Last updated on .From the section Sport

A new year offers the prospect of so much brilliant sport to look forward to in 2022.

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 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.

Great Britain will send a team of about 50 athletes to China, with hopes of surpassing the five medals won at Sochi 2014 and Pyeongchang 2018. If they do, they will become the most successful British Winter Olympic team of all time.

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.

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.

At a tournament that was postponed a year because of the Covid pandemic, England will bid to defend the title they won at Lord's in 2017 but Australia will start as favourites.

If Scotland and Wales win their matches, they will face each other in Cardiff on 29 March with a place in Qatar up for grabs. Wales are bidding to reach their first 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.

Ireland's Rachael Blackmore created history by becoming the first female jockey to win the Grand National, triumphing on Minella Times in last year's race. Can she win again in 2022?

Leicester are the holders thanks to a famous win over Chelsea last May, sealed by Youri Tielemans' spectacular strike.

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.

St Johnstone secured a remarkable cup double by beating Hibernian 1-0 in last year's final.

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.

2 June to 12 September - 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.

US Open champion Emma Raducanu will be the centre of attention but Andy Murray will hope for a good run - and fellow Britons Cameron Norrie and Dan Evans could also make headlines after a strong 2021.

Lewis Hamilton won last year's race despite a first-lap crash with Max Verstappen and the Briton's duel with the Dutch world champion promises to be one of the great rivalries of 2022.

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.

14-17 July - 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 major winner Tiger Woods, who hopes to play after nearly losing his right leg in a car crash last February.

Britons Dina Asher-Smith and Katarina Johnson-Thompson 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.

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 programme. Alongside the traditional Commonwealth sports, a women's Twenty20 cricket tournament will be held.

Britain's Olympic stars will compete for medals in athletics, beach volleyball, canoe sprint, cycling, gymnastics, rowing, sport climbing, table tennis and triathlon.

Six Nations champions England have won their past 18 matches and are clear favourites following record back-to-back victories over current champions New Zealand last autumn.

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.

The Premier League takes a break as the first 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 have already qualified and could be joined by Wales or Scotland.

To find out which events BBC Sport covers live each week, visit our live guide for links to all our TV, iPlayer, radio and online coverage - including text and radio commentaries and additional live streams from an array of sports.

Dates and venues are subject to change. The BBC is not responsible for any changes that are made. Some events and fixtures have yet to be announced

28-29: Motorsport - Formula E rounds one and two, Diriyah, Saudi Arabia

5-6: Rugby Union - Six Nations round one: Ireland v Wales, Scotland v England (both 5 Feb); France v Italy (6 Feb)

12-13: Rugby Union - Six Nations round two: Wales v Scotland, France v Ireland (both 12 Feb); Italy v England (13 Feb)

26-27: Rugby Union - Six Nations round three: Scotland v France, England v Wales (both 26 Feb; Ireland v Italy (27 Feb)

11-12: Rugby Union - Six Nations round four: Wales v France (11 Feb); Italy v Scotland, England v Ireland (both 12 Feb)

29: Football - European World Cup qualification finals: Wales or Austria v Scotland or Ukraine; Russia or Poland v Sweden or Czech Republic; Portugal or Turkey v Italy or North Macedonia

14: Athletics - Night of the 10,000m PBs incorporating the British trial race for the World Championships, Parliament Hill Athletics Track, London

6: Rugby Union - England v Argentina, Twickenham (other home nations yet to announce their autumn fixtures)

Source: BBC News

Powered by NewsAPI.org