A number of sporting events have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak. Keep up-to-date with the latest developments here.

March

The women’s T20 World Cup concludes in Australia, with the hosts recovering from an opening defeat to India to join them in the semi-finals with England. South Africa are favourites to join them, with the final on Sunday 8 March. The men’s and women’s Six Nations are set to conclude, but matches involving Italy have been postponed – although England’s men’s game in Rome on 14 March is set to go ahead.

Formula One returns with the traditional curtain-raiser in Melbourne, which is set to go ahead despite coronavirus fears. Lewis Hamilton will begin his bid to match Michael Schumacher’s haul of seven world titles. Elsewhere, it’s arguably the biggest week in horse racing at the Cheltenham Festival, while England play two Test matches in Sri Lanka.

Will the Olympics be cancelled? The sports events coronavirus threatens Read more

Scotland, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland will battle for the final Euro 2020 places as 16 teams are cut down to four in the play-offs. England’s women head to the States to face the USA, Japan and Spain in the SheBelieves Cup. The Major League Baseball season gets under way, and the men’s and women’s Boat Races take place on the Thames.

Quick guide March: key dates Show Hide 1 EFL Trophy final

2-11 Algarve Cup (Portugal)

3-4 FA Cup fifth round

5-11 SheBelieves Cup (USA)

9-16 Indian Wells Masters

10-11 Champions League last 16, second leg

10-13 Cheltenham Festival*

12-18 India v South Africa ODI series

13-20 Australia v NZ ODI series (Aus)

15 F1 Australian GP (Melbourne)

19-23 Sri Lanka v England first Test (Galle)

22 F1 Bahrain GP (Sakhir)

24-29 NZ v Australia T20 series (NZ)

17-18 Champions League last 16, second leg

17-6 April NCAA March Madness basketball

20 Champions League quarter-final draw

21-22 FA Cup quarter-finals

22-4 Apr Aus v SA women's T20/ODI series

23 Milan-San Remo cycling*

23-30 Miami Open tennis

26 MLB opening day

26-31 Euro 2020 play-offs

27-31 Sri Lanka v England second Test (Colombo)

27-31 WGC Match Play golf (Austin)

29 The Boat Races *Events may be affected by coronavirus outbreak Photograph: Alan Crowhurst/Getty Images Europe

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The inaugural Vietnam Grand Prix, set to be held in Hanoi, is under threat due to the coronavirus outbreak. Photograph: Formula One / Liberty Media

April

The first LPGA major of the year, the ANA Inspiration, is held in California. One week later, it’s over to Augusta for the first men’s golf major of the year, with Tiger Woods defending his Masters title. The Chinese Grand Prix, slated for Shanghai, has been postponed indefinitely, while the first-ever Vietnam Grand Prix in Hanoi remains in the balance.

Other sporting highlights include the Grand National – with Tiger Roll chasing a hat-trick of wins – the start of cricket’s County Championship season, the London Marathon and two weeks of tension at the Crucible, as Judd Trump battles to retain his world snooker title.

Quick guide April: key dates Show Hide 2-5 LPGA: ANA Inspiration (California)

3-5 European Champions Cup quarter-finals

4 Grand National (Aintree)

5 F1 Vietnam GP (Hanoi)*

5 NHL play-offs begin

7-8 Champions League quarter-finals, first leg

9-12 The Masters (Augusta)

12 County Championship begins

13-19 Monte-Carlo Masters

14 Paris-Roubaix cycling*

14-15 Champions League QFs, second leg

16 NBA play-offs begin

18-19 FA Cup semi-finals

18-4 May World snooker championship

22 Liège-Bastogne-Liège cycling*

23 NFL Draft (Las Vegas)

24 Flèche Wallonne cycling*

25-26 Women’s Champions League semis, first leg

26 London Marathon

28-29 Champions League semi-finals, first leg

30-3 May Tour de Yorkshire cycling *May be affected by coronavirus outbreak

Photograph: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images Europe

May

It’s a month of finals, with the men’s and women’s FA Cup showpieces at Wembley, the women’s Champions League in Vienna and the men’s Champions League in Istanbul. Not forgetting the Scottish Cup, Europa League and EFL play-offs, with football’s richest game, the Championship play-off final, offering a lucrative place in the Premier League.

