There are local and international tournaments in several sports, so you can either be a spectator or a participant.
Soccer: This is Costa Rica's major event, the Soccer championship which is held every year between the local soccer football teams. Soccer football is the principal sport of the country, almost every village no matter it's size has a soccer field, often in front of the church. Newspaper sport sections always carry the latest soccer results.
Swimming: Sponsored by "Mc Donald's de Costa Rica," this competition brings together over 600 swimmers from many different countries. Organized by the San Jose Indoor Club, it's been held every July or August since 1983. The winner is awarded the Great Mc Donald's Swimming Cup.
Golf: Cariari Country Club has the only 18 hole golf course in Costa Rica, designed by a major golf course architect, it's the site of international tournaments featuring many PGA pros.
Tennis: "Copa del Cafe," a world famous tennis tournament that gathers the best juvenile tennis players from all over the world. It's held since 1970, each January at the Costa Rica Country Club.
Horseback riding: During Christmas week, there is the Horse Parade in downtown San Jose with over 1000 of the country's finest horses.
Rodeos and bullfights: are frequent in Santa Cruz, Nicoya and Liberia. In Costa Rica, the bull is not killed. During Christmas holidays there are rodeos and bullfights in San Jose.
Bicycling: The big event of the year is the "Vuelta a Costa Rica" in December, lasting 12 days and criss-crossing the mountain, valleys and plains of Costa Rica. It attracts cyclists of different countries, including the United States.
Car racing: The most important event is called "The three hours of Costa Rica" (Las tres horas de Costa Rica), where competitors from different countries demonstrate their driving abilities at La Guácima near Alajuela.
Bowling: Held every October 12, Columbus Day, since 1978, this is considered the most prestigious bowling tournament in Latin America. Champion bowlers from the Latin American Nations, the Caribbean and the United States converge in San Jose.