Events

Currently, I plan on going to the 2012 Euros in Poland and the Ukraine while I'm on exchange. The competition falls in the mid-semester break of my uni semesters, so I plan on going early and watching the competition before doing a semester of exchange.

After that I plan on backing up for the next major tournament on the football calendar - the biggest one of them all - the World Cup in Brazil 2014. I don't know if you remember but the Fanzone at Darling Harbour and earlier the World Youth Day gave a taste of what it is to go to one of these global events.
It's a huge event that actually transcends just what's going on on the field, the players, the football. It's about a whole bunch of people just hanging about with a sole purpose in mind. To reference some earlier stuff Tim and I did:
http://followingthecrumbs.blogspot.com/2009/10/re-world-brought-together.html

It comes in many forms, but I think occurences like this are the things we (well, definitely I) love the most. It's events where people are all together for one common purpose. That's what's so wonderful about an event like the World Cup. No matter what the country you hail from, or what race you are or what have you, you're there to enjoy the common atmosphere and the company of all these people. The best thing about it all is that you're the ones that make the event so special - without you there would be no enjoyment. The players would still be paid and the results would still come through.

I've been pretty lucky with sporting events - I was there for Steve Waugh's last test, Australia's 2005 qualifying for the World Cup in Sydney, ANZAC Day Collingwood v Essendon, a couple of Sydney Olympics events, Sachin Tendulkar making 100 at the SCG, as well as Langer and Hayden. I've watched some miraculous things on TV - Liverpool winning the FA Cup from a Michael Owen double in 2001 (I think), their 2005 Champions League triumph, Ronaldinho's floater over Seaman at the 2002 World Cup, Senegal at the same event, Australia's 2006 WC campaign, Mitcham's perfect dive to win gold, the list goes on.

The chance to watch some real life events unfold at the world's biggest event though, with an entire globe watching on, is so enticing. I can't wait to get the opportunity to witness it first hand with the atmosphere and the colourful people and support.
Bring on Poland 2012 and Brazil 2014!