The first of cycling’s three Grand Tours, the Giro d’Italia, is set to start in Budapest, although the Covid-19 outbreak in Italy means the entire event is in doubt. The Netherlands hosts an F1 Grand Prix, with the Indy 500 and Monaco GP also taking place. Thrill seekers might also want to head to Cardiff for the Nitro World Games – the largest action sports event ever held in the UK.

Quick guide May: key dates Show Hide 1-3 European Champions Cup semi-finals

1-17 Ice hockey world championship (Switz)

2 Kentucky Derby (Churchill Downs)

2-3 Women’s Champions League semis, second leg

3 F1 Netherlands Grand Prix (Zandvoort)

4-10 Madrid Open tennis

5-6 Champions League semi-finals, second leg

9 Women’s FA Cup Final (Wembley)

9-31 Giro d’Italia cycling*

10 F1 Spanish GP (Barcelona)

11-17 Italian Open tennis*

14-17 US PGA championship (Harding Park)

14-19 Ireland v Bangladesh ODI series 16 League Two play-off final

22 European Challenge Cup final (Marseille)

23 FA Cup final

23 European Champions Cup final (Marseille)

24 F1 Monaco GP (Monte Carlo)

24 Women’s Champions League final (Vienna)

24 League One play-off final

24 Indianapolis 500

25 Scottish Cup final

25 Championship play-off final

25-1 Jun French Open tennis

27 Europa League final (Gdansk)

28 T20 Blast begins

30 Champions League final (Istanbul)

30 Women's Premier 15s final *May be affected by coronavirus outbreak Photograph: David Klein/X06540

June

Another event with a question mark over it, Euro 2020 is set to be held this month in 12 different cities from Dublin to Baku. England and Wales are the only qualified home nations so far, with Scotland and Republic of Ireland in the play-offs. England will play their group games at Wembley, plus the semi-finals and final - if they get that far. Gareth Southgate’s side are in Group D with Croatia, Czech Republic and a play-off winner.

Wales are in Group A, with a trip to face Italy and two other games in Azerbaijan, against Switzerland and Turkey. If that sounds tough, spare a thought for the play-off winners who end up in Group F – with Germany, France and holders Portugal. Sixteen teams will progress from the groups into a straight knockout.

Quick guide Euro 2020 fixtures Show Hide Friday 12 June

Group A: Turkey v Italy (8pm CET, Rome) Saturday 13 June

Group A: Wales v Switzerland (3pm, Baku)

Group B: Denmark v Finland (6pm, Copenhagen)

Group B: Belgium v Russia (9pm, St Petersburg) Sunday 14 June

Group D: England v Croatia (3pm, London)

Group C: Austria v Play-off winner (6pm, Bucharest)

Group C: Netherlands v Ukraine (9pm, Amsterdam)

Monday 15 June

Group D: Play-off winner v Czech Republic (3pm, Glasgow)

Group E: Poland v Play-off winner (6pm, Dublin)

Group E: Spain v Sweden (9pm, Bilbao)

Tuesday 16 June

Group F: Play-off winner v Portugal (6pm, Budapest)

Group F: France v Germany (9pm, Munich) Wednesday 17 June

Group B: Finland v Russia (15:00, St Petersburg)

Group A: Turkey v Wales (18:00, Baku)

Group A: Italy v Switzerland (21:00, Rome)

Thursday 18 June

Group C: Ukraine v Play-off winner D or A (15:00, Bucharest)

Group B: Denmark v Belgium (18:00, Copenhagen)

Group C: Netherlands v Austria (21:00, Amsterdam)

Friday 19 June

Group E: Sweden v Play-off winner B (15:00, Dublin)

Group D: Croatia v Czech Republic (18:00, Glasgow)

Group D: England v Play-off winner C (21:00, London)

