The beginning of a new calendar year in the sporting world can be a very big deal! While professional sports never slow down, several major competitions across the planet occur toward the beginning of the year.
Fans may have plenty to look forward to across all seasons. Still, with the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere being particularly harsh, these competitions can often make them much easier to enjoy.
Super Bowl
American Football fans will know all too well about the excitement that the beginning of a new year can bring, as it means the Super Bowl is on the horizon. While it also signifies the end of the NFL season for another year, it is one of the biggest events of the entertainment calendar for fans of the sport.
The game itself is huge, but everything about it is a huge celebration. Fans fortunate enough to support the two teams that are playing in the game will be able to cheer their team on as they look to become world champions, while general football fans will typically get to witness a solid football match. The odds are already suggesting that the San Francisco 49ers are the most favored to win.
Neutrals also enjoy what the Super Bowl brings when it is hosted at the beginning of February, as they can watch the halftime show performed by one of the world’s biggest musical artists. The 2024 edition (Super Bowl LVIII) will feature Usher as the main act as it is held at the Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for the very first time.
Australian Open 2024
Tennis fans always look forward to January as it means the sport can provide them with competitive action from the get-go. The first Grand Slam of the year will take place as Melbourne plays host to the Australian Open in its regular spot in the calendar.
Fans will get to see their favorite stars battle it out on the hard courts of Aus, with superstars looking to win the first major title of the year immediately. As a result of its prestige, the competition has attracted millions of viewers with each edition that is held, with fans and sports betting enthusiasts all being engrossed in the action.
There is usually an upturn in the number of people wagering on the event, and sportsbooks have already released early odds for this year’s competition. Those who want to bet on Australian Open tennis will find that Novak Djokovic has already been priced as the early favorite (21/20), with Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz (5/2) and Jannik Sinner (11/2) the most likely to challenge the Serbian for the title.
Of course, Djokovic is an accomplished winner of this Grand Slam, having won his 10th last winter. He defeated Stefanos Tsitsipas 6–3, 7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–5) in straight sets. Alcaraz missed the competition through injury but will likely put up a good challenge as he continues to excel.
African Cup of Nations
Arguably not as big as other international football tournaments like the FIFA World Cup or UEFA European Championships, the beginning of 2024 will see the return of the CAF African Cup of Nations. It is held every two years, and football enthusiasts who have a huge passion for the game love the event.
It can often provide a number of interesting stories. At the same time, supporters will often watch to see how well the players that play for their clubs are doing or who their team is linked with in transfer stories due to the January transfer window are doing as they are invested completely.
Senegal are the current defending champions after winning in 2022 as they defeated Egypt in a final that involved a penalty shootout to decide the eventual winner. Interestingly, the entirety of the competition had 100 goals scored across 52 matches, thus giving fans the opportunity to witness an average of almost two goals (1.92) per game being scored.
Table Tennis World Championships
Fans of table tennis will be able to witness the pinnacle of their sport in February, as the 2024 World Team Table Tennis Championships will take place in Busan, South Korea. It is an event that is held every two years, but has had numerous postponements and disruptions over the last few years.
Fans enjoy this sporting spectacle as it will give them an insight into what could potentially be expected at the Olympic Games, with the quarterfinalists of this event set to head to Paris 2024.
