Year-Ender 2024: Best Sporting Moments From Around The World

Time to close the chapter on 2024, a year where the sports world gave us enough moments of joy and celebration to offer a much-needed escape from the turmoil of rockets, bombs, wars, and unforgiving politics. (Year-Ender | Sports News)

The year of the Olympics, the Cricket T20 World Cup, and more – witnessed many good moments, from India’s victory in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to Baye🀅r Leverkꦛusen’s celebration in the Bundesliga and heartwarming moments at the Paris Games. Let’s take a look at five standout moments that made this year special before we turn the page to 2025.

1. Paris 2024 - A Beautiful Chapter

Paris 2024 was filled with beautiful moments that captured the hearts of millions with around 10,500 athletes participating in the 2024 Summer Olympics. One can't forget Turkey's 51-year-old shooter, Yusuf Dikec, competed without protective gear, claiming silver in the 10m mixed air pistol event becoming a meme material for all the cool humans out there!

Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem made history by winning his country’s first individual gold with a new Olympic javelin record.

Saint Lucia’s Julien Alfred made her nation proud by becoming the first from her country to win an Olympic medal, taking gold in t💯he 100m.

Simone Biles of the United States had a stunning return at the 2024 Paris Olympics, securing four medals in total that made her the second-🍃most decorated female gymꦯnast in Olympic history.

Tennis legend Novak Djokovic achieved a lifelong dream at the 2024 Paris Olympics, clinching the men's singles gold medal a title he 🐈had yet to c෴apture.

And 🌜the adorable Zhou Yaqin, the 18-year-old Chinese gymnast, won hearts with her innocent ♊reaction to biting her medal on the podium after securing silver in the women’s balance beam.

2. Formula One - Papaya's Celebration!

If not the best, then certainly one of the best — the 2024 Formula 1 season saw different colours on the podium! While Max Verstappen extended his dominance by clinching his fourth Drivers' World Title, Red Bull's usual supremacy was challenged. The spotlight shifted to McLaren, who, after𝓡 26 years, emerged victorious in the Constructors' Championship.

Lando Norris delivered a flawless drive at the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, leading McLaren to their first Constructors' Championship since 1998, alongside a stellar season from teammate Oscar Piastri. A historic achievement for the Woking-based team, marking the resurgence of a possible McLaren golden era. This year marks the end of Lewis Hamlton's partnership with Mercedes. The legend will ride a Prancing Horse in the new season having already rep♐laced Carlos Sainz at Ferrari.

3. Tennis - Jannik Sinner Made Italy Happy!

Jannik Sinner kicked off the 2024 season in sensational style, delivering himself and Italy their first Grand Slam win since 1976 at the Australian Open in January. The victory 🎶sparked nationwide celebr♎ations, from President Giorgia Meloni to all citizens.

But that was just the beginning for the 23-year-old tennis player. Later in the year,𝓀 Sinner clinched his second major at the US Open.

4. T20 World Cup - India's Festival After 12 Years

Cricket is often referred to as a festival in India, and in 2024, the country celebrated this festival li🌠ke never before. After 12 years of anticipation, India finally reclaimed the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, sending the nation into an ecstatic frenzy of blue.

Under Rohit Sharma’s captaincy, India overcame the heartbreak of the 2023 ICC World Cup and made history by becoming the first-ever unbeaten team to claim the T20 World Cup trophy. Both finalists, India and South Africa, were unbeaten in the run-up to the final, but Men in Blue lifted the trophy after beating the Proteas by 7 runs in the summit clash in June 2024.

5. Football - Did you see Bundesliga?

In 2024, Bayer Leverkusen, under Xabi Alonso, ended Bayern Munich’s 11-year reign in the🐭 German Bundesliga by securing their first-ever national title. But it wasn't just the victory that captured the world's attention; it was how the fans celebrated.

As the final whistle blew at the BayArena, Leverkusen sealed a dominant 5-0 victory over Werder Bremen, with Florian Wirtz scoring a hat trick. The stands erupted with happiness, and fans breached the stadium boundaries, flooding the pitch in waves of red. The air was filled with the glow of flares and red fires all around, as a ♍roar of thousands echoed in celebration of their historic triumph. With red smoke billowing through the wind, it was a scene of absolute joy in German football, in all football.