Saturday 20 June

Group F: Play-off winner A or D v France (15:00, Budapest)

Group F: Portugal v Germany (18:00, Munich)

Group E: Spain v Poland (21:00, Bilbao)

Sunday 21 June

Group A: Italy v Wales (18:00, Rome)

Group A: Switzerland v Turkey (18:00, Baku) Monday 22 June

Group C: Play-off winner D or A v Netherlands (18:00, Amsterdam)

Group C: Ukraine v Austria (18:00, Bucharest)

Group B: Russia v Denmark (21:00, Copenhagen)

Group B: Finland v Belgium (21:00, St Petersburg) Tuesday 23 June

Group D: Czech Republic v England (21:00, London)

Group D: Croatia v Play-off winner C (21:00, Glasgow) Wednesday 24 June

Group E: Play-off winner B v Spain (18:00, Bilbao)

Group E: Sweden v Poland (18:00, Dublin)

Group F: Germany v Play-off winner A or D (21:00, Munich)

Group F: Portugal v France (21:00, Budapest) 27-30 June Round of 16 (two matches per day)

3-4 July Quarter-finals (two matches per day)

7-8 July Semi-finals (Wembley)

12 July Final (Wembley)

The Copa América takes place in Argentina and Colombia, and there’s plenty of action away from football. England play three home Tests against the West Indies, and there are three golf majors as the US Open, women’s US Open and women’s PGA are contested in the US. There are also three big rugby union finals, with the Premiership, Pro14 and Super Rugby trophies to be won.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest The Tour de France promises tough climbs, spectacular views and another bruising battle for the yellow jersey. Photograph: Anne-Christine Poujoulat/AFP/Getty Images

The Tour de France sets off from Nice on the long road to Paris. It’s hard to bet against another Team Ineos winner, but will it be defending champion Egan Bernal, or can Geraint Thomas or Chris Froome secure another British win? Speaking of which, this could be a big month for Andy Murray, with Queen’s Club and a potential Wimbledon return as he continues his fightback from injury.

Quick guide June: key dates Show Hide 4-7 LPGA: US Open (Texas)

4-8 England v West Indies first Test (Oval)

6 The Derby (Epsom)

7 F1 Azerbaijan GP (Baku)

10 Scotland v New Zealand T20 (Edinburgh)

12 Scotland v New Zealand ODI (Edinburgh)

12-16 England v WI second Test (Edgbaston)

12-12 July Euro 2020 (various)

12-12 July Copa América (Argentina/Colombia)

13-14 Le Mans 24 Hours

14 F1 Canadian GP (Montreal)

15-21 Queen’s Club Championships

16-20 Royal Ascot

18-21 US Open golf (Winged Foot)

19-23 Ireland v NZ T20 series

20 Premiership final (Twickenham)

20 Pro14 final (Cardiff)

20 Super Rugby final

25-28 Women’s PGA Championship (Penn)

25-29 England v WI third Test (Lord’s)

27-2 Jul Ireland v NZ ODI series

27-19 Jul Tour de France

28 Jun F1 French GP (Le Castellet)

29 Jun Scotland v Australia T20 (Edinburgh)

29-12 Jul Wimbledon

TBC NBA Finals

TBC NHL: Stanley Cup finals

Photograph: Dan Istitene/Getty Images Europe

July

It’s the biggest sporting event on earth; 11,000 athletes from more than 200 nations, competing in 339 events across 33 sports. The 32nd Olympic Games, the second to be held in Tokyo, will dominate the sporting summer – providing coronavirus does not lead to a postponement.

The spectre of a cancelled Olympics belongs to a different, scarier world | Jonathan Liew Read more

While Rio 2016 suffered from big distances between venues and poor infrastructure, that shouldn’t be a problem in Tokyo. Thirteen of the venues, including the National Stadium, are within 5km of the athletes’ village, although the marathon and walking events will be in the northern city of Sapporo, due to concerns over heat.

