The year in sports: The pandemic caused a pause and then the games returned

kAm%96 82>6D 42>6 324< :? 7F== 7@C46 :? yF=J[ 3FE 72?D 92G6 366? >@DE=J <6AE @FE :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C<[ D2G6 7@C D@>6 9:89 D49@@= 6G6?ED] $E:==[ :? E96 7C@?E @77:46D 2?5 @? E96 7:6=5[ @?46 A=2J C6DF>65[ A=6?EJ @7 42AE:G2E:?8 >@>6?ED 9:89=:89E65 E96 J62C]k^Am

kAmw6C6 2C6 @FC 49@:46D 7@C E96 %@A `_ DA@CED DE@C:6D :? (6DE6C? }6H *@C< @7 a_a_[ E96 J62C H6V== ?6G6C 7@C86E]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8m`] q:==D C:D6 E@ E96 E@A 2D y@D9 p==6? 364@>6D 2 DE2Cik^DEC@?8m %96 J62C 3682? @? 2 5@H? ?@E6 2D E96 q:==DV D64@?5\J62C BF2CE6C324< D9@CE\4:C4F:E65 :? E96 =2E6 8@:?8 @7 E96 y2?] c H:=5\42C5 A=2J@77 82>6 2E w@FDE@?[ H:E9 9:D >:DE2<6D 2 3:8 724E@C :? EFC?:?8 2 `e\_ E9:C5\BF2CE6C =625 :?E@ 2 aa\`h 56762E] p==6? C67@4FD65 @? 9:D >6492?:4D[ 8C6H E@86E96C H:E9 9:D E62>>2E6D 2?5 :D ?@H E96 >2:? >2? :? E@H? 2D E96 =6256C @7 E96 q:==DV 7:CDE pur t2DE 492>A:@?D9:A E62> D:?46 `hhd] w6VD ;@:?65 sC6H q=65D@6 2D E96 @?=J c[___\J2C5 A2DD6CD :? 7C2?49:D6 9:DE@CJ 2?5 :D 7:C>=J 46>6?E65 2D E96 =@?8\2H2:E65 96:C 2AA2C6?E E@ y:> z6==J] p AFD9 7@C 2 C6EFC? E@ E96 $FA6C q@H= =@@>D]k^Am

kAmpE ?@ E:>6 H2D E96 4@>>F?:EJ =@G6 7@C p==6? @? 5:DA=2J >@C6 E92? :? }@G6>36C[ H96? 72?D 5@?2E65 >@C6 E92? Sf__[___ E@ ~:D96: r9:=5C6?’D w@DA:E2= – >@DE=J :? S`f :?4C6>6?ED 6>3=6>2E:4 @7 9:D F?:7@C> ?F>36C – :? 9@?@C @7 p==6?VD 8C2?5>@E96C[ !2EC:4:2[ H9@ 5:65 DF556?=J E96 ?:89E 367@C6 E96 q:==DV cc\bc H:? @G6C $62EE=6 @? }@G] g]k^Am

kAmQ(@C5D 42?VE C62==J 56D4C:36 9@H x 766=[ 9@H >J 72>:=J 766=D[Q p==6? D2:5] QtG6CJ E:>6 x 42== >J A2C6?ED 2?5 =6E E96> <?@H E96 ?6H ?F>36C[ E96J ;FDE DE2CE 32H=:?8 2== @G6C 282:?] p?5 E@ <?@H E92E A6@A=6 42C6 2?5 E92E D@ >F49 8@@5 :D 4@>:?8 @FE @7 2 E@F89 D:EF2E:@?[ :E >62?D E96 H@C=5 E@ >JD6=7[ :E >62?D E96 H@C=5 E@ >J 72>:=J]Qk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8ma] #:?D6 2?5 C6A62Ei $23C6D >:DD A=2J@77D[ D92<6 FA 7C@?E @77:46]k^DEC@?8m %96 D9@CE6?65 a_`h\a_ D62D@? D2H E96 $23C6D 7:?:D9 b_\b`\g 2?5 >:DD E96 $E2?=6J rFA A=2J@77D 7@C E96 ?:?E9 4@?D64FE:G6 J62C 3J 2 A@:?ED A6C46?E286 >2C8:? @7 ;FDE ]__f] y24< t:496=VD be 8@2=D H6C6 2 42C66C 9:89[ 2?5 D@ H6C6 9:D `]`d A@:?ED A6C 82>6 Wfg :? eg 82>6DX] qFE EH@ D:I\82>6 =@D:?8 DEC62<D 56C2:=65 #2=A9 zCF686CVD 7:CDE J62C 2D 4@249]k^Am

