A WEEK of big sporting events this week has already seen Oxford win the boat race, and next up is Saturday’s Grand National at Aintree.

As a sports addict, these are the sort of things I would have on my “things to do before I die” agenda – a sporting bucket list if you like.

I have been lucky to have already crossed off some of those on that list.

I have been to a cricket World Cup, in the Caribbean, and a boxing world title fight in Las Vegas. A football Champions League final is chalked off, too, and I have even been privileged to visit Brazil’s famous Maracana stadium to watch a match in Rio de Janeiro.

Last year I was lucky enough to get tickets to both the Olympic and Paralympic Games in London, and being able to be in the capital for a home Games was something special.

Along with cricket, rugby union and football internationals, there are plenty of great sporting memories, but so much more ready to be made.

I do not profess to be an avid boat race fan, and horse racing is not really my thing either.

But it is about the event. If I had been in London on Sunday, I would definitely have tried to get to the banks of the River Thames to watch on, and likewise on Merseyside this weekend for arguably the greatest National Hunt race of them all.

A British grand prix, An England Ashes tour Down Under, a football World Cup... the list still has plenty of boxes to put a cross into.

Some are easier to do than others and some more costly as well.

The trip to Vegas to watch Ricky Hatton take on Floyd Mayweather Jnr in December 2007 was one of those with tickets costing several hundreds of pounds.

But you do not consider that cost when it is something that is really a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience.

I remember there were upwards of 30,000 fight fans from Britain in the States – so many that the MGM Grand actually ran out of beer one night!

When you are there you do not take it all in; it is only when you are back and you realise how many more were watching on television you appreciate it all.

I am not sure which big sporting date will be next off the bucket list but I will never tire of choosing.