The 2022 Events from Winter Olympics to football sporting and rugby world cups calendar
Anew year offers the prospect of so much brilliant sport to look forward to in 2022. The Winter Olympics and the Winter Paralympics take place in Beijing early in 2022 and the Commonwealth Games will be held in Birmingham in the summer. There are two major football tournaments, with Women's Euro 2022 in England in July and the men's World Cup in Qatar in November and December.
The Rugby League World Cup in England starts in October and there are also men's and women's Cricket World Cups. But with the COVID-19 pandemic is still causing major problems around the world. It remains to be seen whether all the events will take place as planned and whether venues will be packed to capacity.
Some 2022 big events:
Six Nations rugby - Feb 5 - March 19
Wales secured the title in 2021 after Scotland beat France in a dramatic encounter in Paris. England finished fifth but go into this year's tournament on the back of a victory over world champions South Africa. France, with world player of the year Antoine Dupont, look favourites but Ireland are also in good form.
March 4-13, Winter Paralympics, China
Visually impaired skier Menna Fitzpatrick became Britain's most successful Winter Paralympian, along with guide Jen Kehoe, in winning a gold, two silvers and a bronze four years ago. She hopes to help Great Britain improve on their total of seven medals from the 2018 Games.
Cricket 4 March-3 April- Women's ODI World Cup, New Zealand
At a tournament that was postponed a year because of the pandemic, England will bid to defend the title they won at Lord's in 2017, but Australia will start as favourites.
March 24 - Football - World Cup European qualification semi-finals: Wales v Austria, Scotland v Ukraine
If Scotland and Wales win their matches, they will face each other in Cardiff on March 19, with a place in Qatar up for grabs. Wales are bidding to reach their first FIFA World Cup in 64 years, while Scotland last appeared in 1998. The play-off draw means either European champions Italy or Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal will not be at the World Cup.
May 14 - FA Cup final, Wembley
Leicester are the holders thanks to a famous win over Chelsea last May, sealed by Youri Tielemans' spectacular strike.
May 15 - Football - Women's FA Cup final, Wembley
Last season's final was delayed until December, when Chelsea completed a belated domestic treble in stunning fashion by beating Arsenal 3-0 at Wembley.
May 28 - Football - Champions League final, St Petersburg
Chelsea beat Manchester City to win last year's final and both are going strong in this year's competition. Liverpool and Manchester United have also made it through to the last 16.
June 2 - September 12 - Cricket - England men host New Zealand, India and South Africa
A packed summer schedule also includes the final Test against India, carried over from 2021 because of a number of COVID cases in the tourists' camp.
July 6-31 - Football - Women's Euro 2022, England
Hosts England will look to go one better than the men's team by becoming European champions for the first time, while the Netherlands seek to defend their title. Northern Ireland have qualified for the first time.
July 14-17- Golf - The Open, The Old Course, St Andrews
The home of golf hosts the 150th Open Championship. Collin Morikawa holds the Claret Jug but all eyes will be on the possible presence of 15-time
July 15-24- Athletics - World Championships, Eugene, Oregon, US
Britons Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina JohnsonThompson will bid to defend their world titles, while Olympic medallists Keely Hodgkinson, Laura Muir and Holly Bradshaw will look to add to their medal collections.
28 July 28 - August 8 - Commonwealth Games, Birmingham
The schedule features more medal events for women than men for the first time in Commonwealth Games history, as well as a fully integrated Para-sport program. Alongside the traditional Commonwealth sports, a women's Twenty20 cricket tournament will be held.
Oct 8- Nov 12 - Rugby Union - Women's World Cup, New Zealand
Six Nations champion England have won their past 18 matches and are clear favourites following record back-to-back victories over current champions New Zealand last autumn. England, who have won its past 18 matches, will seek to win a fourth successive Women's Six Nations in April
Delayed by a year, the tournament features 61 games and separate tournaments for men, women and wheelchair players.
Australia powered to an eight-wicket victory over New Zealand to win the Men's T20 World Cup for the first time in November. England will look to do better after losing to the Black Caps in the semi-finals.
Nov 21 - Dec 18 - FIFA World Cup, Qatar The Premier League takes a break as the first FIFA World Cup to be held in the Arab world kicks off at the end of the year to avoid Qatar's intense summer heat. England has already qualified and could be joined by Wales or Scotland.