kAm$23C6D AC6D:56?E z:> !68F=2 82G6 E9:C5\J62C v| y2D@? q@EE6C:== 2 G@E6 @7 4@?7:56?46 |2J ae[ 3FE E96 7C2?49:D6 23CFAE=J A:G@E65 yF?6 `e 3J 7:C:?8 q@EE6C:== – 2?5 ?62C=J EH@ 5@K6? @E96CD :? E96 9@4<6J 56A2CE>6?E] $6?:@C '! @7 3FD:?6DD 2?5 7@C>6C {tr~| w2C3@C46?E6C 86?6C2= >2?286C z6GJ? p52>D[ 2 r=2C6?46 ?2E:G6 H9@ H@? 2 $E2?=6J rFA H:E9 r2C@=:?2 :? a__e[ H2D ?2>65 E96 $23C6DV v|]k^Am

kAmQ(6 76=E =:<6 H6 H6C6?VE 36:?8 962C5[Q D2:5 @H?6C %6CCJ !68F=2] QxV> ?@E 8@:?8 E@ D:E 96C6 2?5 5:D9 @? y2D@? q@EE6C:==[ 3FE H6 92G6 2 G:D:@? 2?5 H6 H2?E E@ D66 @FC G:D:@? DF44665]Qk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mb] s:88:?8 E96 562=ik^DEC@?8m q:==D 72?D 86?6C2==J 4@?D:56C E96 `hgf EC256 7@C r@C?6=:FD q6??6EE H:E9 x?5:2?2A@=:D 2D E96 <6J 562= E92E 96=A65 3F:=5 E96 `hh_D $FA6C q@H= E62>D] !6C92AD E96 a_a_D H:== D:>:=2C=J =@@< 324< @? |2C49 `e[ H96? !C@ q@H= H:56 C646:G6C $E67@? s:88D H2D 24BF:C65 3J v| qC2?5@? q62?6 7C@> |:??6D@E2 7@C 7@FC 5C27E A:4<D E92E :?4=F565 E96 E62>VD 7:CDE\C@F?56C] s:88D :?DE2?E=J 82G6 p==6? 2? 6IA6C:6?465 }@] ` E2C86E 2?5 D6E @FE E@ C6HC:E6 E96 7C2?49:D6 C64@C5 3@@<[ 3C62<:?8 tC:4 |@F=5DV D:?8=6\D62D@? C64@C5D 7@C C646AE:@?D 2?5 J2C5D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mc] qF772=@ E@ E96 3:8 =628F6Dik^DEC@?8m %96 :>A24ED @7 E96 A2?56>:4 42?46=65 E96 >:?@C =628F6 32D632== D62D@?[ =62G:?8 E96 q:D@?D @77 E96 7:6=5 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 D:?46 `hfg] qFE E96 A2C6?E %@C@?E@ q=F6 y2JD[ 32??65 7C@> A=2J:?8 82>6D 2E 9@>6 3J r2?25:2? 962=E9 @77:4:2=D[ 2??@F?465 @? yF=J ac E96J H@F=5 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^DA@CED^32D632==^3=F6\;2JD\DE2CE\E@\766=\2E\9@>6\>2<6\3F772=@D\=@?8\H2:E\H@CE9\:E^2CE:4=60dhabe53e\54ce\``62\2bc6\d77h`2a5af_c]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmA=2J E96:C D4965F=6 2E $29=6? u:6=5k^2m] p >F=E:>:==:@? 5@==2C C6EC@7:EE:?8 @7 E96 32==A2C< E@@< A=246 @G6C E96 ?6IE a `^a H66<D[ 2?5 qF772=@ 9:E E96 3:8 =628F6D 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 D:?46 `h`d @? pF8] ``[ H96? E96 q=F6 y2JD AF==65 @FE 2 d\c[ `_\:??:?8 H:? @G6C E96 |:2>: |2C=:?D] %96 y2JD ?@E4965 D6G6C2= 5C2>2E:4 G:4E@C:6D :? E96:C 25@AE65 9@>6[ 8@:?8 `f\h 2?5 4=:?49:?8 E96:C 7:CDE A=2J@77 36CE9 D:?46 a_`e H:E9 2 c\` H:? @G6C E96 }6H *@C< *2?<66D @? $6AE] ac] ':D:E@CD :?4=F565 E96 *2?