10 things we learned from sport in 2020

Anti-racism messages and the cancellation of events dominated the calendar during a unique year.

2020 was a sporting year like no other with events cancelled and empty stadiums being the new normal.

Here, the PA news agency looks at 10 things we have learned about sport during an unprecedented 12 months.

Taking a stand against racism counts

Manchester United v Southampton – Premier League – Old Trafford — Footballers took a knee in 2020 to make a powerful anti-racism message (Clive Brunskill/NMC Pool)

Big events are missed

Events fell like dominoes in 2020 as the Covid-19 pandemic took a heavy toll on the sporting calendar around the globe. Tennis fans missed out on Wimbledon and golf’s Open Championship was also cancelled as sport-lovers looked on with regret. Others events such as football’s European Championship and the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics were delayed for 12 months in the hope that they would eventually go ahead in 2021.

Sport is nothing without fans

Manchester City v Arsenal – Premier League – Etihad Stadium — Manchester City and Arsenal play in front of empty stands at the Etihad Stadium (Alex Livesey/PA)

Thinking outside the box works

Covid-19 created huge problems over venues, but organisers stepped up to protect broadcasting rights and provide fans with entertainment. Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn staged fight camps throughout August and bio-secure bubbles became one of the buzz phrases of 2020. Sports teams were housed on site and the England cricket team spent their summer at Old Trafford and Southampton’s Ageas Bowl, two venues able to accommodate players and staff in every sense of the word.

Hamilton influence knows no bounds

Lewis Hamilton remained the king of the Formula One grid with his seventh world title equalling Michael Schumacher’s all-time title haul. Hamilton also set a new record of 95 career wins and generated as many headlines off the track. Hamilton was at the forefront of the fight against racism by taking the knee on the grid and was praised for urging F1 bosses to act on those countries hosting races with poor human rights records.

Klopp’s the undisputed king of the Kop

Liverpool v Chelsea – Premier League – Anfield — Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp celebrates the club’s first Premier League title at Anfield in July (Laurence Griffiths/PA)

Golf’s growing power game

The Open Championship 2019 – Day One – Royal Portrush Golf Club — Bryson DeChambeau provoked a distance debate in golf with his prodigious driving off the tee (Richard Sellers/PA)

Rugby union left reeling

Rugby Union – RBS 6 Nations Championship 2005 – Ireland v England – Lansdowne Road — England’s World Cup-winning hooker Steve Thompson was among a group of former internationals to plan legal action against rugby union’s authorities (Haydn West/PA)

Joshua v Fury must happen

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury both posted impressive wins in 2020 as a potentially explosive Battle of Britain inched closer. In February, Fury knocked out Deontay Wilder in the seventh round in Las Vegas to win the WBC heavyweight title. Joshua finished the year by successfully defending his WBA, WBO and IBF belts with a ninth-round knockout victory over Kubrat Pulev in London. 2021 will hopefully be the year when the talk of a mega-fight stops and Joshua and Fury meet in the ring.

Scotland can join the party

Serbia v Scotland – UEFA Euro 2020 – Play-offs – Final – Rajko Mitic Stadium — Scotland celebrate reaching Euro 2020 after beating Serbia in a penalty shoot-out (Novak Djurovic/PA)