Which sporting moments do Britons wish they had seen live?
Of those asked, 46 per cent have never been lucky enough to attend a major sporting event live
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Your support makes all the difference.England’s 1966 World Cup win, Andy Murray becoming the first Briton in 77 years to win Wimbledon and Emma Raducanu clinching a shock US Open title are the iconic sporting moments Britons wish they could have witnessed in person.
A poll of 2,000 adults found many would also have liked to have watched the England Cricket team win the Ashes for the first time in 18 years in 2005.
While Muhammad Ali and George Foreman’s iconic ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ and Gazza’s goal against Scotland at UEFA EURO 96 also featured in top 30 list.
Despite a love of major sporting events, 46 per cent have never been lucky enough to attend one – with 52 per cent intending to try and get tickets only to end up watching it on the TV.
A spokesperson from UEFA Women’s EURO England 2022, which commissioned the research ahead of the ballot for tickets closing on 16 November, said: “There have been so many iconic events over the years and we can see from this research that fans can’t get enough of them.
“Everyone loves big sporting moments, but we also don’t like to miss out and get the dreaded ‘what if’ feeling.
“With England hosting the Women’s EURO next year across nine cities, there’s another huge opportunity for fans to be a part of an iconic sporting event.”
Other major moments adults wished they had seen included Usain Bolt’s final gold medal at Rio 2016, Team GB’s medal haul on ‘Super Saturday’ at London 2012 and Liverpool’s 2005 Champions League comeback victory.
While Roger Bannister breaking the four-minute mile in 1954, England beating Denmark to reach the Euro 2020 final and Manchester United’s 1999 Champions League triumph also ranked highly.
Aside from the need to travel back in time, 52 per cent have been unfortunate enough to miss a key moment of a sporting event in person from having left early.
And 35 per cent have been left wondering what might have been after experiencing FOMO when watching such events unfold at home.
When it comes to football, nearly half prefer the feel of an international tournament to a domestic one – with 42 per cent believing it means more to win a tournament on home soil.
This is due to feeling the atmosphere in the country, seeing how much it means to people and being easier to get behind your team.
Three quarters would like to experience a rare major sporting event.
It also emerged while 45 per cent have watched a women’s match on television, only seven per cent have done so in person.
Former Manchester United and England icon Rio Ferdinand, who is a UEFA Women’s EURO England 2022 ambassador, said: “Seeing some of the biggest names playing in some of the biggest stadiums in the country, all here in England - on our doorstep.
“It’s going to be huge, unreal to be a part of and not something you’d want to miss.
“England vs Austria, at Old Trafford will be a very fitting curtain raiser for the tournament - I’m expecting the fans to pack out the stadium and kick off this huge tournament in style.
“I can still remember the buzz of playing in front of fans there, absolutely no feeling like it so it’s the perfect opening stage for the tournament.
“The organisers are looking to set a record Women’s EURO crowd for that game and then hopefully a full attendance once again for the final making it the biggest European crowd for a women’s football match ever.
“I can’t wait to witness that – what a moment for the women’s game that will leave such a massive legacy, inspiring huge numbers to be part of it in the future, whether its playing or watching.”
Ferdinand cites Tiger Wood’s first major win, the Masters in 1997 and Jordan’s buzzer beater, ‘The Shot’ that eliminated the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 1989 NBA play offs as two sporting moments he would love to have witnessed live due to the buzz and energy of the crowd witnessing something history defining.
A spokesperson from UEFA Women’s Euro England 2022, added: “With it being set to be a record-breaking women’s event – hopefully it’ll be one spectators can speak about for years to come and tell people ‘I was there’.
“With 31 matches across 10 venues in nine cities, fans have plenty of opportunities to be part of history.
“While the tournament might be next summer, the opportunity to get tickets via the ballot is coming to an end soon, so don’t miss out and grab your tickets now.”
SWNS
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