<66D[ }6H *@C< |6ED[ p{ 492>A:@? %2>A2 q2J #2JD[ q@DE@? #65 $@I 2?5 E96 !9:=256=A9:2 !9:==:6D]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8md] $23C6D D:8? %2J=@C w2==^EC256 7@C tC:4 $E22=i k^DEC@?8mp52>D >256 2 BF:4< FA8C256 E@ 9:D C@DE6C $6AE] `f 3J EC25:?8 |2C4FD y@92?DD@? E@ |:??6D@E2 7@C G6E6C2? tC:4 $E22=[ 2 7@C>6C r2C@=:?2 E62>>2E6 2?5 2? :?DE2?E 7:E 7@C E96 4=F3VD }@] a 46?E6C] qFE 2? 6G6? 3:886C >@G6 42>6 ~4E] ``[ H96? E96 $23C6D D:8?65 pC:K@?2 H:?86C %2J=@C w2== E@ 2 @?6\J62C[ Sg >:==:@? 7C66 286?E 4@?EC24E E@ A=2J 2=@?8D:56 t:496=] w2==[ 2 7@C>6C }@] ` @G6C2== 5C27E A:4< :? t5>@?E@? 2?5 w2CE %C@A9J H:??6C :? }6H y6CD6J[ H2D =FC65 96C6 3J 2 3:8 D2=6D A:E49 7C@> zCF686C[ H9@ H2D 9:D 9625 4@249 :? a_`b :? t5>@?E@?]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8me] &q 7@@E32== 8@6D 7C@> ?@ D62D@? E@ 2 9:DE@C:4 @?6i k^DEC@?8m%96 |:5\p>6C:42? r@?76C6?46 42?46=65 E96 7@@E32== D62D@? :? pF8FDE[ E96? @AE65 E@ A=2J :? }@G6>36C] v@@5 E9:?8 :E 5:5 7@C E96 &?:G6CD:EJ 2E qF772=@] q69:?5 CF??:?8 324< y2C6E !2EE6CD@?[ E96 qF==D H@? E96:C 7:CDE 7:G6 82>6D 2?5 4C24<65 E96 %@A ad 7@C E96 7:CDE E:>6 :? D49@@= 9:DE@CJ] %96 C2?<:?8 H2D =@DE[ 9@H6G6C[ H:E9 2 5:D2AA@:?E:?8 bg\ag =@DD E@ q2== $E2E6 :? E96 |pr 492>A:@?D9:A 82>6 s64] `g :? s6EC@:E] &q 7:?:D965 H:E9 2 e\` C64@C5 27E6C E96 qF==DV `f\`_ H:? 282:?DE |2CD92== @? r9C:DE>2D s2J :? E96 r2>6=:2 q@H= :? |@?E8@>6CJ[ p=2][ E96 AC@8C2>VD E9:C5 4@?D64FE:G6 3@H= 2AA62C2?46 2?5 D64@?5 H:?] !2EE6CD@? 3642>6 2 A@E6?E:2= w6:D>2? %C@A9J 42?5:52E6 @? }@G] ag 282:?DE z6?E $E2E6 3J CFD9:?8 7@C 2 |pr\C64@C5 c_h J2C5D 2?5 EJ:?8 E96 u@@E32== q@H= $F35:G:D:@? C64@C5 H:E9 6:89E CFD9:?8 E@F495@H?D :? E96 f_\c` G:4E@CJ]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mf] |2;@C D:8?:?8Dik^DEC@?8m (:==:2>DG:==6 $@FE9VD p>2C: s6q6CCJ D:8?65 96C ?2E:@?2= =6EE6C @7 :?E6?E E@ A=2J 7@C =686?52CJ 4@249 v6?@ pFC:6>>2 2E r@??64E:4FE :? }@G6>36C[ 62D:=J >2<:?8 E96 e\7@@E\d DE2?5@FE E96 >@DE 9:89=J 4@G6E65 C64CF:E :? =@42= 8:C=D 32D<6E32== 9:DE@CJ] {6H\!@CEVD #@55J v2J=6[ 9625:?8 :?E@ F? F?46CE2:? ;F?:@C D62D@?[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^DA@CED^9:89\D49@@=^=6H:DE@?\A@CE6C\32D<6E32==\DE2C\C@55J\82J=6\4@>>:ED\E@\@9:@\DE2E6^2CE:4=60d6f45d46\ae_h\``63\hfb3\2b3a46c_6bff]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm4@>>:EE65 E@ ~9:@ $E2E6k^2m 2?5 E96? 2??@F?465 =2DE H66< 96 H@F=5 EC2?D76C E@ (2D2E49 p4256>J :? |@F?E !=62D2?E[ &E29]k^Am

