Summer sports such as gymnastics, track & field, badminton, and swimming don’t get the same attention as major sports leagues – yet, every couple of years they take center stage while the big name sports leagues take a step back. Check out our list of the top summer sports to watch below, and find out why you should download CyberGhost VPN so you can watch summer sports on TV or via live stream without interruptions.
Quick Guide: How to Watch Summer Sports in 2024 with a CyberGhost VPN
- Get CyberGhost VPN on your streaming device
- Connect to a streaming-optimized server for a platform that streams athletic events, such as Peacock, BBC iPlayer, or 9Now
- Watch summer sports on TV as the athletes try to set new world records!
Gymnastics
The International Gymnastics Federation was founded in 1881, making it one of the oldest international sports federations. It runs global competitions for men and women, with individual and team events, with the athletes being judged on performance, technique, execution, and several more categories.
Tennis
Tennis during the summer season brings powerful serves, precise volleys, and intense rallies. The combination of physical endurance and mental strategy in singles and doubles matches provides non-stop intrigue. Each match is a test of skill and resilience, keeping fans captivated from start to finish.
Track and Field
Track and field is considered one of the oldest sporting events in recorded history, having been invented in ancient Greece. There are several different individual sports that make up a track and field event. The most popular is the short distance sprint, like the 100-meter dash – Usain Bolt made his name as the fastest man alive running this race. Other track and field sports are team relay races, javelin throwing, pole vault, long jump, hurdling, and long distance running.
Today’s track and field athletes are generally faster and stronger than their predecessors, and it seems like new world records are being set every year. Watching a new record being set can be mesmerizing.
Badminton
Badminton is a sport that requires lightning-fast reflexes and impeccable precision. The shuttlecock can travel at speeds of over 200 mph, making for rapid and thrilling exchanges.
Cycling
Cycling events offer a unique mix of speed, strategy, and endurance. From high-speed track races to epic road races over varied terrain, cyclists demonstrate remarkable resilience and tactical acumen. The sheer determination and relentless pace of the races make cycling an exhilarating sport to watch.
Swimming and Diving
Taking a dip in the pool during the summer is something that most people can relate to. But professional swimmers and divers take this recreational activity to a whole new level. There are different types of races – individual and relay – and four different accepted strokes: breaststroke, butterfly, backstroke, and front crawl.
Competitive diving is truly a breathtaking event to watch. In addition to the way they control their back flips, front flips, and all sorts of twists and twirls, these athletes are also judged on the splash when they hit the water.
Volleyball
Volleyball, whether indoor or beach, is a game of agility, power, and quick reflexes. Teams battle it out with powerful spikes, strategic blocks, and incredible saves. The back-and-forth action and the impressive athleticism of the players make volleyball an engaging and thrilling sport to watch.
Wrestling
This isn’t wrestling as “sports entertainment,” like the WWE. You won’t see scripted speeches or fake body slams. Real wrestling is about grappling and using skill to pin your opponent. It combines strength, technique, and strategy in a contest of physical prowess. Wrestlers compete in various weight classes, each match showcasing their skill and determination. The intense, close-quarters combat makes wrestling a gripping sport to follow.
Basketball
We’re not talking about individual leagues, such as the NBA, Euroleague, or NBL. This is about live streaming basketball for national pride. Top players take leave from their pro teams, and put on jerseys representing their countries to determine which nation can claim to be the best at basketball. For many years the US wore that crown, but that’s not the case anymore as the world has caught up.
You can live stream international basketball matches for free in Spain on RTVE, RaiPlay in Italy, Peacock in the US, and France.TV in France, to name a few.
Top Record-Breaking Moments in Summer Sports History
There’s an old saying that records are meant to be broken. That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t remember those performances that were, at the time, seeminging otherworldly. Here are some of the top records set in summer sports, some of them still considered unbreakable, while others have fallen in recent competitions.
- Usain Bolt’s 9.58 Seconds in the 100m Dash (2009) – Bolt set a world record at the World Championships in Berlin, showcasing his incredible speed and cementing his legacy as the fastest man alive.