British medal hopes include Dina Asher-Smith in the 200m and Katarina Johnson-Thompson in heptathlon, Adam Peaty in the pool, Laura Kenny in the velodrome and 11-year-old skateboarder Sky Brown. New events to watch out for include 3-on-3 basketball, surfing, speed climbing, skateboarding and karate, while baseball and softball will be popular draws in Japan after being brought back to the Games.

Quick guide Tokyo 2020: key events and venues Show Hide Key events Opening ceremony 24 Jul

Closing ceremony 9 Aug Swimming 25 Jul-2 Aug

Athletics 31 Jul-8 Aug

Marathons 8-9 Aug

Boxing 25 Jul-9 Aug

Football 22 Jul-8 Aug

Golf 28 Jul-8 Aug

Artistic gymnastics 25-30 Jul

Hockey 25 Jul-7 Aug

Rowing 24-31 Jul

Rugby sevens 27 Jul-1 Aug

Tennis 25 Jul-2 Aug

Triathlons 27-28 Jul and 1 Aug

- Read the full schedule here Venues Heritage Zone

New National Stadium Athletics, football, opening and closing ceremonies

Yoyogi Gymnasium Handball

Ryogoku Kokugikan Boxing

Metropolitan Gymnasium Table tennis

Nippon Budokan Judo, karate

International Forum Weightlifting

Musashinonomori Park Road cycling Tokyo Bay Zone

Kasai Rinkai Park Canoeing

Oi Stadium Hockey

Tokyo Aquatics Centre Swimming, diving

Tatsumi International Swimming Centre Water polo

Yumenoshima Park Archery

Ariake Arena Volleyball

Olympic BMX Course BMX, skateboarding

Ariake Gymnastics Centre Gymnastics, trampoline

Ariake Coliseum Tennis

Odaiba Marine Park Triathlon, marathon swimming

Shiokaze Park Beach volleyball

Sea Forest Waterway Equestrian, rowing, canoeing

Aomi Urban Sports Venue 3x3 basketball, climbing Outlying venues

Camp Asaka Shooting

Mushashino Forest Modern pentathlon, badminton

Tokyo Stadium Football, modern pentathlon, rugby sevens

Saitama Super Arena Basketball

Enoshima Sailing

Makuhari Messe Fencing, taekwondo, wrestling

Baji Koen Equestrian

Kasumigaseki Country Club Golf

Izu Velodrome Track cycling, mountain biking

Yokohama Stadium Baseball, softball

Fukushima Azuma Stadium Baseball, softball opening games

Fuji Speedway Road cycling

Makomanai Stadium Marathon, race walking Football venues

Tokyo x2

Yokohama

Saitama

Sendai

Kashima

Sapporo Photograph: Shizuo Kambayashi/AP

The British summer of sport should also be in full swing. Novak Djokovic and Simona Halep are looking to defend their Wimbledon titles, while Lewis Hamilton will go for a seventh British Grand Prix crown at Silverstone. After Shane Lowry’s memorable win at Portrush last year, can anyone end the long wait for an English winner at Royal St George’s in The Open?

Quick guide July: key dates Show Hide 3-7 England v Australia T20 series

5 F1 Austrian GP (Spielberg)

11 Wimbledon women’s final

11-16 England v Australia ODI series

12 Wimbledon men’s final

16-19 The Open (Royal St George’s)

17 The Hundred: men’s tournament begins

18 Challenge Cup final (Wembley)

18-26 World Matchplay darts (Blackpool)

19 F1 British GP (Silverstone)

19 Tour de France ends (Paris)

19-1 Aug Under-19 European Championship (NI)

20 Royal London Cup begins

22 The Hundred: women’s tournament begins

23-26 LPGA Evian Championship

24-9 Aug Olympic Games (Tokyo)

25-28 WGC St Jude golf (Memphis)

28-1 Aug Glorious Goodwood

30-3 Aug England v Pakistan first Test (Lord’s)

TBC Rugby Championship Photograph: Scott Barbour/Getty Images AsiaPac

August

The ECB’s controversial new cricket tournament, The Hundred, finally kicks off this summer. Eight new city franchises have drafted players, with men’s and women’s teams competing for a place in the inaugural finals in August. Time will tell if the bold new format - 15 six-ball overs, then a 10-ball final over - will draw more casual fans than the disbanded Women’s Super League, or the men’s county-based T20 Blast, which will continue.

