When it comes to sporting events, we don’t just want our teams to play well or to be merely entertained. Instead, we want to experience the adrenaline rush that only competitive sport can inspire and be swept along with the action regardless of what we’re watching or where it’s taking place. Be still, our beating, sport-loving hearts. While the Super Bowl might be over for another year, there are still plenty of exciting sporting events to come, many of which you’ll want to get involved with. From now until the end of 2017, here are just a handful of those games, matches, races and tournaments. It’s going to be a great year!

The World Baseball Classic, Worldwide
March 9-22, 2017

The World Baseball Classic, or WBC to its friends, was launched in 2006, largely in response to baseball’s removal from the Olympic Games program. 2017’s tournament will be the WBC’s fourth and will feature teams from 15 countries including the US, Japan, Italy, Cuba and the Netherlands, while Colombia and Israel will compete for the first time. The Classic has four host countries: Mexico, Japan, South Korea and the US; the championship round is played in Los Angeles.

Getting involved: You can catch the WBC on the MLB Network or ESPN Radio if you’re not able to travel across continents to keep up with the action.

The Grand National, UK
April 8, 2017

The Grand National was first run in 1839 and is one of the most exciting and beloved horse racing events in the world. Sports fans and horse lovers from every corner travel to the UK specifically to see these beautiful creatures and their jockeys in action. Boasting a 6.907km track with 30 fences that spans two laps, the Grand National is effortlessly exciting. It’s difficult not to be pulled in by its simplicity and the speed and grace of the horses as they thunder past.

Getting involved: As if the Grand National wasn’t exciting enough, it’s perfectly possible to raise a pretty penny – or two – by placing a bet on the outcome of the race. Keep an eye out for Grand National Runner odds, as the right tip could win you a fortune.

Tour de France, Germany and France
July 1-23, 2017

On paper, there is nothing exciting about the Tour de France. Launched in 1903 with the intention of raising sales for L’Auto newspaper, the event is a multiple-stage bicycle race that spans three weeks – and that’s all there is to it. Try keeping up with the action, though, and you’ll soon see that it is anything but dull. Attempting to keep track of who’s wearing what color jersey will have you hooked, while there’s nothing more shocking than a cycle pile-up when it happens. This year’s event begins in Dusseldorf and finishes 21 stages later in Paris.

Getting involved: Follow all of the action from the Tour de France via NBC Sports, and be inspired to climb aboard your bike for a lap or two around the block.

The Invictus Games, Canada
September 23-30, 2017

One of the best things about sport is how it inspires us. Sport motivates us to do more, to take part in forgotten pastimes, and to yell at the top of our voices in support of the things we’re most passionate about. The Invictus Games takes the theme of inspiration one step further, however. A multi-sport event attended by participating wounded soldiers, the Invictus Games acts as a reminder that there is nothing stopping us all from taking part. Featuring indoor rowing, sitting volleyball and wheelchair basketball, the strength of spirit on show at the games is mesmerizing.

Getting involved: Make sure you take time out of every day to catch up with the games’ news and highlights, and promise yourself that you’re finally going to go to that sports meet or start attending the gym.

This list is by no means exhaustive. If you follow a particular sport, you will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on your own calendar and making a note of the exciting events that will be occurring all over the world. However, if you’re on the lookout for something different, we hope this article has inspired you to head out and search for something new. 2017 looks set to be an exciting one for sports fans regardless of what you’re into, and we can only hope it lives up to the expectations.