Weekly sports agenda: Tour de France, Davis Cup quarter finals, FIFA World Cup final

(AFP PHOTO / JOHN MACDOUGALL)

Among major upcoming sporting events: the Tour de France starts in the Netherlands before heading to Belgium and France, and the Davis Cup semi-finals co-incide with the FIFA World Cup's conclusion.

Goodwood Festival of Speed
July 2-4
Goodwood Estate, West Sussex, England

Billed by organizers as the "world's largest car event," the Goodwood Festival of Speed brings together cars of all types from all countries. From current Formula 1 racers and 200 mph supercars to steam-powered carriages of the 19th century, the event is part show, part race and a must-see event for car buffs. General admission for the entire weekend costs £107 (€130), one-day tickets are £40 (€50) on Saturday and Sunday.
http://www.goodwood.co.uk

15th Wife Carrying World Championships
July 3
Sonkajarvi, Finland

One way to guarantee a decent supply of free beer is to win the gruelling wife carrying championships, whose 253m course covers sand, grass, gravel, and various wet and dry obstacles. Fun is a mandatory requirement, admission costs for spectators are €20 per person, €5 for under 12s with plenty to see and do.
http://www.eukonkanto.fi/en

Catalan MotoGP
July 4
Montmelo, Catalonia, Spain

One of four MotoGPs to take place in Spain over the course of the 18 race season, three day grandstand passes are €99 in the main grandstand or €163.80 for one that overlooks several corners and a jumbo TV wall. A wider selection may be available directly from the Circuit de Catalunya.
http://www.motogp.com or http://www.circuitcat.com

Wimbledon Championship Finals
July 3 (Womens' Singles, Mens' Doubles)
July 4 (Mens' Singles)

Ground admission is available for those that reach the front of a lengthy queue each morning. The Wimbledon website broadcasts audio commentary and, for subscribers, live video. There is also a list of authorised TV broadcasters worldwide. The singles finals are scheduled to start at 2pm BST (6am PDT, 9am EDT, 3pm CEST, 10pm Japan), and the Wimbledon website has a list of TV broadcasters, including NBC, RDS, Canal Sport+, Star Sports and of course the BBC.
http://aeltc2010.wimbledon.org

Freediving Team World Championships
June 30 - July 10
Okinawa, Japan

Though Freediving is in the main a solo sport, AIDA's Team World Championships are an opportunity for solidarity through combined effort. There are events in static apnea (holding one's breath underwater) as well as submerged distance swimming over the 11-day championship. Entrance to events at the Okinawa General Playground pool is free of charge.
http://www.aida2010.net

97th Tour de France
July 3-25
Netherlands, Belgium, France

This year, the 20-stage tour starts in the Netherlands and Belgium before crossing into north-east France. Descending into more central areas and the famous Burgundy region, it then traces a route around the Alps, southern France, and the Pyrenees before the penultimate stages in and around Bordeaux. As is tradition, the final stage finishes in Paris, on the Champs Élysées. There are no admission fees, so arrive early to snag a good spot - seasoned spectators bring stepladders.
http://www.letour.com

40th Youth Sailing ISAF World Championship
July 8-17
Istanbul, Turkey

Taking place at the Turkish city's Atakoy Marina on the Sea of Marmara, the Youth Worlds are set to welcome 344 sailors from 63 countries. There are boys and girls races for one and two person dinghies, windsurfers, and then an open class for multihull and high performance dinghies.
http://www.isafyouthworlds.com

99th Davis Cup - Quarterfinals
July 9-11
Various locations

Eight teams remain for the second round knockout stage. France host 2009 champions Spain in Clermont-Ferrand (tickets: €23-€78), Russia and Argentina meet in Moscow ($200-$5,600+), Serbia travel to Split in Croatia (€14-€42), and Chile must beat last year's runners up Czech Republic ($44-$244) in Conquimbo to progress.
http://www.daviscup.com

Rugby Union Tri-Nations
Saturdays, July 10 - September 11
Australia, New Zealand and South Africa

A round-robin competition organized by the Australian, New Zealand, and South African Rugby Unions, the Tri Nations matches also play a part in deciding who wins three separate challenge trophies: Australia and New Zealand contest the Bledisloe Cup, Australia and South Africa tussle for the Mandela Challenge Plate, New Zealand and South Africa vie for ownership of the Freedom Cup.
http://www.sarugby.co.za