Quick guide The Hundred: guide to the teams Show Hide Birmingham Phoenix Ground: Edgbaston (men), New Road (women)

England players: Chris Woakes, Amy Jones, Kirstie Gordon

Local heroes: Moeen Ali, Pat Brown

Coaches: Andrew McDonald (men), Ben Sawyer (women)

Colours: Red/orange London Spirit Ground: Lord's (men), Chelmsford/Northampton (women)

England players: Rory Burns, Heather Knight, Freya Davies

Local heroes: Eoin Morgan, Dan Lawrence

Coaches: Shane Warne (men), Lisa Keightley (women)

Colours: Blue Manchester Originals Ground: Old Trafford, Sedburgh (women)

England players: Jos Buttler, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone

Local heroes: Saqib Mahmood, Matt Parkinson

Coaches: Simon Katich (men), TBA (women)

Colours: Black/silver Northern Superchargers Ground: Headingley (men), York/Gosforth (women)

England players: Ben Stokes, Lauren Winfield, Linsey Smith

Local heroes: Adil Rashid, David Willey

Coaches: Darren Lehmann (men), Danielle Hazell (women)

Colours: Purple/white Oval Invincibles Ground: The Oval (men), Beckenham (women)

England players: Sam Curran, Laura Marsh, Fran Wilson

Local heroes: Jason Roy, Tom Curran

Coaches: Tom Moody (men), Lydia Greenway (women)

Colours: Green/white Southern Brave Ground: Rose Bowl (men), Hove (women)

England players: Jos Buttler, Kate Cross, Sophie Ecclestone

Local heroes: James Vince, Chris Jordan

Coaches: Mahela Jayawardene (men), Charlotte Edwards (women)

Colours: Green/black Trent Rockets Ground: Trent Bridge (men), Derby/Leicester (women)

England players: Joe Root, Nat Sciver, Katherine Brunt

Local heroes: Alex Hales, Harry Gurney

Coaches: Stephen Fleming (men), Salliann Briggs (women)

Colours: Yellow/orange Welsh Fire (Tân Cymreig) Ground: Sophia Gardens (men), Bristol/Taunton (women)

England players: Jonny Bairstow, Katie George, Bryony Smith

Local heroes: Tom Banton, Colin Ingram

Coaches: Gary Kirsten (men), Matthew Mott (women)

Colours: Red/pink

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Players for the eight franchises line up after the Hundred draft was completed last year. Photograph: Christopher Lee/Getty Images for ECB

Two weeks after the Olympic closing ceremony, the torch is passed to the Paralympic Games. Also set for Tokyo, the Paralympics will welcome 4,400 athletes competing in over 500 events. British names to watch out for include runner Sophie Hahn, former swimming medallist turned para-canoeist Charlotte Henshaw and Amy Truesdale, who is chasing gold in the new para-taekwondo event.

Elsewhere, England complete what’s sure to be an entertaining Test series against Pakistan, while the year’s third and final grand tour, the Vuelta, begins with a jaunt to the Dutch city of Utrecht. The domestic football season kicks off too, with the Premier League and Football League returning early in August.

Quick guide August: key dates Show Hide 2 F1 Hungarian GP (Budapest)

7-9 Football League returns

7-11 England v Pakistan 2nd Test (Old Trafford)

10-16 Canadian Open tennis

14 The Hundred: women’s final

14-6 Sep Vuelta a Espana cycling

14-16 Premier League returns

15 The Hundred: men’s final

15-16 RideLondon cycling

16-23 World rowing championships (Slovenia)

17-23 Cincinnati Masters

18-21 T20 Blast quarter-finals

20-23 Women’s British Open (Scotland)

20-24 England v Pakistan 3rd Test (Trent Bridge)

25-6 Paralympic Games (Tokyo)

