Australian Open 2008 - Get set for Grand Slam!

Australia has always been a land of fantastic sports culture. In fact, sports are a very important aspect of Australian culture as a whole. Sport has also played an important social role in Australia and has helped bind the nation time and again. One can enjoy a great number of spectator sports events in Australia, whether it is the Melbourne Cup, Australian Grand Prix, or the Australian Open. Each sporting event is looked forward to in Australia. The Australian Open 2008 will be no different and is expected to bring a lot of spectators.

Australian Open 2008 and Australian Grand Prix are expected to be the biggest draws for sports buffs in Australia for the year 2008. Australian Open 2008 will be held at Melbourne Park in Melbourne from 14th - 27th January. This tournament is one of the four Grand Slam tournaments. The other three are French Open, Wimbledon, and US Open. As is the case every year, Australian Open 2008 will be the first Grand Slam event of the year.

This year’s Australian Open will be the 96th edition of this tournament since its inception in 1905. The defending champion for Men’s Singles and Women’s Singles titles this year will be world champion Roger Federer and Serena Williams respectively. Bob and Mike Bryan won the Men’s Doubles title in 2007, while Cara Black and Liezel Huber won the Women’s Doubles title. On the other hand, Daniel Nestor and Elena Likhovtseva won the Mixed Doubles title.

The sponsors of Australian Open 2008 are Kia Motors, GE Money, Garnier, Evian, and Quantas, to name a few. Fox Sports and Seven Sport will televise the entire event in Australia. In other nations people can enjoy this Grand Slam event on various sports channels.

Flights to Australia increase during this event as several tennis buffs come to enjoy the tournament coupled with cheap world tours beginning in Australia. Flights to Australia connects major cities in the world to several cities in Australia such as Melbourne, Canberra, Syndey, and Brisbane. Australian Grand Prix will follow the 2008 Australian Open after six weeks. The Australian Grand Prix is another eagerly awaited event of the Aussie sports calendar 2008. This formula one event is also held in Melbourne.

Melbourne is a city in the Australian state of Victoria. It is regarded as Australia’s sports capital. Many kinds of international sporting events are held here. There are many places to see in Melbourne for the sports buff. They can visit the Melbourne Cricket Ground, and the Melbourne Grand Prix Circuit. They can also enjoy watching an Australian rules football match that is unique to the nation.

Melbourne is also the hub of several cultural events. Popular cultural events organized in Melbourne include Melbourne Food and Wine Festival, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Melbourne International Arts Festival, Melbourne Fringe Festival, and many more. However, Melbourne is not only about events after all. There is much to explore in Melbourne. Melbourne tourist attractions include Melbourne Docklands, Eureka Tower, Federation Square, Jewish Museum of Australia, Melbourne Museum, Luna Park, Royal Botanic Gardens, Brighton Beach, and Jewish Holocaust Museum.