beloved sporting events in Australia. The game is uniquely Australian and people from all over Australia either flock to the (Melbourne Cricket Ground) MCG to watch the final or stay in the comfort of their homes and host an event while watching the game. Even if your team isn’t in the Grand Final, it is still worth watching to see who brings home the Premiership Flag. It makes for an entertaining day in late September and some would say it is the biggest sporting event of the year. If you want to get the full experience of the Australian sporting atmosphere, then the AFL Grand Final is certainly the event to find it.
- The Melbourne Cup
Commonly called the ‘Race that stops the Nation’, the Melbourne Cup is one of, if not, the biggest horse racing event in the world. It is viewed by millions of people worldwide every November every year since its inauguration in 1861. The race originally only hosted Australian and New Zealand-bred horses due to the remoteness of the country, but as travelling technology has developed, the race has seen champion horses from all over the world compete. The event itself is regarded as a glamorous occasion and there is a dress code that is strictly adhered to. The racecourse itself which is at Flemington in Melbourne hosts a large array of top-tier restaurants and bars, so anyone attending the event can know that they have the best cuisine available to them while they watch the race.