26-30 European athletics championships (France)

29-2 Sep England v Pakistan T20 series

30 F1 Belgian GP (Spa)

30 MotoGP British Grand Prix

31-13 Sep US Open tennis Photograph: Mohd Rasfan/AFP

September

Europe are bidding to retain the Ryder Cup trophy they won emphatically in France two years ago, as the USA takes over hosting duties. Europe lead 7-2 in wins since the turn of the century and will fancy their chances of an away win at Whistling Straits. The lakeside Wisconsin course looks and feels like Scottish links, complete with sheep, stone bridges and testing weather conditions.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Europe captain Padraig Harrington and his US counterpart, Steve Stricker, in one of the year’s odder photo ops. Photograph: Andrew Redington/Getty Images,

September also sees T20 Blast finals day, the Royal London Cup final and the county championship’s closing rounds. The Tour of Britain begins with a first-ever visit to Cornwall, while the road cycling world championships take place amid the peaks of Vaud and Valais in Switzerland.

Quick guide September: Key dates Show Hide 5 T20 Blast finals day (Edgbaston)

6 F1 Italian GP (Monza)

6-13 Sep Tour of Britain cycling

10 NFL season begins

10-15 England v Ireland ODI series

12 St Leger Stakes (Doncaster)

13 Great North Run

19 Royal London Cup final (Trent Bridge)

20 F1 Singapore GP (Marina Bay)

20-27 Cycling road world championships (Switz)

22 County championship final round

25-27 Ryder Cup (Whistling Straits, Wisconsin)

26 AFL grand final (Melbourne)

27 Russian GP (Sochi)

27 Berlin marathon

29-18 Oct Baseball: MLB play-offs Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images AsiaPac

October

There’s a double helping of T20 World Cups in 2020, with the men’s tournament also taking place in Australia at some of cricket’s most iconic venues, from the Gabba to the MCG. England will be on the hunt for another trophy, and revenge after their dramatic late defeat to the West Indies in 2016.

Quick guide Men's T20 World Cup Show Hide Preliminary rounds Group A (Geelong): Ireland, Oman, Papua New Guinea, Sri Lanka. Group B (Hobart): Bangladesh, Netherlands, Namibia, Scotland. – Top two sides in each group qualify for Super 12s Super 12s Group 1: Australia (hosts), New Zealand, Pakistan, West Indies, Group A winner, Group B runner-up. Group 2: Afghanistan, England, India, South Africa, Group B winner, Group A runner-up. Semi-finals 11 Nov (Sydney) & 12 Nov (Adelaide)

Final 15 Nov (Melbourne) England fixtures 26 Oct Group B winner (Perth)

30 Oct South Africa (D/N, Sydney)

1 Nov India (Melbourne)

4 Nov Afghanistan (D/N, Brisbane)

7 Nov Group A runner-up (Adelaide) Photograph: Will Russell/Getty Images AsiaPac

The Windies, the hosts or familiar foes New Zealand are all potential semi-final opponents for England if they progress from their Super 12s group. Ireland and Scotland, meanwhile, will hope to make it out of their preliminary groups after qualifying for the tournament.

Elsewhere, the Champions League group stages will be heating up, and F1 enters the home straight with races in Japan and the USA. Super League’s showpiece finale, the grand final, takes place at Old Trafford, before an Ashes series between England and Australia which concludes at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Quick guide October: key dates Show Hide 4 NRL grand final (Sydney)

4 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe (Longchamp)

10 Super League grand final (Old Trafford)

11 Chicago marathon

11 F1 Japanese GP (Suzuka)

12-18 Shanghai Masters

18-15 Nov Men’s T20 World Cup (Australia)

20-28 Baseball: World Series

25 F1 United States GP (Austin)

29-1 Nov WRC Wales Rally GB

31-14 Nov Rugby League Ashes Photograph: Patrick Semansky/AP

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Lewis Hamilton is aiming to end the year in Abu Dhabi with a record-equalling seventh world title. Photograph: Srđan Suki/EPA

November

The Formula One season reaches its climax in Abu Dhabi, and there are year-ending showdowns in men’s and women’s tennis, plus golf in Dubai. Two of the biggest horse races in the world, the Melbourne and Breeders’ Cups, will be contested, and the Women’s Africa Cup of Nations will kick off – although the hosts are yet to be confirmed.