- David Rudisha’s 1:40.91 in the 800m (2012) – Rudisha broke the world record at the Diamond League meet in London, a stunning display of endurance and speed.
- Katie Ledecky’s 15:20.48 in the 1500m Freestyle (2015) – Ledecky set a world record at the World Championships in Kazan, Russia, demonstrating her dominance in long-distance swimming.
- Jarmila Kratochvílová’s 1:53.28 in the 800m (1983) – Kratochvílová set a world record at the World Championships in Helsinki, which remains unbeaten to this day.
- Wayde van Niekerk’s 43.03 Seconds in the 400m (2016) – Van Niekerk set a world record at the World Championships in Beijing, a performance that amazed the athletics world.
- Nadia Comăneci’s Perfect 10 (1976) – Comăneci’s flawless performance on the uneven bars earned her the first perfect score in gymnastics history.
- Bob Beamon’s Long Jump (1968) – Beamon’s extraordinary leap in Mexico City shattered the previous world record by a remarkable margin.
Why CyberGhost VPN is the Best VPN for Watching Sports
CyberGhost has a global VPN server network spanning over 90 countries. In many of these countries are streaming-optimized servers that are tested on the leading streaming platforms. This is to ensure that even if you’re traveling abroad, you’ll still be able to access your streaming accounts as if you never left home.
These VPN servers are optimized for high-speed connections – our network has 10-Gbps servers in key locations to avoid overcrowded servers. This allows you to enjoy your sports in HD, without buffering or drops in quality.
CyberGhost’s tough VPN encryption plays several crucial roles. It hides what you’re doing online to prevent activity-based ISP throttling, which is a tactic used by some internet service providers to limit bandwidth usage during peak hours. Encryption also allows you to bypass local network restrictions, such as those at schools and offices – and on some public Wi-Fi networks – that block streaming sites.
We have a dedicated 24/7 customer support team, ready to assist you in any way via live chat and email. Our 45-day money-back guarantee lets you try our VPN for sports risk-free.
Can I use a VPN to watch summer sports in another country?
Some summer sports fans connect to a VPN server in the UK, Australia, or the US to watch on BBC iPlayer, 9NOW, or Peacock. While we don’t snoop on our users’ online activity, this is against our terms of service and is not acceptable.
Rest assured that CyberGhost VPN never logs your browsing data and your activity is always private, but you should always comply with all relevant terms and applicable law, including copyright.
FAQ
Most major summer sports competitions will be streaming on some platform in your region. It might be the league’s or tournament’s website – some competitions, like the Diamond League, live stream events on YouTube in select countries.The major summer sports competitions can be seen on bigger networks, such as Peacock in the US, BBC iPlayer in the UK, or France.TV in France.
The bigger competitions, such as World Athletics, Diamond League, and international competitions typically have a streaming partner. World Athletic live streams events on its website and Diamond League events are available on many different platforms around the world, including YouTube. Some international competitions stream on Peacock in the US or for free on BBC iPlayer in the UK.
Most summer sports don’t have the large following of major sports leagues. This actually makes it a bit easier to find a way to stream meets, competitions, heats, or tournaments for free. Some streaming platforms like BBC iPlayer in the UK, 9Now in Australia, RaiPlay in Italy, and France.TV in France live stream the major tournaments. For smaller local or national events, you can often find the live stream on the organization’s website or YouTube.
If you’re just looking for sports to watch in the summer, check out the competition’s YouTube channel or website. If it’s not there, some inexpensive streamers, like the BBC iPlayer (free), France TV (free), and Peacock ($5.99) usually have world-class competitions. If you’re traveling abroad this summer, get CyberGhost VPN and connect to a VPN server in your home country to maintain access to your usual cheap streaming account.
Peacock in the US has a good selection of summer sports on TV as does BBC iPlayer in the UK, RaiPlay in Italy, and France.TV in France. The key is to find which summer sports to watch, based on your interests, and see if there’s a free option before subscribing to a streaming platform.
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