Sports are more than a competition. They are a testament to human ability. For loyal viewers, it’s about the excitement, the drama, and the moments of unexpected triumph. Whether we’re rooting for our national team, a tournament underdog, or a fan-favourite athlete, sporting events bring people together to share in an experience that brings our emotions to life.
After all the postponements and cancellations of many highly anticipated sports events in 2021, COVID-19 regulations are finally easing up this year to give sports enthusiasts all the action they’ve been desperately waiting for.
If you’re planning on supporting your favourite teams or athletes from the comfort and safety of your couch, these are the events you’ll want to pin on your calendar in 2022.
2022 Winter Olympics
The XXIV Olympic Winter Games, commonly known as Beijing 2022, is undoubtedly one of the biggest global sporting events of the year, scheduled to start on 4 February in Beijing and other venues in the neighbouring towns of Yanqing and Chongli in China. Seven exciting new events will be making their debut this year, including the women’s monobob, men’s and women’s freestyle and Big Air skiing, and mixed team events in short track speed skating, ski jumping, snowboard cross and freestyle skiing aerials.
This year’s Olympics marks the first time a host city has staged both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games and will also feature the highest number of women’s events in the history of the games. With women accounting for 45% of all competitors compared to 41% in Pyeongchang 2018, Beijing 2022 proudly celebrates a greater gender balance among athletes.
The Six Nations
The Guinness Six Nations Rugby Championship is one of the major annual events in the World Rugby calendar, where we see six rugby titans – England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland, and Wales –battling it out for the coveted trophy over six unforgettable weeks. The tournament kicks off on 5 February with last year’s reigning champions, Wales, going head-to-head against Ireland on their home turf in Dublin.
The Six Nations goes as far back as 1883, when it was initially played between England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales, marking the first international rugby union tournament. France was added in 1910 and Italy in 2000, bringing the total to six powerhouse teams.
After last year’s matches had to take place without any spectators due to the pandemic, this year’s tournament is sure to bring back the exceptional energy of a stadium full of supporters.
The French Open
After Rafael Nadal broke the record for the most men’s singles Grand Slam victories in history at this year’s Australian Open, tennis fans were left yearning for more. Fortunately, they will be served with more world-class tennis as the French Open, also known as Roland-Garros, takes place from 22 May to 5 June.
The French Open has been held since 1891 and is known for its iconic red clay courts, which creates a slower pace of play and higher ball bounces. This surface favours players with more athletic ability and physical strength, who will have to endure seven hard-fought matches throughout the tournament. With Rafael Nadal known as the ‘King of Clay’ with a heavy topspin game, it’ll be interesting to see whether he can take yet another Grand Slam title home, making his collection an impressive 22 wins.
The at-home stadium
With all this unmissable action on the sports calendar this year, we will finally be able to watch our favourite sporting events with crowds of supporters filling up stadiums and creating the exhilarating atmosphere we have all sorely missed. For sports enthusiasts looking to recreate that atmosphere at home, there have also been some noteworthy advances in home entertainment that make this possible.
LG’s latest OLED TVs are great for watching big sports on the big screen as they come with Motion Pro technology that reduces motion blur, delivering clearer visuals and smoother sports action. These TVs also feature over 100 million self-lit pixels that can turn on and off on an individual level, resulting in more accurate colours and infinite contrast. And because OLED pixels react individually, they also change colours faster to display fast-moving sports scenes with less blur and flickering than backlit LED TVs.
For viewers with a penchant for excellent audio quality, it is worth mentioning that LG’s OLED TVs – as well as their SN7 and SN11 soundbars – come standard with Dolby Atmos. This revolutionary audio format goes beyond conventional surround sound by adding a height channel to deliver a more immersive and multi-dimensional audio experience. I It also isolates certain sounds, such as a sports commentator’s voice or a cheering crowd, and places them more distinctly in different parts of your living room. To be transported directly to the stadium when watching sports from home, be sure to invest in a sound system that supports electrifying Dolby Atmos.
A profound year for sports
With more countries easing COVID-19 restrictions, more major tournaments are finally opening their doors to spectators. Make sure to mark these edge-of-your-seat sporting events on your calendar and, if you haven’t already, you might want to consider investing in the ultimate at-home stadium experience. Start getting excited – 2022 is bound to be a fantastic year for sports.
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