This month’s column is difficult to write. This is because I have never been a great sports fan, something that I suspect began with total lack of coordination at school. I have heard cricket described by referencing a famous review of Waiting for Godot, which described it as a play in which nothing happens. Twice. I can only really get interested on a personal level; my son is an ultra-runner (something that involves runs longer than a marathon, including 50 and 100 mile races). He doesn’t get his skill from me, but I am in awe of it and do follow his, not inconsiderable, progress.
That said, there is a very clear link between sport of all sorts and travel. Even in my case this is so: my only visit to Iceland was when my son was competing there in an event. People travel to take part in sports, to watch sports and also just to visit places that have sporting significance. Any competitive event can be viewed in this way, including the likes of, say, chess, and events take place both at home and abroad. So there is clearly a place for text that involves both.