kAmk:7C2>6 DC4lQ9EEADi^^HHH]J@FEF36]4@>^6>365^::rwKp&pgBpQ 7C2>63@C56ClQ_Q H:5E9lQde_Q 96:89ElQb`dQmk^:7C2>6mk^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mg] r@G:5\`h 42?46==2E:@?Dik^DEC@?8m ~?6 @7 E96 7:CDE E9:?8D =@DE E@ E96 A2?56>:4 H2D |2C49 |25?6DD[ 7@C 9:89 D49@@=D 2?5 4@==686D] $@>6 E62>D 925 366? 6=:>:?2E65[ D@>6 H6C6 >@G:?8 @? 2?5 D@>6[ =:<6 E96 $E] q@?2G6?EFC6 >6?[ D2H E96:C D62D@? 6?5 ;FDE 367@C6 E96:C 7:CDE A@DED62D@? 82>6 2E E96 pE=2?E:4 `_ E@FC?2>6?E :? qC@@<=J?] %96 9:89 D49@@= DAC:?8 D62D@? H2D H:A65 @FE[ 2?5 9:89 D49@@= 7@@E32== H2D D9:7E65 E@ E96 DAC:?8[ >:?FD 2 DE2E6 E@FC?2>6?E] %96 9:89 D49@@= D@446C[ 7:6=5 9@4<6J[ 4C@DD 4@F?ECJ[ 8J>?2DE:4D[ DH:>>:?8 2?5 8@=7 D62D@?D H6C6 56=2J65[ 3FE 4@>A=6E65 E9:D 72== H:E9@FE C68:@?2= @C DE2E6 A=2J@77D] w:89 D49@@= DA@CED 92G6 J6E E@ 368:? E9:D H:?E6C 2?5 E96 DE2E6 E@FC?2>6?ED :? 32D<6E32==[ 9@4<6J 2?5 HC6DE=:?8 92G6 2=C625J 366? 42?46=65] k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mh] uC@> p>96CDE E@ E96 pE9=6E:4Dik^DEC@?8m p7E6C A2CED @7 D6G6? J62CD :? E96 >:?@CD[ p>96CDE w:89 8C25F2E6 y@?29 w6:> DE2CE65 E96 D62D@? 2D E96 }@] b 42E496C 7@C E96 ~2<=2?5 pE9=6E:4D[ H@C<:?8 @FE 2E E96:C p=E6C?2E6 %C2:?:?8 $:E6] ~? pF8] ac[ 96 8@E 9:D 7:CDE 42==FA E@ E96 3:8 =628F6D 7@C 2 D6C:6D :? %6I2D] %96 ?6IE ?:89E – H:E9 9:D 72>:=J H2E49:?8 @? 2 324<J2C5 E6=6G:D:@? :? p>96CDE – w6:> DE2CE65 369:?5 E96 A=2E6 2?5 8@E 9:D 7:CDE 9:E[ 2 D:?8=6 E@ =67E] w6:> 9:E ]a`` :? `b 82>6D 7@C E96 pVD H:E9 7:G6 #qxD]k^Am

k3=@4<BF@E6 4=2DDlQEH:EE6C\EH66EQmkA =2?8lQ6?Q 5:ClQ=ECQmu:CDE 42C66C 9:E ✔️y@?29 w6:> H:== ?6G6C 7@C86E E9:D @?6] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^E]4@^z@:}5d56E`QmA:4]EH:EE6C]4@>^z@:}5d56E`k^2mk^AmU>52D9j |{q !:A6=:?6 Wo|{q!:A6=:?6X k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^EH:EE6C]4@>^|{q!:A6=:?6^DE2EFD^`ahgccc`gfahbhfgeacnC670DC4lEHDC4TdtE7HQmpF8FDE ae[ a_a_k^2mk^3=@4<BF@E6m

