2024 is set to become a promising year for the world of sports. Numerous tournaments and marathons will take place across the country, drawing hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of spectators. From the London Marathon to the Premier League Finals and Wimbleton, these sporting events are not to be missed.

The London Marathon

Ever since its introduction in 1981, the London Marathon has become one of the most emblematic sporting events in the UK. In over four decades, more than a million people have completed the course and over a billion pounds have been raised for charitable causes. It is an event with several components, including races for professional long-distance and under-17 athletes as well as elite-level wheelchair runners and the general public.

The marathon’s 2024 edition will take place on April 21st. Spectators are welcome to watch from almost any point along the race’s 26.2-mile stretch, which covers several of the capital’s landmarks. Those unable to join in person can follow the event’s broadcast by BBC One, BBC Two, and BBC Online and iPlayer.

FA Cup Finals

Summer will be a busy season for Wembley Stadium. Not only will the historic venue host the Champions League final, but it will also host two other high-profile football matches: the Adobe Women’s FA and the men’s Emirates FA Cup finals.

The women’s match will kick off on Sunday, May 12th, and will be broadcast by the BBC across BBC One, BBC iPlayer, and BBC Sport. The 2023 edition of the tournament saw Chelsea F.C. defeat Manchester United 1 to 0 in front of a record-setting crowd of 77,390 spectators (the biggest audience for a domestic women’s match). 2024 will be even more competitive, as the FA has doubled the winners’ prize pot to £430,000.

The men’s Emirates FA Cup finals, on the other hand, will take place on May 25. Also known simply as the FA Cup, the knockout competition is the oldest football competition in the history of the world. Manchester City are the deafening champions, having defeated rivals Manchester United 2 to 1 at Wembley.

The Champions League Final

The very best of European football will be crowned at London’s Wembley Stadium on the first of June as the 2023/23 UEFA Champions League season comes to an end. The match will kick off at 8 PM at the historic venue, which has hosted the event eight times prior. The 69th edition of the tournament will see Manchester City defend their title. While they are positioned as the favourites to win, there is still a long road ahead, and prolific teams such as Bayern Munich, Arsenal, Real Madrid, and Paris Saint-Germain have high odds of lifting the 7.5-kilogram trophy. The winners will also earn the right to play against the winners of the 2023/24 UEFA Europa League and will automatically qualify for the 2025 expanded FIFA Club World Cup.

Gallagher Premiership Rugby Final

The last match of the maximum competition of English rugby returns on June 8. The 2023/24 final will be hosted at Twickenham Stadium, known as the “home of England Rugby”. Ten teams started the season in October 2023, including title defenders North London’s Saracens who defeated Sale Sharks last May. This year, however, the Northampton Saints have positioned themselves on top of the Premiership table, closely followed by Exeter, Sale Sharks, and Bath. The competition will be broadcast by TNT Sports and ITV.

Wimbleton

This year, Wimbledon will last two weeks, starting on the first of July. In 1870, with just 22 men, the inaugural Championships took place at the All England Croquet and Lawn Tennis Club, where Spencer Gore became the first Champion watched by 200 people. Today, Wimbledon is the most prestigious tennis competition, drawing in royalty, celebrities, and the wider public.

It includes five main events, four junior events, and seven invitation events. In 2023, Marketa Vondrousova claimed her first Slam title, while Carlos Alcaraz defeated legend Novak Djokovic in the men’s final at Wimbledon. Due to the high demand, tennis enthusiasts can only get tickets by participating in the public ballot, which has already closed. Alternatively, it is possible to catch the action on BBC One, BBC Two, or BBC iPlayer.

International Cricket matches

Brits have been playing cricket, the “gentleman’s sport”, as early as the 16th century. Throughout the years, the sport has garnered global attention, amassing a fanbase that rivals that of football. There will be numerous domestic and international matches in 2024, including England vs the West Indies (1st Test) from 10 to 14 of July at Lord’s, England vs Sri Lanka (2nd Test) from August 29 to September 2nd, and England vs Australia (2nd ODI) on September 27 at Lord’s Cricket Ground. Meanwhile, the women’s team will take on New Zealand’s T20 side at the Oval and Lord’s in May.