Handball, the national sport
Handball is the national sport. It must be said that this discipline is played indoors, it can be practiced all year round. And the physical qualities required correspond very well to the morphology of Icelanders. If you have the opportunity to attend a championship match, you will see that despite a small audience, given the population, the atmosphere can be hot in the many derbies, especially between Hafnarfjörður (considered as the local capital of the discipline) and the clubs of Reykjavík. This collective discipline is the only one in which Iceland is titillating the tops of the world hierarchy. The country organized the men's World Championships in 1995, a tournament won by Jackson Richardson and his "Barjots" from France. This is the biggest sporting event that has ever taken place here (except for the "match of the century" that closed the 1972 World Chess Championship and saw the American Bobby Fischer triumph over the Soviet champion Boris Spassky). In terms of performances, the national team, both men and women, participates in all the final stages of major international competitions and often fights for the places of honour. Icelanders remember the bronze medal match at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, when they narrowly missed out on third place after a 20-24 defeat by France. In 2008, the team did better by reaching the final of the Olympic tournament in Beijing, but fell again to the French. In 2010, they finishedthird at the European Championships. Since then, the results have been a little more gloomy...
Football, the other great sport
Football is also particularly popular here. Every neighbourhood, village or island in the country has at least one small football field. Children play there all the time, whatever the weather (sun, rain, snow, "night" game at 2pm in winter...). These fields are sometimes located in beautiful places. A real pleasure for the players, as well as for... the photographers.
National team. Knattspyrnusamband Islands (KSI), the Icelandic Football Association, was founded in 1947 and affiliated to UEFA from its inception in 1954. Since then, Iceland have participated in all the qualifying rounds for World Cups and European Championships. Their superb run to the 2016 European Championship finals in France (quarter-finalists) has given them a new status as one of the 'scratch cards' of European football. Their festive and fair-play fans have also made their mark and conquered the old continent, especially with their famous " clapping " or " Viking clap ", which went viral during this competition. The national team went on to qualify for the last World Cup in Russia in 2018 for the first time in their history.
A hiking paradise
Hiking. Hikers can enjoy the spectacular Icelandic countryside all year round. In winter, the hikes are rather short and day-long, but in summer, you can cross the interior and camp. This is the big trip in Iceland, because it is obviously on foot that you discover the country best. We see everywhere sportsmen leaving in expedition to the assault of volcanoes and glaciers to live closer to this nature as hostile as beautiful. If you plan to go hiking, remember to respect several safety measures: regularly check the weather conditions; bring enough water, food, and good equipment in case of rain and/or strong wind; try not to go alone, and if possible warn before departure; bring a map and compass and don't forget that fog sheets can fall suddenly and that it is easy to get lost; don't venture onto the glaciers, which are often very crevassed, without the proper equipment, crampons and ice axe, and without roping up.
Horseback riding. This activity is also very popular with tourists who appreciate the character of the small Icelandic horse. This horse is perfectly adapted to the difficult terrain and changing climate, and allows you to roam the country freely all year round. There are many agencies throughout the country that organize rides from one hour to a week. Stays can also be proposed by specialized agencies in France.
All year round, cycling, golf, hot springs and diving
If hiking is the main activity, other sports can be considered all year round.
Cycling - Mountain biking. The bicycle is an activity reserved for the courageous sportsmen: bad climatic conditions, violent wind which unbalances you or prevents you from advancing, rain, many fords, sometimes difficult to cross, etc. We cannot say that the bicycle is the ideal means of transport in Iceland, but it can constitute an interesting way of visiting the country, by taking advantage more of the scenery than of the sites in themselves. Don't forget that it is possible to put your bike on the bus if the trip is not interesting enough or if bad weather sets in. The rental price is rather high. Thrill-seekers will enjoy unforgettable mountain biking or mountain bike rides
Golf. In Iceland, every town or village seems to have a golf course. But beware, if "real" and beautiful courses exist, do not expect every time to have impeccably maintained greens. The climate and the nature of the soil do not really facilitate things. That said, we play all year round! Some of the rural courses are very picturesque and there is a risk of mistaking your golf ball for a tern egg! However, on the seaside, between the lava flows, the site is generally superb. The International Arctic Open Golf Tournament is a world famous competition. A four-day tournament that takes place at the Akureyri Golf Club every summer. One of the great pleasures of this 36-hole competition is to play under the midnight sun with a mountain panorama in the background. Reykjavík also has a number of beautiful courses, including the one at the very end of the Seltjarnarnes peninsula, which nestles between beach and marsh.
Diving. Beware, wetsuit highly recommended! From Reykjavík, there are many diving possibilities in Iceland, all year round. The most beautiful example is certainly the Silfra ravine, in Þingvellir, with crystal clear water to admire the fault located between the two continents. The descent is possible between 10 and 30 m. Those who don't have a PADI diving certificate can enjoy snorkeling
Swimming and hot springs. Icelanders love swimming pools and have built them in every hamlet. Often heated naturally or fed by hot springs, they are as much a place to relax as to meet. One swims there, one discusses there, and this, all the year. Reykjavík's pools are very popular. But bathing in a hot spring in the open air and in the middle of the desert is also a pleasure not to be missed!
In summer, some water sports
In summer, we paddle! Around the fjords, in the rapids, on the rivers, the number of spots to have fun is infinite
Sea kayaking. The deep, sheltered fjords are ideal for sea kayaking in summer. Seydisfjörður or the north coast of Snæfellsness have become popular places for those who want to paddle in magnificent scenery. These boats allow you to see the coast from a different angle and to get close to bird colonies.
Rafting. Rafting is an extreme sport that allows you to experience the thrill of the water while discovering the Icelandic landscape. In summer, at many locations around the country, you can "ride" the foaming whitewater of glacial rivers as they flow into narrow canyons in the company of experienced guides. Fortunately, the thrill of rafting isn't just for daredevils. There are different kinds of rafting, and even family outings! There are rafting operators on the Hvítá River in southern Iceland near Geysir and Gullfoss, but also near Varmahlíð in the north, and near Egilsstaðir in the east.
Whale watching. This activity is becoming increasingly popular and attracts many tourists. So much so that Iceland has become THE European destination for whale watching. The main places of departure are Reykjavík and especially Húsavik and its Whale Museum. If you can observe them all year round, summer is recommended.
In winter, the white paradise
If winter is the ideal time to enjoy snow-related activities, it should be noted that apart from downhill skiing, they are also possible in summer, but only on the glaciers
Skiing. In winter, skiing is practiced in several places on the island, especially in the suburbs of Reykjavík on the site of Bláfjöll, but because of global warming in recent years, the slopes have opened only a few days. In the north of the country, there are more snowy runs to Akureyri on the Hlíðarfjall mountain. Dalvík is a town known for its downhill skiing.
Dog sledding. Dog sledding is not the most developed sport in Iceland, but there are a few agencies that offer dog sledding tours. The tours are of course organized in winter, from January to May, on the highlands and last at least one hour. A great experience
Snowmobile and glacier trekking. Due to the growing interest in snowmobiles and other tracked or four-wheel-drive monsters, more and more service providers are offering various guided tours with the indispensable experienced driver. The most popular destinations are the Snæfellsjökull, Langjökull and Vatnajökull glaciers.
