AFCON, Paris Olympics and other top sporting events you shouldn’t miss in 2024

2023 is gone and the year 2024 has kick-started already. Just as we have had in previous years, there are various top and exciting sporting events to witness in 2024.

Sports lovers across the world look forward to these events to support their favourite individuals/teams while also getting entertained.

In this piece, NRTC has put together the most glamorous sporting activities you cannot afford to miss this year.

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1. Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 13 January – 11 February

The 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) holds between 13 January and 11 February this year.

It is the biggest football event out of Africa and will be hosted in Ivory Coast. Initially scheduled to hold between June and July 2023, the biennial tournament was postponed till January due to weather concerns.

The event now takes place at the beginning of 2024. West African French-speaking nation Senegal are seeking to defend their title. The Lions of Teranga defeated an Egyptian side inspired by Mohamed Salah via penalty shootout in the final of the last edition.

Nigeria’s Super Eagles will seek to win a fourth title come February.

2. The Grand Slam

The world of Tennis entertains us with four major Grand Slam tournaments every year and 2024 is no different.

From Novak Djokovic to Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev, catch your favourite ATP athletes on the biggest Tennis stages. WTA players will also dazzle at the various tournaments as well.

Some female athletes you should watch out for include the returning Naomi Osaka, Aryna Sabalenka, Elena Rybakina, Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek, and many more.

The Australian Open – the first Grand Slam of the year – commences on 14 January and ends on the 28th of January.

Serbian star Novak Djokovic will arrive Melbourne seeking to claim a 25th Grand Slam title. If he does win it, he’ll break Margaret Court’s record and become the single most successful Tennis player in history.

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Rafael Nadal is back in action and set to feature after being sidelined for 12 months with a hip injury.

The French Open will be staged from Monday, 20 May – Sunday, 9 June. Roland Garros is one of the most watched Tennis events in the world and it promises to be exciting once again.

Last year, World number one Iga Swiatek defeated unseeded (now world number nine) Czech Karolina Muchova to win 6-2 5-7 6-4.

The victory ensured her third French Open women’s singles title in four years. It was also her fourth Grand Slam title after she had lifted the US Open title in 2022.

Novak Djokovic – the history maker

Meanwhile, most successful men’s singles player Novak Djokovic won his 23rd Gram Slam at the 2023 Roland Garros. The 36-year-old beat Casper Ruud 7-6 6-3 7-5 to claim the title.

From 1 July to 14 July, the Wimbledon will take place. Last year’s edition made for some very interesting drama.

It was the beauty of sports at its peak witnessed by all and sundry. Marketa Vondrousova became the first unseeded player to win the women’s singles title.

She achieved the feat after victory over Tunisia’s Ons Jabeur. In the men’s singles final, Carlos Alcaraz claimed victory against Djokovic in a pulsating encounter.

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It was a match worthy to be watched a billion times because it gave everything expected of a true final. The title was Alcaraz’s second Grand Slam.

All attention will turn to the United States for the final Grand Slam tournament of the year (the U.S Open) happening from Monday, 26 August to Sunday, 8 September at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center.

3. Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk (17 February)

Highly anticipated, boxing fans will get to see two heavyweights slug it out in the ring as early as February.

WBC champion Fury will fight Usyk. The former was surprisingly awarded a draw following a split decision in his bout with Cameroon’s Francis Ngannou last October.

The Briton will now fight again in October’s venue Riyadh against one of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter. Both heavyweight boxers are on the hunt to emerge as boxing’s first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999.

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4. Formula One World Championship (2 March – 8 December)

This year’s Formula One season witnesses some changes like the calendar stretches and consecutive races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

The calendar stretches to a record 24 races. Likewise, the back-to-back races earlier mentioned will be held in successive Saturdays.

5. Women’s Champions League final (25 May)

Barcelona are the defending champions of this seasonal tournament. The Spaniards unprecedentedly came from two goals down to record a remarkable 3-2 victory against Wolfsburg in Eindhoven last year.

This year’s edition will be played at the San Mamés stadium in Bilbao.

6. Men’s Champions League final (1 June)

One of the most exciting football showpieces in the world today is the UEFA Champions League.

The final of Europe’s top club competition has always attracted large viewership all over the globe.

Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City will be looking to reach the final again. But it’ll be a tough test for them. City beat Inter Milan in the final last campaign.

7. Euro 2024 (14 June-14 July)

You cannot really pinpoint an overwhelming favourite for this year’s Euro Championship. Although France have been outstanding over the years, it’s hard to predict who wins this.

This will be Germany’s first time of hosting a major men’s football tournament since the 2006 World Cup. England’s Three Lions are seeking to win a major tournament and are serious contenders. Italy, meanwhile, are the defending champions.

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8. Tour de France & Tour de France Femmes (29 June – 21 July, 12 August – 18 August)

This year’s Championships is the 111th edition. The Tour de France and Tour de France Femmes remain the most remarkable eventsy in the world of cycling.

Jonas Vingegaard from Denmark has won back-to-back titles and is aiming to win a third straight one. Meanwhile, we’re set to experience the third edition of the Tour de France Femmes and it will commence in Rotterdam.

9. The Olympic Games (26 July-11 August)

Expect a lot of fireworks when the Olympics commence in 26 July as the Paris 2024 chief executive Étienne Thobois said “we want a huge party.”

Four new sports including breakdancing and skateboarding have been added to the number of sporting events. This Olympics is the first to be hosted in Europe since London 2012.