Olympic Games, Euro, CHAN, AfroBasket: the major sporting events of 2021
The Olympic rings in Tokyo, host city of the Olympic Games.
AFP / Archives
Text by: Tom Rossi Follow
7 min
After a year 2020 marked by the postponements of many major sporting events due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the 2021 calendar is very busy but remains subject to the evolution of the health crisis.
The Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, Euro and African Nations Football Championship, AfroBasket and African Athletics Championships are particularly anticipated.
Publicity
Read more
This odd year should have, as is usually the case, been quieter.
The highlight was to be the
African Cup of Nations
.
But CAN, like most major international competitions, has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
For three other major events, 2021 will be the year of the second chance: the Olympic and Paralympic Games and the Euro football.
These competitions will therefore take place in an odd year, for the first time.
The African Nations Championship (CHAN)
It is the first big competition of the year.
The first stamped 2020 but which will take place in 2021.
This African Cup of Nations for local players
will take place in Cameroon from January 16 to February 7.
A full-scale test for the host country of the CAN (postponed to 2022).
Cameroon "
is ready to host the event,
" greeted the African Football Confederation (CAF) on December 10.
If the four stadiums which will host the matches cannot be filled because of the health crisis, CAF has nevertheless authorized the presence of spectators within the limit of a gauge called upon to evolve over the competition.
At home, Cameroonians will therefore have support to hope to dethrone Morocco.
Moroccan striker Ayoub El Kaabi during CHAN 2018. Courtesy of CAF
The Men's Handball World Championship
For the third time in its history, the competition is stopping over in Africa.
Egypt will host this World Cup from January 13 to 31, almost at the same time as CHAN.
The two leading nations of the continent
, Tunisia and Egypt dream of reaching the last four, a feat achieved by these two selections, in 2001 for the “
Pharaohs
”, and in 2005 for the “
Eagles of Carthage
”.
For their first appearance,
the Democratic Republic of Congo will face defending Denmark
.
The France team will try to redeem itself after a Euro 2020 completed in the first round.
The African Athletics Championships
A little over a month before the Tokyo Olympics, this major continental event will be an opportunity to build up confidence for athletes who dream of Olympic medals.
This is particularly the case of Ivorian sprinters Marie-Josée Ta Lou,
Murielle Ahouré
and the Burkinabè triple jumper
Hugues Fabrice Zango
.
It is the city of Oran in Algeria that will host this 22nd edition of the African Championships, from June 1 to 5.
Murielle Ahouré and Marie-Josée Ta Lou celebrate their performance at the World Indoor Athletics Championships in Birmingham, March 2, 2018. REUTERS / Hannah McKay
Euro football
This 16th European Championship is added to the long list of major sporting events postponed for a year.
This will undoubtedly be one of the highlights of this year 2021. It will take place from 11 June to 11 July in twelve European cities, but UEFA could nevertheless decide to reduce the sails depending on the development of the health situation.
The France team, finalist in 2016 and reigning world champion, will be one of the big favorites with Portugal, winner five years ago, the Netherlands and England in full revival.
The Blues will, however, quickly have to enter the competition since they are in
the highest group with the Portuguese and the Germans
.
The Euro football trophy.
AP - Matthias Schrader
The football Copa America
Double dose of international football in June with the Copa América which will take place in Colombia and Argentina, at the same time as the Euro.
The competition had never been co-organized by two countries before this 46th edition.
This will perhaps be the last opportunity for Lionel Messi to lift the trophy, he who will celebrate his 34 years during this Copa América, at home, in large part.
Brazil Neymar
titleholder
, Uruguay Suarez and Cavani will also eagerly awaited.
The Olympic and Paralympic Games
This will be the climax of this year 2021. Postponed for a year,
the Olympics will take place in Tokyo, Japan
.
From July 23 to August 8 (Olympic Games) and from August 24 to September 5 (Paralympic Games), all sports lovers will have their eyes fixed on this event,
which is however less and less popular in Japan
.
The health crisis has greatly cooled the Japanese and leaves some doubt about the presence or not of spectators.
AfroBasket 2021
The African Men's Basketball Championship will be held for the first time in Kigali, Rwanda, from August 24 to September 5.
We do not yet know the qualified teams since
the qualifiers are underway
, but the title holders Senegal, DRC and Tunisia are almost guaranteed to take part.
Previously held every two years, the competition now takes place every four years.
Some stars of the NBA could come to defend the colors of their country like the Senegalese of Utah Jazz,
Georges Niang
.
Women's Rugby World Cup 2021
Like the men's AfroBasket, this Women's Rugby World Cup will take place on the dates initially scheduled, from September 18 to October 16 in Auckland, New Zealand.
It is one of the few big events that has not been postponed.
The New Zealanders, title holders, will be the huge favorites.
The France team, semi-finalist in the last five editions, will try to qualify for the final for the first time.
Unlike the men's selection, the women's formation from South Africa has never reached the last four.
It is the only team from the African continent that will take part in the competition, perhaps awaiting the qualification of Kenya in a difficult draft tournament.
Women's Handball World Championship
The circle is complete.
After the men at the start of the year, it is time for the women to finish 2021. This 25th world championship will take place in Spain from December 2 to 19.
Les Bleues, finalists of the Euro on December 20
, will try to recover their world crown lost two years ago for the benefit of the Netherlands.
Five African nations will participate in this competition.
They will be known at the end of the African championship in June, in Cameroon.
Newsletter
Receive all international news directly in your mailbox
I subscribe
Follow all the international news by downloading the RFI application
google-play-badge_FR
Sports
Soccer
Olympic Games
CHAN 2020
Basketball
Athletics