With the new year kicking off, there are a number of sporting events to anticipate this 2019. Varying from sports that have been an annual tradition, to other leagues seeking relevance from its newly formed foundation. There are tournaments that are held every two to four years like the World Cup and the Special Olympic World Summer Games for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
2019 will be a treat for sports enthusiasts; not just because it’s jam-packed with anticipated events, but because there are many story lines and outcomes that may happen in this new calendar.
2019 NBA All Star Game
As the National Basketball Assiociation (NBA) 2018-2019 season is currently progressing this January, the NBA All Star Game is one thing fans are excited about. Last year, the All Star Game was a close competition between team LeBron defeating team Steph, 148-145, with LeBron James and Steph Curry having the freedom to select their own all-star teammates. However, this year has a bigger twist in the format of the game. The leading vote-getter from each conference is still assigned the role of team captain, but the selection of players by the captains for their respective teams is now televised, adding excitement to the selection process.
Famous NBA Players like Joel Embiid, Russell Westbrook, Kyrie Irving, Anthony Davis, and many more are expected to be voted in to participate in this year’s All Star Game. There are also wild card players who might sneak into the game, such as first timers Donovan Mitchell, Ben Simmons, and even rookie sensation Luka Doncic who might vie for a spot and eventually reach the final cut. The 2019 NBA All Star Game will be held at the Spectrum Center, Charlotte, North Carolina on February 17.
Philippines Football League
The Philippines Football League (PFL) is deemed as the highest level of football in the country. The league debuted on April 1, 2017 with eight teams participating, but was trimmed to five teams due to withdrawals of other football clubs. The teams participating in the 2019 season are the Ceres Negros F.C, Kaya F.C-Iloilo, Global Cebu F.C, JPV Marikina F.C, and Stallion Laguna F.C. Stallion Laguna will be competing once again this year after winning the last two championships of the league. New PFL commissioner Bernie Sumayao hopes to change and re-brand the league as the “Philippine Premier League” starting this new season. The re-branding aims for more favorable sponsorships and TV deals, which will help the league grow, and will also eventually help in finding the best footballers to play in the premier football competition in the Philippines.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2019
After a stunning Men’s World Cup last June to July 2018, excitement surrounds the upcoming FIFA Women’s World Cup. A total of 52 teams will be competing for the coveted World Cup championship, which include the host nation of France, and the defending champions, the United States of America. The defending champions lead the list of favorites for this tournament, followed by a strong German team, and the Norwegian team which has the 2018 Ballon d’Or Féminin winner Ada Hegerberg. There are also teams deemed to be dark horses that could surprise everyone in the upcoming event. Teams like Brazil, England, and the host nation of France all cast talented players—all of them looking for their first World Cup championship. Moreover, France is looking to be the first country to win both the Men’s and Women’s championships in the same time period. This year’s Women’s World Cup will be held in France on the seventh of June till the seventh of July.
Upcoming UAAP Events
After an eventful first round of the UAAP, there is still much to watch out for as other sports will be given the spotlight this second semester. Due to the change in schedule, there is a sizable difference in the sporting events which will take place during the next half of the UAAP. Unlike the previous semester, which featured a total of 10 sports, this semester will only feature a total of five. This consists of men’s and women’s volleyball, football, softball, baseball, and lawn tennis tournaments. Teams such as the Women’s Volleyball and Football teams are looking for their fourth and third consecutive championship, respectively. On the other hand, the rest of the Taft-based teams are either looking to finally bring home the bacon or improve from their performance from last season. The quantity of the sports may not be as much as what the first semester had to offer but onlookers can expect games to be just as exceptional and exciting.
Super Bowl LIII
To decide the champion of the 2018 National Football League (NFL) season, the 53rd Super Bowl, the NFL’s equivalent of baseball’s World Series and basketball’s NBA Finals, is scheduled to commence on February 3 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. The Super Bowl, apart from being the determining match for the NFL champions, is also known for its extravagant halftime performances. Historically, the Super Bowl halftime show has seen the likes of Michael Jackson, Diana Ross, U2, The Rolling Stones, Beyoncé, and numerous musical icons take the stage. For the Super Bowl LIII halftime show, there have been speculations that Maroon 5 will be headlining the event, as publications such as the Rolling Stones Magazine and Billboard have reported it. However, there has been no official announcement from both the NFL and Maroon 5. The spectacle that is the Super Bowl, from its exhilarating display of American Football to its invigorating performances, has etched its place as one of the most anticipated sporting events each year.
2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games
The 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games will be held on March 14 to 21 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. With 7,000 athletes expected to participate, it is said to be the largest humanitarian and sporting event of the year. The Special Olympics World Games, organized for athletes with intellectual disabilities, is a multi-sport event that alternates between Winter and Summer games, each occurring every four years with two-year cycles in between. In the 2019 edition of the World Summer Games, athletes will be competing in 24 different individual and team sports like athletics and volleyball. The Special Olympics organizers ensure good competition by creating divisions based on athletes’ abilities rather than their disabilities. As it celebrates both sports and the differently abled, the 2019 Special Olympics World Summer Games is something to look forward to this year not only for its events, but for its advocacy as well.
This year is filled with exceptional sporting events that feature both local to international tournaments. Excitement surrounds the fans of each event as they will bear witness to the unfolding of these sports yet again. Sports fans will get an exciting treat to start the new year with various sporting competitions to look forward to.