Formula 1 British Grand Prix
July 11, starts 12:00 GMT
Silverstone, United Kingdom

A modified layout adds several corners and just over 750m to each lap at Silverstone. Tickets for race day are from £185 to £250 (€225-€305), uncovered areas half price for minors. A three day pass can be obtained for £290 (€350). The FIFA World Cup Final will also be shown live as part of the Grand Prix After Party.
http://www.formula1.com or http://www.silverstone.co.uk

Almabtreib Downhill Racing
July 15-18
Hungerszell, Germany

The IGSA World Cup heads to Hungerszell, an area of natural beauty close to Nuremberg, Munich, and the border with the Czech Republic and Austria, for the Almabtreib - "The Cattle Drive". The entire downhill route is closed off to traffic for the four day contest and around 2,000 bales of hay line the course for the safety of spectators and riders hurtling past at up to 95 km/h. Training, time trials and qualifications occur in the lead up to Race Day on the 18th.
http://www.almabtrieb-downhill.com

FINA World Open Water Swimming Championships
July 15-23
Roberval, Quebec, Canada

The Championships come to Canada for the first time, located in a closed loop circuit on Lac Saint-Jean, as featured in Louis Hémon's novel Maria Chapdelaine. The World Open Water Swimming Championships also precede the Traversée Internationale du Lac saint-Jean swimming gala, July 24 - August 1.
http://www.roberval2010.com

Golf: The Open Championship
July 15-18
St Andrews, UK

The third of four majors, the British Open returns to the famous Old St Andrews course in Fife, Scotland. Club and Grandstand tickets are sold out; a 7 day course pass is £240, day tickets are £60 each, less for practice days. Reductions are available for children and seniors.
http://www.opengolf.com or http://tickets.randa.org

Class 1 World Powerboat Championship
July 16-18
Arendal, Norway

The glamorous World Powerboat Championship's second race of the 2010 season is in Arendal, on the southern coast of Norway. Spectators may view the racing for free while VIP hospitality packages are also available. The next WPC race is also in Scandinavia, relocating to Sweden for early August.
http://www.class-1.com

XXI Central American and Caribbean Sports Games
July 17 - August 1
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

Nearly 40 different sports will be given the run-out during this regional Olympiad, with venues not only in host country Puerto Rico but also in Colombia, Guatemala and Guyana on the mainland. Bowling and raquetball are to be included alongside athletics, boxing, equestrian, water polo and so on.
http://www.mayaguez2010.com

German MotoGP
July 18
Chemnitz, Germany

The 2010 MotoGP heads to the Sachsenring circuit, half way between Leipzig and Dresden. Race-day tickets bought from the circuit's website are €85 to €110, or €99 to €165 for a three-day pass, and slightly more via MotoGP.
http://www.motogp.com or http://www.sachsenring-circuit.com

Athletics: 13th World Junior Championships
July 19-25
Moncton, Canada

The IAAF's multidisciplinary championship platform comes to Canada, accommodating the world's best under 19 athletes in track and field.
http://www.iaaf.org/wjc10

Youth World Beach Volleyball Championships
July 27 - August 1
Porto, Portugal

Under 19's from around the world gather in Porto to compete for the title of Mens' and Womens' Youth Champions. The winning teams are also rewarded with a wild card entry to the main draw of a beach volleyball World Tour event in 2010/11.
http://www.fivb.org

World University Rugby Sevens
July 21-24
Porto, Portugal

The WURS has both men's and women's tournaments contained within its boundaries, and representation from a good variety of nations with teams from Russia, Brazil, Kenya, Guam, Australia and China joining Great Britain, Portugal, France, Norway, Spain and Canada at the University of Porto for four days in July.
http://www.rugby2010.up.pt

Red Bull X-Fighters World Tour, Spain
July 22-23
Madrid

The six touring freestyle motocross stuntmen return to the Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas bullring, though bovines are replaced with ramps, and last year's hometown hero Dany Torres has some work to do to catch the 2010 tour leaders. Tickets for the show on June 23 are from €39, two day passes from €65.
http://www.redbullxfighters.com