This is the ground-breaking event that the QIPCO British Champions Series leads up to, when the eyes of the racing world are focused on Ascot for the richest day in British racing.

£3.4 million in prize money is on offer across the final races in each of the five QIPCO British Champions Series categories, presenting a fantastic opportunity for the season's equine stars and their owners, together with the top trainers and jockeys, to achieve sporting immortality on Ascot's historic turf.

In 2013 the Cheltenham Festival of Literature will be celebrating its 64th anniversary, offering events involving more than 400 writers and other speakers over ten days in October.
New theatre and visual arts displays are also on the programme, plus street performances around the Regency town. Comedy and children's events are particularly strong.

www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/literature

The 5.6-km Korean International Circuit is located around 200 km south of the capital Seoul and is a brand new circuit launched only in 2010. The main circuit includes Asia's longest straight stretch - 1.2km - enabling speeds of up to 320km per hour.
The 2012 grand prix was won by world champion Sebastian Vettel.

http://southkoreangrandprix.com/

Experience the thrills and spills, the tension and the excitement, along with 70,000 other passionate fans, as Rugby League’s biggest stars showcase their extraordinary talents.
Be dazzled by the pre-game show, feel the tension mount as the teams take to the arena and watch the action up close as two teams battle for the right to be called Champions and lift the Super League trophy.

The Christmas Fairs and Christmas Markets of Germany are unique. If you're tired of commercialism taking over this holiday period and would like to get right away for a real traditional and romantic Christmas Market you might want to consider heading to Germany where Christmas gifts are not mass-produced but craftwork of real quality.

The Christkindelsmarkt nestles under the glamorous Kurhaus, the focal point of this famous spa town. The colonnades are lit up by thousands of lights throughout the festive run-up to Christmas, and the town is alive with music and revellers.

The Christmas Fairs and Christmas Markets of Germany are unique. If you're tired of commercialism taking over this holiday period and would like to get right away for a real traditional and romantic Christmas Market you might want to consider heading to Germany where Christmas gifts are not mass-produced but craftwork of real quality.

The city of Cologne offers four traditional Christmas markets around the city, attracting over 2 million visitors each year. In the famous cathedral square there are over 150 wooden pavilions, selling food, drinks and Christmas crafts.

This new track is situated on Yas Island, which is adjacent to Abu Dhabi international airport. It features the 5-star Yas Marina hotel, which straddles the racetrack, a marina and yacht club.
Yas Marina Circuit is the only motorsports venue in the world where all of the grandstands are covered and part of its pit lane exit runs underneath the track for premium motorsport events. The circuit brings drivers within 5 metres of the water's edge as it snakes around the spectacular marina, and will boast an average track speed of 198 km/h.

The year’s most popular concert, featuring the York Minster Choir, one of the UK’s leading choirs and celebrated readers.
Last year's concert saw the choir perform Andrew Carter's Lullaby my Jesus, John Rutter's What sweeter music and David Willcock's Tomorrow will be my dancing day among many other enchanting Christmas carols.

It is a tradition that the venerable La Scala opera house in Milan launches its new season on 7 December, St Ambrose's Day, the feast of Milan's patron saint.

One of the world's most famous opera houses, La Scala was inaugurated on 3 August 1778. The lavishly decorated theatre was the pre-eminent meeting place for Milan's wealthiest residents. It was renovated in 1907, and again from 2002 to 2004, when the sound quality was considerably enhanced.

The opening night features a performance of La Traviata.

 

Hogmanay is the Scottish word for the last day of the year and is synonymous with the celebration of the New Year in the Scottish manner. However, it is normally only the start of a celebration that lasts through the night until the morning of New Year's Day or, in some cases, 2 January which is a Scottish Bank Holiday.

The Hogmanay street party on 31 December is the main event, and is held in the city centre. In addition, Princes Street Gardens hosts a live music concert, and East Princes Street Gardens and Mound Square host the Ceilidh in the Gardens open air party.