BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Here is Xinhua News Agency's selection of the 10 most significant pieces of international sports news in 2021, in chronological order:
- The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on February 2 it would not appeal against Russia's two-year ban, which was cut from four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in late 2020. Due to several doping scandals, Russian athletes are forced to compete under a neutral flag instead of the Russian flag at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup among other global sporting events.
File photo taken on July 29, 2021 shows athletes of the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) celebrating after winning the women's foil team gold medal fencing match against France at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said on February 2 it would not appeal against Russia's two-year ban, which was cut from four years by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in late 2020. Due to several doping scandals, Russian athletes are forced to compete under a neutral flag instead of the Russian flag at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Beijing 2022 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, and the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup among other global sporting events. (Xinhua/Xu Zijian)
- Thomas Bach, incumbent president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has been re-elected for an additional four-year term until 2025 during the 137th IOC Session which was held online on March 10.
File photo taken on March 10, 2021 shows Incumbent President of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, speaking after his re-election, in Lausanne, Switzerland. Thomas Bach, incumbent president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), has been re-elected for an additional four-year term until 2025 during the 137th IOC Session which was held online on March 10. (Greg Martin/IOC via Xinhua)
- Twelve top-flight European football clubs from the Spanish La Liga, English Premier League and Italian Serie A announced on April 19 that they would join a new European Super League, despite condemnation from the UEFA and other football governing bodies. However, the plan collapsed only two days later after most of the clubs withdrew from the league.
File photo taken on Dec. 3, 2018 shows President of Real Madrid Florentino Perez attending the 63rd Golden Ball ceremony at the Grand Palais in Paris, France. Twelve top-flight European football clubs from the Spanish La Liga, English Premier League and Italian Serie A announced on April 19 that they would join a new European Super League, despite condemnation from the UEFA and other football governing bodies. However, the plan collapsed only two days later after most of the clubs withdrew from the league. (Xinhua/Jack Chan)
- Italy's men's football team won the European Championship after beating England in the final after a penalty shootout on July 11. With seven straight wins, the Azzurri brought home the Euro title for the first time since 1968.
File photo taken on July 11, 2021 shows players of Italy celebrating after winning the final against England at the UEFA EURO 2020 in London, Britain. Italy's men's football team won the European Championship after beating England in the final after a penalty shootout on July 11. With seven straight wins, the Azzurri brought home the Euro title for the first time since 1968. (Xinhua/Han Yan)
- Novak Djokovic won the Wimbledon Championships - his 20th Grand Slam singles title on July 11, joining Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as a 20-time Grand Slam winner. On November 7, Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev in the Paris Masters final to claim a record 37th Masters 1000 title, passing Nadal's previous record of 36. Meanwhile, the Serbian was awarded the year-end ATP Tour No. 1 for a record-breaking seventh time.
File photo taken on July 11, 2021 shows Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrating with the trophy after winning the men's singles final against Matteo Berrettini of Italy at the the Wimbledon Championships in London, Britain. Novak Djokovic won the Wimbledon Championships - his 20th Grand Slam singles title on July 11, joining Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal as a 20-time Grand Slam winner. On November 7, Djokovic beat Daniil Medvedev in the Paris Masters final to claim a record 37th Masters 1000 title, passing Nadal's previous record of 36. Meanwhile, the Serbian was awarded the year-end ATP Tour No. 1 for a record-breaking seventh time. (Photo by Tim Ireland/Xinhua)
- The 32nd Summer Olympic Games took place in Tokyo, Japan from July 23 to August 8 after it was postponed for one year due to COVID-19, with the United States, China and Japan ranking in the top three of the gold medal tally. The 138th IOC session approved the inclusion of "Together" to the Olympic motto, which now reads "Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together."
File photo taken on July 23, 2021 shows the opening ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. The 32nd Summer Olympic Games took place in Tokyo, Japan from July 23 to August 8 after it was postponed for one year due to COVID-19, with the United States, China and Japan ranking in the top three of the gold medal tally. The 138th IOC session approved the inclusion of "Together" to the Olympic motto, which now reads "Faster, Higher, Stronger - Together." (Xinhua/Xia Yifang)
- Lionel Messi parted ways with FC Barcelona after 21 years at the Spanish club and joined French outfit Paris Saint-Germain. The 34-year-old striker won the Ballon d'Or award for a record-extending seventh time. Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United 12 years later after spells at Real Madrid and Juventus.
File photo taken on Nov. 29, 2021 shows Lionel Messi posing with the trophy of the Men 2021 Ballon d'Or during a ceremony held in Theatre du Chatelet, Paris, France. Lionel Messi parted ways with FC Barcelona after 21 years at the Spanish club and joined French outfit Paris Saint-Germain. The 34-year-old striker won the Ballon d'Or award for a record-extending seventh time. Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United 12 years later after spells at Real Madrid and Juventus. (Photo by Henri Szwarc/Xinhua)
- Former IOC president Jacques Rogge passed away at the age of 79, the IOC announced on August 29. Rogge, the eighth president of the IOC from 2001 to 2013 and later Honorary President, lauded the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games as "truly exceptional."
File photo taken on Aug. 7, 2008 shows International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogge attending a press conference at the Main Press Center of the Beijing Olympics in Beijing, China. Former IOC president Jacques Rogge passed away at the age of 79, the IOC announced on August 29. Rogge, the eighth president of the IOC from 2001 to 2013 and later Honorary President, lauded the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games as "truly exceptional." (Xinhua/Sha Dati)
- Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton became the first ever Formula One driver to claim 100 Grand Prix victories after winning the Russian Grand Prix on September 26.
File photo taken on Sept. 26, 2021 shows Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrating after the race of the 2021 Formula One Russian Grand Prix in Sochi, Russia. Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton became the first ever Formula One driver to claim 100 Grand Prix victories after winning the Russian Grand Prix on September 26. (Xinhua)
- The 10th Olympic Summit was held online on December 11, during which the Summit declared to stand firmly against any politicization of the Olympic Games and sport. The Summit also welcomed the Beijing Winter Olympic Truce Resolution, which was adopted by consensus and co-sponsored by 173 Member States at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. Enditem
A screen grab from the IOC website shows a view of the 10th Olympic Summit. The 10th Olympic Summit was held online on December 11, during which the Summit declared to stand firmly against any politicization of the Olympic Games and sport. The Summit also welcomed the Beijing Winter Olympic Truce Resolution, which was adopted by consensus and co-sponsored by 173 Member States at the 76th session of the United Nations General Assembly. (Xinhua)
File photo taken on Nov. 23, 2021 shows Cristiano Ronaldo of Manchester United reacting during the UEFA Champions League Group F match between Villareal of Spain and Manchester United of England in Vila-real, Spain. Lionel Messi parted ways with FC Barcelona after 21 years at the Spanish club and joined French outfit Paris Saint-Germain. The 34-year-old striker won the Ballon d'Or award for a record-extending seventh time. Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United 12 years later after spells at Real Madrid and Juventus. (Str/Xinhua)
