The year 2020 will be a sporting year : on your agendas !

The beginning of a new decade will be marked by large-scale sporting events, involving many disciplines. This is an opportunity to draw up a non-exhaustive list.

The first event that comes to everyone's mind is planetary. Indeed, the city of Tokyo will host the 32nd Summer Olympic Games from July 24 to August 9. It will be an opportunity to see more than 10,000 athletes compete in 321 events. Among the novelties of this edition, climbing, skateboarding and 3-person basketball will make their appearances. These Games will also feature mixed events, particularly in judo and fencing. In terms of medals, France hopes to do better than the 42 it won in Rio in 2016. Internationally, Roger Federer will be looking for his first Olympic gold medal.

In football, the Euro will take place from 12 June to 12 July. The special feature of this year's Euro is that the European Championship will not be held in just one country, but in 12! Indeed, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the competition, it will take place in different cities across Europe, from London to Baku! The French team, world champion in 2018, will try to reproduce the performance of the 98 generation, by winning the competition two years after the World Cup. Among the participants, the Netherlands and Italy are making their return to the big leagues and will act as serious outsiders.

In rugby, the Six Nations Rugby Tournament will begin on 1 February. It is an opportunity for the French national team to begin the Galthié era, after a World Cup where Les Bleus were on alternating current. As a starter, they will face the reigning world vice-champions, England, for a crunchy crunch! For the anecdote, the last scheduled match between the two teams at the 2019 World Cup had been cancelled due to typhoons in Japan.

Among the competitions organised in France, the Tour de France will start from Nice on 27 June 2020. This edition will put the mountain in the spotlight, with a finish above the resort of Méribel. Thibaut Pinot will carry the French hopes. Another competition organised on French soil, Paris will host the European Athletics Championships at the Charléty stadium. In addition, the capital will host for the first time in the regular NBA season, a match between the Charlotte Hornets, where Nicolas Batum plays, and the Milwaukee Bucks, with their star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

In handball, Les Bleus have been trying to win the European Championship title in Austria, Norway and Sweden since January 9, two years after failing to reach the foot of the podium. Other competitions that will put our French sportsmen to the test include Formula 1, where Esteban Ocon will be back on the starting grid, as well as Roland Garros and the Vendée Globe.

As you can see, the list is long! May this year be full of success for our athletes. And may it be synonymous with success for the SMS students, and for you too! Happy New Year 2020 to all of you.

Alexandre DUGUY-LOÏ

To sum up . . :

• From January 9 to January 26, 2020 - European Men's Handball Championship
• February 1 - March 8, 2020 - 6 Nations Rugby Tournament
• From May 24 to June 7, 2020 - Roland-Garros
• From 12 June to 12 July 2020 - Euro 2020 football tournament
• From 27 June to 19 July 2020 - Tour de France
• From July 24 to August 9, 2020 - Summer Olympic Games in Tokyo
• 8th November 2020 - Start of the Vendée Globe aux Sables d'Olonne