There is so much activity to look forward to in 2019, particularly in the world of sports. From soccer and rugby to athletics and golf, the best international competitors will be getting in prime shape to take on the world. Here are some of the 2019 sporting events to put on the ‘must-see’ calendar listings.
Sports Events 2019
1. African Cup of Nations (07 June – 30 June 2019)
What started as a soccer tournament consisting of three countries – Sudan, Ethiopia and Egypt – in 1957 has exploded into a major competition on the soccer schedule with 24 participating countries. South Africa – disqualified in 1957 because of apartheid – eventually hosted (and won) the 20th African Cup of Nations in 1996. Historically Egypt has been the most successful, winning seven times, followed by Ghana and Cameroon – next year’s host – with four wins each. In 2013, Afcon was switched to odd years so as not to clash with the FIFA Soccer World Cup and, in 2015, Afcon was moved from Morocco to Equatorial Guinea because of Ebola concerns.
2. The Special Olympics World Summer Games (14 – 21 March 2019)
Originating in Chicago in 1968 with1 500 athletes from the USA and Canada, the Special Olympics’ seeks to show the world that children and adults with intellectual disabilities have incredible skills to demonstrate. The Special Olympics organisation has 4.4 million athletes in 170 countries with the World Games held every two years. The next Special Olympic World Summer Gems will be held in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates.
3. ICC Cricket World Cup (30 May – 15 July 2019)
The world’s fourth-largest sporting event will take place jointly in England, the birthplace of cricket, and Wales. This one-day international championship – played every four years – welcomes all Test-playing nations as well as some outside qualifiers. The tournament format includes a single group of 10 teams working their way to a knockout stage, semi-finals and finals. The last ICC Cricket World Cup was won by Australia.
4. Women’s Soccer World Cup (7 June to 7 July 2019)
This will be the eighth Women’s Soccer World Cup since its inception in 1991 in China. The first two World Cups included 12 participating nations, opened up to 16 in 1999 and 24 in 2015. The USA will return to the quadrennial competition in France in 2019 as the defending champions.
5. Pan-American Games (26 July – 11 August 2019)
Originating in Buenos Aires in 1951, the games are held every four years, the year before the Summer Olympics, with the next one set to take place in Lima. The event involves athletes from the Americas – ideally more than 5 000 athletes competing in 36 sports in nearly 400 events.
6. The IAAF World Championships (28 September – 6 October 2019)
Doha, Qatar will play host to the next athletics’ world championships, organised by the International Association of Athletics’ Federations (IAAF). Originally held every four years, the event is now biennial and has been disassociated from the Olympic Games in 1983. These illustrious games welcome thousands of athletes from somewhere around 180 countries all competing for their nation’s glory on the world stage.
7. Rugby World Cup (20 September – 2 November 2019)
Since 1987, rugby-crazed nations have looked to the Rugby World Cup as the crowning glory of sporting achievement. Organised by the International Rugby Board, the Rugby World Cup sees the various national teams tackle their way through qualifiers to reach the final-20 field. Japan is set to play host to the event which takes place every four years.
8. Presidents’ Cup (9 – 15 December 2019)
A definite golfing highlight, the Presidents’ Cup is a match-play tournament between two teams – one representing the USA and another representing the rest of the world (without Europe). This biennial event is organised by the PGA Tour and is hosted alternately in the USA and a country represented by the team, with the next one set to take place in Melbourne, Australia.
Get your sporting calendar ready for 2019 as it’s a jam-packed schedule with the best of the world’s athletes looking to take the glory.
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