WIREDGOV

With the World Cup, Murray’s Wimbledon title defence and the Commonwealth Games, this year promises a sporting summer to rival 2012 but it needn’t just be the professionals who get active.

Over the coming months there will be thousands of free opportunities to try a variety of sports as clubs and governing bodies across the country run taster sessions that are open to everyone.

Sports including volleyball, archery, cycling and canoeing all hosted events over the Bank Holiday weekend, whilst last weekend’s great weather saw hundreds of successful sailing and tennis events take place all over England.

The Royal Yachting Association’s ‘Push the Boat Out’ campaign saw 260 clubs help aspiring sailors take to the water and discover how easy it is to get involved. You can see how much fun was had in this video.

The Great British Tennis Weekend also saw many more people getting active with over 12,3000 people booking onto sessions including Cardio Tennis, coaching and Mini Tennis.

Helen from Somerset was one of the thousands of people to take advantage of the free events. She said: “Our whole family tried out the courts at Portishead Lawn Tennis Club. It was a great afternoon and we’re now hoping to do some lessons.”

With many more free sports events taking place this summer, why not make 2014 the year you give sport a go. Click on the links below to find out how you can take part.

• Go Canoeing Week - 24 May-1 June
• Sky Ride (cycling) – starts 24 May and runs throughout the summer
• Go Spike (volleyball) – 24–26 May
• Archery GB Big Weekend – 24-26 May
• Great British Tennis Weekend – 21-22 June, 28-29 June and 19-20 July