Photo: KEITA IIJIMA / AFP
As another year draws to a close, it's time to look forward to the major sporting events of the coming year.
For many, the highlight will be the FIFA Football World Cup, held every four years, after a seemingly never-ending qualification process
More than 200 teams began that long road to the expanded tournament, which will run over more than a month and consist of 104 games, up from 64 four years ago.
We've gathered some of the year's other marquee international events, along with the most anticipated local events.
Mark them on your calendars now.
January
PDC World Darts Championship 11 December-3 January Alexandra Palace, London
Even if you struggle with darts as a legitimate sport, you can't help but be impressed by the passion shown by the 3000 mostly drunken and costumed fans cramming into the famed 'Ally Pally' every year.
The pub pastime has taken on cult popularity, with the winner of this event taking home one million pounds (NZ$2.3m), doubling last year's purse.
Photo: Photosport
A field of 128 began the event, with Kiwi Huapai Puha among the first-round casualties and countryman Jonny Tata progressing to the second.
Defending champion is still-teenager Luke Littler, who made the 2024 final as a 16-year-old, before claiming the crown this year. He has since risen to top ranking in the world, capturing the imagination of even non-darts fans, and may dominate this championship for a very long time indeed.
ASB Classic (tennis) 5-18 January Auckland
Australia Open (tennis) 18 January-1 February Melbourne
February
Winter Olympics 6-22 February Milano Cortina, Italy
Gone are the days when the showpiece on snow and ice meant little to New Zealand.
With just a silver medal to show for almost 70 years of participation, snowboarder Zoi Sadowski-Synnott and freeskier Nico Porteous have put Kiwi winter sports on the map in rec
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