Top 5: Sports events 2011

The 2011 American Football World Cup takes place in Austria.

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ICC Cricket World Cup, Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh

Sri Lanka has a wealth of cultural attractions.
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Cricket fever is back and it is bigger and better than ever. The Cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh, which kicked off last Saturday, pits 14 teams against each other; with the victors due to be crowned the best one-day team on the planet on 2 April. Away from the pitch, fans will be entertained by the vibrant sights, smells and sounds of the Indian subcontinent.

FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, Italy

Ravenna hosts the 2011 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
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What better way to spend your holiday than to soak up the sun whilst watching a world-class, action-packed sporting event? The 10-day Beach Soccer World Cup, taking place in Ravenna from 1 September, will showcase the skills, commitment and stamina of the sport’s superstars. Fans can enjoy the golden-sand beaches of the Ravenna coast as well as a lively festival atmosphere with music, delectable food and exciting activities.

IFAF American Football World Cup, Austria

Vienna offers a range of architectural delights.
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Hold your breath as eight nations compete for the American Football World Cup in the beautiful Austrian cities of Graz, Innsbruck and Vienna. All eyes will be on defending champions USA, as fans revel in the energetic game of clever tackles and tactical passes for eight days from 8 July. Explore the cultural delights of Vienna, engage in outdoor pursuits in Innsbruck’s imposing mountain landscape, or savour the architectural wonders of Graz.

Indian Grand Prix, Delhi

India hosts a Grand Prix for the first time in 2011.
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This year marks the first Indian Grand Prix, which is expected to attract 30,000 adrenaline-charged spectators for the race on 30 October. Grip tightly to the edge of your seat as the drivers negotiate the 5.2km-long (3.2 miles) Jaypee Group Circuit, near the lively cultural hotbed of Delhi. While Lewis Hamilton, Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso will set the pulse racing, local driver Karun Chandhok should also gain plenty of support.

Rugby World Cup, New Zealand

New Zealand's stunning scenery.
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Staged across 13 venues in a six-week period from 9 September, New Zealand’s Rugby World Cup is set to attract more than 70,000 rugby-mad visitors. Home to the iconic All Blacks, which won the first competition on home soil in 1987, New Zealand will offer fans a passion-fuelled tournament with matches in bustling Auckland, surfers’ paradise New Plymouth and Hamilton, home to the Maori royal family. Organisers will assess Christchurch's ability to host its seven scheduled Rugby World Cup matches following the devastating earthquake on 22 February 2011, with the continuing rescue effort taking immediate priority.