The Year 2024 was a memorable one in the world of sports as sportspersons and athletes broke records and entertained fans worldwide.
From Spain claiming the UEFA Euro trophy, Kenyan athletes claiming prestigious worldwide awards including the Olympics, and Real Madrid winning their record fifteenth Champions League title, 2024 proved a record-breaking year.
The stage had been set for the year to be a sporting spectacle of unparalleled magnitude, with major championships, finals, tournaments, and events promising unparalleled excitement.
In this article, The Kenya Times delves into the major sporting events that took place in the year 2024, and respective winners.
African Sports
The sporting extravaganza commenced with the 34th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which kickstarted on January 13 in Ivory Coast.
AFCON is the biennial African association football tournament organized by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
The 2024 tournament saw a total number of 24 countries, placed in 6 groups battle for the coveted African title.
In addition, the knockout rounds commenced on January 27, with the grand finale taking place on February 11 in Abidjan.
Notably, the host nation Ivory Coast which was hosting the tournament for the second time and the first since 1984, emerged victorious defeating Nigeria 2-1 in the Final.
Kenya, which will co-host the 2027 edition together with neighbouring Tanzania and Uganda, missed 2024’s edition.
Super Bowl
Following the football frenzy, the National Football League’s Super Bowl LVIII took centre stage on February 11 at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Super Bowl is notably the annual league championship game of the National Football League (NFL) of the United States.
This annual final NFL clash of gridiron titans has been a spectacle since 1966, drawing millions of global viewers.
Winning teams are further awarded the Vince Lombardi Trophy, named after the eponymous coach who won the first two Super Bowls.
In a rematch of Super Bowl LIV from four years earlier, the American Football Conference (AFC) champion and defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs defeated the National Football Conference (NFC) champion San Francisco 49ers 25–22 in overtime.
Beyond the touchdowns, what sets the Super Bowl apart is the halftime show performances from renowned international artists.
Notably, American R&B singer Usher headlined the 2024 Super Bowl LVIII Halftime Show in which he dazzled fans, continuing the tradition of internationally renowned artists gracing this grand stage.
Kenyan Sports
Well, among the major sporting events in 2024 was the Kipchoge Keino Classic tour held in Nairobi, Kenya.
April 20 marked the kickoff of the Kipchoge Keino Classic Tour, a standout event featured among World Athletics’ major events of the calendar year.
The Kip Keino Classic Tour, launched in 2020, continues to distinguish itself as a top-ranking one-day-meet athletics championship.
The tour, named after Olympic champion Kipchoge Keino, further offers a platform for global athletes to earn both prize money and world ranking points.
Held at Nairobi’s Kasarani Stadium, this Continental Tour Gold series turned out to be an exhilarating showcase of athletics talent.
Kenyans Mary Moraa, Mercy Chebet, Leah Jeruto, Emmanuel Wanyonyi, and Abraham Kibiwott were among athletes who managed to three finishes in the finals of their respective races.
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UEFA CHAMPIONS League (UCL) Final
A notable annual event watched by millions of football fans all over the world, the UCL 2024 edition was no exception.
Wembley Stadium in England hosted the European League Final on June 1 with football aficionados entertained by a high-stakes match between record champions Real Madrid and Bundesliga’s Borussia Dortmund.
EURO 2024
The UEFA EURO 2024 was the 17th edition of the UEFA European Championship, organized by UEFA for the men’s national teams of its member associations.
Germany took the spotlight as host of UEFA EURO 2024 from June 14 to July 14, featuring stalwart teams like Italy, England, Spain, and France.
The stakes were high, with the winner Spain earning a coveted spot in the 2025 CONMEBOL–UEFA Cup of Champions against the Copa América 2024 victor.
Spain defeated England 2-1 thanks to two second-half goals by Nico Williams and Mikel Oyarzabal.
COPA America
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, the United States hosted the 48th edition of Copa América, adding another layer of football fervour from June 20 to July 14.
The tournament saw Lionel Messi and Argentina clinch the title after being back on the biggest stage once again following their World Cup 2022 final win, this time in the United States.
Notably, the 2024 Copa América was the 48th edition organized by South America’s football ruling body CONMEBOL.
The US hosted the tournament for the second time, having hosted the Copa América Centenario in 2016.
Paris 2024 Summer Olympics
Perhaps the pinnacle of sporting events, the Olympics returned in 2024, taking centre stage from July 26 to August 11 in France.
With Paris as the main host city and 16 others across France, the Paris 2024 Olympics served as an unparalleled spectacle of summer and winter sports competitions.
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Furthermore, more than 200 teams competed, making this global event a beacon of unity, athleticism, and international camaraderie.
Kenya once again demonstrated its athletic prowess on the world stage, emerging as Africa’s top-performing nation at the Paris Olympics.
With a total of 11 medals, including 4 golds, Kenya not only led the continent in the medal tally but also reinforced its reputation as a global powerhouse in athletics.
The Olympic Games are the leading international sporting events in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of sports.
The games are further considered the world’s foremost sports competition with more than 200 teams, representing sovereign states and territories participating.
In addition, the games are normally held every four years. The 2020 edition took place in Tokyo, Japan, with the 2028 edition scheduled to take place in Los Angeles, USA.
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