1. Spain becomes the champion of World Cup 2010

Andres Iniesta’s goal in the 115^th minute helped Spain defeat the Netherlands and gain their first world title. Thus, Spain became the eighth national team that had won the FIFA World Cup.

Spain is also the first European national team that has won the tournament outside its home continent. It is also the fourth national team that has consecutively won major titles of Europe and World (following West Germany, France, and Brazil).

2. Egypt wins ACN 2010

Half-back Gedo from the football team of the country of pyramids scored in the final of the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations (ACN) to fix Egypt’s 1-0 victory over Ghana. Egypt won their seventh ACN title in history and also third time in a row.

3. The 2010 Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver

These were the most successful games in Canadian history as the country clinched 14 gold medals and broke the record for the most gold medals won at a single Winter Olympics, which was 13, set by Norway and the former Soviet Union.

Canada previously hosted the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal and the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary.

4. Inter Milan wins the 55^th UEFA Champions League

Inter Milan Club thrashed Bayern Munich 2-0 in the final on May 23 to become the champions. Argentine forward Diego Milito scored two goals in a row for Inter Milan.

With this victory, Inter Milan has become Italy’s first club that secured three championships in a football season. It also won the UEFA Champions League for three times in total.

5. France to host Euro 2016

France was announced to be the host nation of the 2016 EUFA European Football Championship after ‘defeating’ two rivals Italy and Turkey in two rounds of voting.

France is expected to spend 1.7 billion euros building or upgrading their 12 stadiums for the tournament. Forty percent of the expenditure will be sourced from socio-economic organizations.

Euro 2016 will see the largest number of participating countries so far: 24 European nations will compete in 51 matches within one month.

6. The 16^th Asian Games (ASIAD) held in Guangzhou, China

The 16^th ASIAD took place in Guangzhou from November 12-27, attracting 10,056 athletes from 45 nations and territories to compete in 42 sports.

By the end of the games, a total of 477 sets of medals were granted to 36 sports delegations. China won first place for delegations as it bagged 199 gold medals, 119 silver medals, and 98 bronze medals, outstripping the runners-up Republic of Korea and Japan.

Vietnam won one gold, 17 silver and 15 bronze medals to be placed 24^th in the end. Vietnam’s sole gold medal was won by female karateka Le Bich Phuong in the 55kg combat event. Thailand topped the Southeast Asian region and was placed 9^th at the Games with 11 gold, 9 silver and 32 bronze medals.

7. Russia, Qatar awarded rights to host World Cup 2018 and World Cup 2022

President of FIFA Sepp Blatter stated on December 2 that Russia had secured the right to host the final of World Cup 2018 after the final session of casting ballots the same day by the members of the FIFA’s executive committee. Russia overcame its ‘competitors’ the UK, Spain-Portugal, and the Netherlands-Belgium in the bidding.

Qatar was also a surprise as it became the first Middle East country that had been permitted to host the planet’s largest football tournament in 2022. The small nation managed to be chosen over the US, the Republic of Korea, Japan and Australia to win the right to hold the first winter World Cup.

8. The 19^th Commonwealth Games

Despite initial concerns and criticisms, the 2010 Commonwealth Games concluded successfully on October 15. The games were attended by athletes from 71 nations and territories. Australia topped the final medal tally with 177 medals, including 74 gold. The host country India secured a total of 38 gold, 27 silver and 36 bronze medals.

9.  Auto racer Vettel wins Formula One 2010

Germany’s Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) made a spectacular breakthrough in the final race of the season to become the new champion of F1-2010. He also became the youngest World Drivers’ Champion in the history of the sport.

10. Serb tennis team leads Davis Cup

The Serbian National Tennis Team managed an impressive 3-2 victory over their French rivals to claim the title. This was the first time that Serbia had successfully conquered Davis Cup, a premier international men’s tennis event.

Serbia is the second champion in Davis Cup’s history who had not been considered seeds for the event, following Croatia in 2005./.

Source: VOV