This chart shows several world records fell in track and field during the year, despite the disruption of its 2020 calendar. (Xinhua/Meng Lijing)

Goalkeeper and captain of the Spanish team Iker Casillas kisses the trophy on the podium during the awarding ceremony after the World Cup final against the Netherlands at Soccer City stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 11, 2010. Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova of Russia announced her retirement from professional tennis at 32 on February 26, followed by NBA star Vince Carter (June 25), Chinese badminton icon Lin Dan (July 4), and Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas (August 4). (Xinhua/Liao Yujie)

Photo taken on Dec. 18, 2020 shows the Shougang ski jumping platform in Beijing, capital of China. Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, China's preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games progressed steadily. Construction of all the competition venues and related infrastructures will be completed by the end of this year. The past few months witnessed a number of milestones, such as the launch of a global competition for the medal, torch, and apparel designs. More than 960,000 people worldwide have registered to volunteer during the Games. Beijing 2022 has signed up 38 sponsors and suppliers in total to date. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

Zhang Xin of China competes during the Skateboard Women's Park final at the 18th Asian Games in Palembang, Indonesia on Aug. 29, 2018. On December 7, breaking, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing were confirmed as additional sports to be added to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Weightlifting had four events removed from the Paris 2024 program, with its quota reduced to 120 athletes from 196 at Tokyo 2020. (Xinhua/Cheng Min)

Photo taken on June 12, 2020 shows the Olympic rings and a part of the new National Stadium, the main venue for Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics, in Tokyo, Japan. On March 24, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee jointly announced that, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympic Games were rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021. It is the first time that the modern Olympic Games being postponed since the birth in 1896, although they have been canceled in 1916, 1940 and 1944 due to World War I and World War II. A string of other international sports events including football's European Championships were either postponed or canceled due to the pandemic. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)

Photo taken on Sept. 21, 2020 shows a countdown clock displaying 500 days to go until the start of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympic Games in Beijing, capital of China. Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, China's preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games progressed steadily. Construction of all the competition venues and related infrastructures will be completed by the end of this year. The past few months witnessed a number of milestones, such as the launch of a global competition for the medal, torch, and apparel designs. More than 960,000 people worldwide have registered to volunteer during the Games. Beijing 2022 has signed up 38 sponsors and suppliers in total to date. (Xinhua/Ju Huanzong)

The UEFA Champions League trophy is engraved with FC Bayern Munich's name following their victory in the UEFA Champions League Final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 23, 2020. On June 25, Liverpool secured the Premier League title with seven games remaining, ending a 30-year league title drought. On August 23, Bayern Munich was crowned the 2019/2020 UEFA Champions League winners after defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the final, finishing the European elite club competition with a perfect record in 11 matches. Bayern Munich also won the Bundesliga and German Cup titles, achieving a treble for the second time in club history. (Photo by Julian Finney/UEFA via Xinhua)

Photo taken on July 23, 2020 shows a countdown clock dispalying 365 days to go until the start of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan. On March 24, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee jointly announced that, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympic Games were rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021. It is the first time that the modern Olympic Games being postponed since the birth in 1896, although they have been canceled in 1916, 1940 and 1944 due to World War I and World War II. A string of other international sports events including football's European Championships were either postponed or canceled due to the pandemic. (Xinhua/Hua Yi)

Aurelien Giraud of France skates during the men's street final during the 2019 Dew Tour skateboard competition in Long Beach, the United States, June 16, 2019. On December 7, breaking, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing were confirmed as additional sports to be added to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Weightlifting had four events removed from the Paris 2024 program, with its quota reduced to 120 athletes from 196 at Tokyo 2020. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Chinese three-time Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang (2nd R) and his lawyer Ian Meakin (1st R) arrive at a public hearing in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Montreux, Switzerland on Nov. 15, 2019, as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed against Sun Yang and FINA over FINA's previous decision in favor of Sun on his alleged anti-doping rule violations. On December 24, the Swiss Federal Tribunal set aside a previous ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to ban Chinese swimmer Sun Yang for eight years and ordered the case back to the CAS to render a new award. In February, CAS found the three-time Olympic champion guilty of refusing to cooperate with sample collectors during a visit to his home in September 2018. The World Anti-Doping Agency brought the case to the CAS after the world swimming governing body FINA had issued Sun Yang a warning. (Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Xinhua)

