January 25 agenda: Haute Couture shows officially start in Paris

(AFP/PATRICK KOVARIK)

Monday's selection: Haute Couture presentations officially open in Paris, Slovenia launches the Winter World Masters Games and the best hostels of the world are awarded in Dublin, among other events.

Haute Couture
January 25-28
Paris, France

The world's leading haute couture week, which had been reserved for dramatic fashion shows presenting out-of-this-world creations by designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Givenchy, or Chanel, will for the first time include jewelry presentations by some of the field's most prestigious brands such as Boucheron, Cartier, Chaumet, and Van Cleef & Arpels. Some presentations started on the 24th but the official opening date is January 25.

http://www.modeaparis.com

HOScar Awards
January 25
Dublin, Ireland

The eighth annual Hostel Awards, from Dublin, Ireland, honor budget travel locations from around the world. Over 20,000 hostels are eligible and 800,000 votes counted - can Lisbon keep its top spot as last year's top hostel city?

http://www.hostelconference.com

Athletics: Winter World Masters Games
January 25-31
Bled, Slovenia

The World Masters differ from the Olympics in two major ways. Firstly, anyone can register for participation, as long as they are over 25 years old. Secondly, national representation is not permitted: teams must be multinational. The World Masters pull in athletes of all ages, shapes and sizes, and the Winter World Masters are no exception. Seventy-year-old gymnast Miroslav Cerar, alpine skiers Christian Mayer (38), Jure Košir (37) and Urška Hrovat (34), and pro cyclist Tadej Valjavec (32) are among the Slovenian Olympians supporting the event, joining amateur athletes and fun-lovers alike in a variety of sports such as ice hockey, biathlon, ski-jumping, cross country and alpine skiing.

http://www.2010mastersgames.com