January
Africa Cup of Nations – 8 January-5 February – Gabon
Source: Armando Franca/AP/Press Association Images
THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENT was due to be held in war-torn Libya but organisers moved it to Gabon in August 2014.
The hosts have been drawn in the same group as the tournaments least heralded team – Guinea-Bissau – while defending champions Ivory Coast will expect to get out of a group containing DR Congo, Morocco and Togo.
February
IBSF World Championship – 13-26 February – Konigsee, Germany
Source: Natacha Pisarenko/AP/Press Association Images
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Bobsleigh is not just for Christmas and Cool Runnings, and the World Championships of the sport take place in Konigsee in Germany after being moved from Sochi earlier this month.
If watching people go downhill at tremendous speed is your thing, the skeleton championships take place the same week in the same venue.
April
Marathon des Sables – 7-17 April – Sahara Desert, Morocco
Source: Marie Curie/Liz Scarff/PA Archive/PA Images
The infamous ‘marathon of the sands’ takes place over 251km and six days and is widely considered one of the toughest foot races in the world.
Possibly more for participants than spectators, at least you could say you were there.
June
Belmont Stakes – 10 June — New York, United States
Source: Peter Morgan/AP/Press Association Images
Sure the Kentucky Derby gets all the headlines, but if a horse wants to win the coveted US Triple Crown, the final — and toughest — leg comes at the Belmont Stakes.
Knowns as ‘The Test of the Champion’ the race is run over 1.5 miles and, by the time the 2017 edition comes around, will be 150 years old.