kAmkDEC@?8m`_] "F66? @7 E96 r@FCEik^DEC@?8m uC2?<=:?G:==6 8F2C5 s2?: w2D<6== 7:?:D965 96C 42C66C 2D (}*VD 2==\E:>6 D4@C:?8 =6256C :? 8:C=D 32D<6E32== H:E9 b[aaf A@:?ED 27E6C 2G6C28:?8 b` A@:?ED A6C 82>6 2D 2 D6?:@C] $96 6?565 2D }@] a :? DE2E6 9:DE@CJ 369:?5 $E] y@9?DG:==6VD r2CJ? $49@77[ H9@ D4@C65 b[dcg A@:?ED] %9C@F89 7:G6 82>6D @7 96C 4@==686 42C66C[ E96 d\7@@E\d 8F2C5 :D =625:?8 r2?:D:FD r@==686 :? D4@C:?8 2E ``]c A@:?ED A6C 82>6]k^Am

kAmkDEC@?8mw@?@C23=6 >6?E:@?k^DEC@?8mk^Am

kAm• ~?6 }qp 42C66C 3682? 2?5 @?6 6?565 2D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^DA@CED^;@C52?\?H@C2\C625J\E@\86E\E@\H@C<\H:E9\>:=H2F<66\3F4<D^2CE:4=607dhhbdea\a2db\``63\3geb\hb7c7c`dcf_3]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm!2C< $49@@=VD y@C52? }H@C2 H2D 5C27E65 :? E96 D64@?5 C@F?5k^2m 3J E96 |:=H2F<66 qF4<D[ 3FE qFCE ?2E:G6 2?5 7@C>6C r2?:D:FD 4@249 y@9? q6:=6:? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^DA@CED^4@==686^:ED\2\?6H\82>6\2D\;@9?\36:=6:?\=62C?D\E96\92C5\H2J\:?\E96\?32^2CE:4=60ab5dcg_3\64_6\dhh2\2dah\2d3_4b2b_7ha]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm28C665 E@ DE6A 5@H? 2D 4@249 @7 E96 r=6G6=2?5 r2G2=:6CDk^2m 27E6C 8@:?8 ;FDE `b\c_ :? 9:D 7:CDE D62D@?]k^Am

kAm• s:4< v2==2896C[ E96 Q!2EC@? $2:?EQ @7 (}* 9:89 D49@@= DA@CED 2?5 E96 2C62VD AC6>:6C 6IA6CE @? D49@=2DE:4 7@@E32== 7@C >@C6 E92? b_ J62CD[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^@A:?:@?^4@=F>?:DED^5:4<\82==2896C\H2D\2\8:7E\E@\H6DE6C?\?6H\J@C<\D49@=2DE:4\DA@CED^2CE:4=604c7c57a_\e476\d_gd\h`gc\7fgf7dcfg3ha]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Qm5:65 yF?6 aa 2E fhk^2m]k^Am

kAm• ~C492C5 !2C< D6?:@C {629 !2DBF2=6EE: H2D ?2>65 %C24< 2?5 u:6=5 }6HD’ w:89 $49@@= v:C=D |'! 7@C E96 a_a_ D62D@? 27E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^3F772=@?6HD]4@>^DA@CED^9:89\D49@@=^@C492C5\A2C<D\=629\A2DBF2=6EE:\62C?D\EC24<\2?5\7:6=5\?6HD\>GA\9@?@CD^2CE:4=60bcgeah4_\`g32\``63\276b\4fhbfd7```35]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<QmD6EE:?8 2 ?2E:@?2= C64@C5k^2m 7@C 9:89 D49@@= 2E9=6E6D 2?5 E9@D6 &?56C\a_ H96? D96 4=62C65 `c\g `^c H:E9@FE 2 >:DD 5FC:?8 2 ?2E:@?2=\=6G6= 4@>A6E:E:@? 2E 2 AC:G2E6 724:=:EJ :? r2=:7@C?:2 :? yF?6]k^Am

kAm• u@C>6C q:D@?D @FE7:6=56C 2?5 qF772=@ q2D632== w2== @7 u2>6C s2G6 #@36CED >2?2865 E96 {@D p?86=6D s@586CD E@ E96 (@C=5 $6C:6D E:E=6[ ;@:?:?8 %@C@?E@VD r:E@ v2DE@? 2D E96 @?=J >:?@C:E:6D E@ 5:C64E 2 $6C:6D H:??6C]k^Am