On your mark, get set...Travel!

Sport tourism is a great reason to spend time away from home

by Andrew Mah

Every year, 4,500 runners converge on Banff during the last weekend of September for the annual Melissa's Road Race. People come from as far away as Boston and Tokyo to participate and both the 22 and 10 kilometre runs sell out by March. In fact, the number of runners would be even higher but for Parks Canada capping the figure to keep things in hand. Still, factoring in family, friends and spectators, the population of Banff more than doubles on this, the township's single busiest weekend.

There is a natural alliance between sport and tourism: whether as participants or spectators, the innate drama and thrill of sport can send people to neighbouring towns or places half way around the world. Events like the Olympics or World Cup Soccer attract thousands of spectators-and millions of tourist dollars.

Alberta has its own share of world-class events this summer and fall, starting with the Edmonton Indy. Part of the Champ Car World Series, this is the kind of high-speed Indy racing long associated with exotic locales like Rio de Janeiro and Monte Carlo. Edmonton's race is expected to attract between 150,000 and 180,000 spectators and create $20 to $25 million in economic benefit to the area. It runs July 15 to 17 on a three-kilometre road course at the City Centre Airport. Another huge event coming to the provincial capital is the World Masters Games, July 22 to 31. Covering 27 sports from baseball to diving to ice hockey, these games are the Olympics of the thirty-plus crowd (that's the minimum age for competitors). Athletes of all skill levels, from amateurs to Olympians, are invited to participate-the last games in Melbourne, Australia hosted 25,000 competitors.

Calgary gets in the picture with an annual favourite, show jumping at Spruce Meadows. Tournaments run throughout the summer, culminating in the Masters, September 7 to 11. This is a one-million dollar-plus equestrian event that attracts the best show jumpers from around the world. And of course, Cowtown also boasts the ÔGreatest Outdoor Show on Earth'-the Calgary Stampede-July 8 to 17, with its showpiece million dollar rodeo.

Rodeo is a sport that deeply resonates with most Albertans. Events like steer wrestling, bronco-busting and calf roping arose from the open-range days when cowboys practiced their roping and horsemanship skills while herding thousands of cattle across the prairie landscape. Today, rodeo is a multi-million dollar professional sport with hard-nosed athletes who make even hockey players look like wimps. The Stampede may be the most famous rodeo, but Alberta boasts a professional event circuit that runs from March to November and hits both small towns and urban centres throughout the province. Many run in conjunction with exhibitions and fairs, making the event a grand celebration. Highlights include the Ponoka Stampede June 28 to July 3 which celebrates its 69th year, and the Jasper Heritage Rodeo, August 17 to 20, which will have a centennial theme honouring Alberta's 100th birthday. There's also the Lethbridge rodeo, part of the town's Whoop Up Days, August 23 to 27, which will feature the RCMP musical ride, and the Canadian Finals Rodeo that runs indoors November 9 to 13 in Edmonton.

Running events like Melissa's are a perfect example of the growing trend towards travelers wanting to participate in, as well as watch sports. It's a great way to stay fit while being part of the spirit and camaraderie of a major event. Nowadays, it seems every major city has its own selection of major marathons, half-marathons and other sporting competitions that attract both athletes and spectators from around the world. Other examples include the BURNCO Calgary Marathon, Canada's oldest continuous marathon, which dates back to 1963 and runs this year on July 10, and the ING Edmonton Marathon, which goes August 20 and 21 with a whole weekend of festivities. For the greyer crowd, there's the Wetaskiwin Alberta Seniors Games, August 11 to 14, with sports from badminton to bocce.

Extreme sports events are also growing in popularity. One of the biggest is the TransRockies Challenge. A rugged version of the Tour de France for mountain bike enthusiasts, this epic seven-day race through the Canadian Rockies covers 600 kilometres up and down the continental divide between Fernie and Canmore, and runs August 7 to 13. There are 350 teams, and you can go economy (route maps, energy bars and a t-shirt) for $1350 or deluxe (bike service, meals, hotels, motor-home and daily massage) for $3350.

That's just the tip of the iceberg-Alberta boasts some of the world's best golf courses, beautiful rivers to whitewater raft and kayak in, and tons of other heart-pounding, muscle-stretching things to see and do. So pick a sport, get off the couch and get out of town.