Quick guide Nov/Dec: key dates Show Hide November 1 F1 Mexican GP (Mexico City)

1 New York marathon

2-8 WTA Tour Finals (Shenzhen)

2-11 Paris Masters

3 Nov Melbourne Cup

7 Nov Breeders’ Cup (California)

14-22 Grand Slam of Darts (Wolverhampton)

15 Nov F1 Brazilian GP (Interlagos)

16-22 ATP Finals (London)

18-21 DP World Tour Championship (Dubai)

23-29 Davis Cup Finals (Madrid)

28-12 Dec Women’s Africa Cup of Nations

29 F1 Abu Dhabi GP (Yas Marina) December 13 European cross-country championships (Ireland)

26 King George VI Stakes (Kempton) TBC Fifa Club World Cup

TBC Scottish League Cup final

TBC UK Championship snooker

TBC PDC world darts championship

December

The sporting year ends with a few festive staples – the PDC world darts championship returns, and there will be the usual post-Christmas football and horse racing action. The Club World Cup will return to Qatar, 12 months on from Liverpool’s victory. The European cross-country athletics championships will be held in Ireland, snooker’s UK Championship will be played out in York, and one hero from the past year will win the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year award.

… and here’s what you might have missed:

January

A big month for tennis began with the ATP Cup, a new team event won by Novak Djokovic’s Serbia, who beat Rafa Nadal’s Spain in the final. Djokovic wasn’t done there, going on to win the Australian Open final after an epic battle with Dominic Thiem. Sofia Kenin was the unexpected women’s champion, fighting back to beat Garbiñe Muguruza in a classic final. From Djokovic’s altercation with an umpire to the bushfire haze that hung over Melbourne, the tournament was beset by controversies.

In cricket, England completed a dramatic comeback to win the Test series in South Africa, with victory at the Wanderers securing a 3-1 win. In football, Aston Villa booked their place at Wembley with a two-legged semi-final win over Leicester. Dean Smith’s side will play Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, after they limped over the line in a derby double-header with United.

Elsewhere, Peter Wright shocked the darting world on New Year’s Day, beating favourite Michael van Gerwen 7-3 in the PDC world final. Wayne Warren took the BDO title, becoming the oldest ever champion at 57 – but the event suffered from poor crowds and low prize money. In snooker, Stuart Bingham beat Ali Carter and off-table distractions to win the Masters.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Kansas City QB Patrick Mahomes lifts the trophy after leading his team to Super Bowl glory. Photograph: Sean Ryan/IPS/Shutterstock

February

In the first weekend of the month, all eyes were on Miami for Super Bowl LIV. The Kansas City Chiefs earned their first NFL championship for 50 years, rallying to beat a San Francisco side who had one hand on the Vince Lombardi trophy in the fourth quarter. The NBA’s All-Star weekend in Chicago was overshadowed by the death of Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, in a helicopter crash.

Tyson Fury became a world heavyweight champion again, completing a remarkable recovery from depression and addiction issues. He ended Deontay Wilder’s unbeaten round by seventh-round knockout in Las Vegas; his opponent later claimed that his elaborate ring-walk costume had sapped his energy.

The Six Nations kicked off, with France surging towards a potential grand slam with home wins over England and Italy and an away victory in Cardiff – before the coronavirus outbreak left organisers battling to complete the tournament. Cycling’s UAE Tour was cancelled with two stages left to race, with Chris Froome among the field of riders quarantined before being allowed to return home.

Manchester City were hit by a two-season ban from the Champions League, but kept their on-field focus to beat Real Madrid in their last-16, first-leg encounter. It was a welcome boost for English clubs after Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea lost their first legs. Liverpool’s unbeaten Premier League run was also ended by Watford, but they remain on course to canter to the title.