As a major sporting city, Manchester, which boasts of being home to two of the biggest European football clubs, is headed to record its biggest ever summer yet in terms of sporting activities this year.

Already known as a major hub of global sporting action, Manchester is getting ready to unveil one of its biggest sporting summers yet. According to a press statement issued by Marketing Manchester, the destination tourism promotion body, besides Manchester United and Manchester City Football Club, the two of the best-known football clubs in the world, Greater Manchester is also home to numerous other sporting organisations and governing bodies such as British Cycling and also has a world-famous cricket ground.

The statement adds that Manchester has produced sporting icons across multiple disciplines and has been responsible for many memorable sporting moments over the years. So, it’s safe to say that sport is a part of Greater Manchester’s DNA, says Marketing Manchester.

It says that Greater Manchester is gearing up for its biggest summer of sport yet with some very exciting return fixtures and new additions and some of the biggest names in sports and athletics making their way to Greater Manchester this summer, creating excitement for thousands of spectators across the region and beyond.

With events and world championships spanning a whole host of different sports, there is something for every sports fan in Greater Manchester during 2023. Here are just some of the sporting events that the region is looking forward to over the summer.

2023 Men’s Ashes Test Match (July 19–23)

One of the biggest events in cricket returns to Manchester this summer as England Men look to reclaim the iconic Urn from rivals Australia, with the fourth test taking place at Emirates Old Trafford in the city.

The press statement adds that the Test Match will be a chance for Emirates Old Trafford to showcase the GBP 75m redevelopment of the venue over the past 15 years, which will complete later this year with the launch of its new hotel extension and event space.

Para Swimming World Championships (July 31-August 6)

Over 1,000 athletes from around the world will converge at Manchester’s Aquatic Centre, home of the British Para-Swimming National Performance Centre, that will host the Para Swimming World Championships.

Marketing Manchester says that the 11th edition of the world-class competition is expected to contribute over GBP 1.7m to Manchester’s economy and it is the third time the Para Swimming World Championships have taken place in the UK following London and Glasgow in 2019 and 2015 respectively.

The event showcases British and international athletes at the very pinnacle of their sport as well as showcasing inspirational stories and breaking world records. For many, this event will be a warmup for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games, it says.

British Weightlifting Championships (August 5-6)

In August, Manchester Central Convention Centre will host the British Weight Lifting (BWL) Championships, with world-class athletes descending on the city to compete for British Championship titles, says Marketing Manchester.

The championships include Senior championships, Masters Championships and Para Powerlifting Championships which will see athletes of all ages, weight classes and genders compete for glory. This means hundreds of athletes and spectators from across Britain will be heading to Manchester Central to compete and celebrate weightlifting as a sport, the statement adds.

The Hundred (August 5-23)

Following a successful summer last year, the popular cricket tournament The Hundred will be heading back to Manchester for 2023. This unique tournament provides four weeks of entertainment and cricket action for sports fans with both men’s and women’s action running alongside each other as well as live music and entertainment for the whole family, says the statement.

With world-class players from across the globe, eight city-based teams created specifically for the hundred compete every summer. Each team has 15 players, with a maximum of four overseas stars. Manchester Originals men’s and women’s teams will once again take up residence at Emirates Old Trafford and will be bringing this high-intensity 100-ball cricket game to Manchester once again, says the statement.

Tour of Britain (September 3)

As the home of British Cycling, the governing body of the sport in the Great Britain, The Tour of Britain, a cycling championship, will return to Greater Manchester this year for the first time since 2019. The city will host the Grand Depart of the UK’s biggest professional cycle race on September 3 alongside a weekend of cycling events, activities and community engagement before the race begins.

Being the city that kicks off this prestigious cycling race means that Greater Manchester can provide spectators with a chance to meet riders, get autographs and selfies with the team buses and check out the latest cycling equipment. The race will then continue across Britain for eight days before finishing in Wales on September 10, says the statement.

Around 600,000 spectators are expected to come to Greater Manchester to watch the race begin, bringing an estimated  GBP 3.9m to the regional economy.

Davis Cup Group Stage (September 12-17)

Marketing Manchester says that to close an eventful summer, an event widely regarded as the men’s ‘World Cup of Tennis’ will be held in the city. Between September 12-17, some of the sports’ biggest names and best players will descend on Manchester’s AO arena for the Group Stages of the Davis Cup Finals. The statement adds that the championships would be worth an estimated GBP 10m to Greater Manchester’s economy and that the Davis Cup will see Britain’s best tennis professionals taking on three other nations before they reach the quarter-final knock-out competition in Malaga this November. Manchester is the fifth UK city to host the Davis Cup over the last 10 years.