X-Rain (R) of China/Srta. Carlota of France compete during the breaking mixed team quarterfinal at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Oct. 11, 2018. On December 7, breaking, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing were confirmed as additional sports to be added to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Weightlifting had four events removed from the Paris 2024 program, with its quota reduced to 120 athletes from 196 at Tokyo 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)

China's Lin Dan salutes to the audiences during the awarding ceremony after men's singles final match of badminton at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 21, 2010. Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova of Russia announced her retirement from professional tennis at 32 on February 26, followed by NBA star Vince Carter (June 25), Chinese badminton icon Lin Dan (July 4), and Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas (August 4). (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin)

Photo taken on July 23, 2020 shows that a lantern containing Olympic flame is seen during a ceremonial event to mark a year-to-go until the start of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic, at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. On March 24, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee jointly announced that, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympic Games were rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021. It is the first time that the modern Olympic Games being postponed since the birth in 1896, although they have been canceled in 1916, 1940 and 1944 due to World War I and World War II. A string of other international sports events including football's European Championships were either postponed or canceled due to the pandemic. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)

Keita Dohi of Japan competes during the sports climbing men's combined bouldering final at the 2018 Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina on Oct. 10, 2018. On December 7, breaking, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing were confirmed as additional sports to be added to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Weightlifting had four events removed from the Paris 2024 program, with its quota reduced to 120 athletes from 196 at Tokyo 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Lili)

Manuel Neuer (C, front), captain of FC Bayern Munich lifts the UEFA Champions League Trophy following his team's victory in the UEFA Champions League Final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 23, 2020. On June 25, Liverpool secured the Premier League title with seven games remaining, ending a 30-year league title drought. On August 23, Bayern Munich was crowned the 2019/2020 UEFA Champions League winners after defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the final, finishing the European elite club competition with a perfect record in 11 matches. Bayern Munich also won the Bundesliga and German Cup titles, achieving a treble for the second time in club history. (Photo by Julian Finney/UEFA via Xinhua)

Journalists work as Chinese three-time Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang (on the screen) attends a public hearing in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Montreux, Switzerland on Nov. 15, 2019, after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed against Sun Yang and FINA over FINA's previous decision in favor of Sun on his alleged anti-doping rule violations. On December 24, the Swiss Federal Tribunal set aside a previous ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to ban Chinese swimmer Sun Yang for eight years and ordered the case back to the CAS to render a new award. In February, CAS found the three-time Olympic champion guilty of refusing to cooperate with sample collectors during a visit to his home in September 2018. The World Anti-Doping Agency brought the case to the CAS after the world swimming governing body FINA had issued Sun Yang a warning. (Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Xinhua)

Japanese swimming athlete Rikako Ikee holds up a lantern containing Olympic flame during a ceremonial event to mark a year-to-go until the start of the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympic, at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, July 23, 2020. On March 24, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the Tokyo 2020 Organizing Committee jointly announced that, in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Tokyo Olympic Games were rescheduled to a date beyond 2020 but not later than summer 2021. It is the first time that the modern Olympic Games being postponed since the birth in 1896, although they have been canceled in 1916, 1940 and 1944 due to World War I and World War II. A string of other international sports events including football's European Championships were either postponed or canceled due to the pandemic. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi)

Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates with his trophy during the awarding ceremony after winning the men's singles final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the French Open tennis tournament 2020 at Roland Garros in Paris, France, Oct. 11, 2020. On October 11, Rafael Nadal lifted his 13th title at Roland Garros, equaling Roger Federer's men's all-time record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles. On November 4, the Spaniard became the fourth player in history to reach 1,000 Tour-level wins at the ATP Paris Masters, joining Jimmy Connors, Federer, and Ivan Lendl. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Rafael Nadal of Spain hits a return during the men's singles final match against Novak Djokovic of Serbia at the French Open tennis tournament 2020 at Roland Garros in Paris, France, Oct. 11, 2020. On October 11, Rafael Nadal lifted his 13th title at Roland Garros, equaling Roger Federer's men's all-time record of 20 Grand Slam singles titles. On November 4, the Spaniard became the fourth player in history to reach 1,000 Tour-level wins at the ATP Paris Masters, joining Jimmy Connors, Federer, and Ivan Lendl. (Xinhua/Gao Jing)

Kingsley Coman (2nd L) of FC Bayern Munich scores his team's first goal during the UEFA Champions League Final match between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at Estadio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica in Lisbon, Portugal, Aug. 23, 2020. On June 25, Liverpool secured the Premier League title with seven games remaining, ending a 30-year league title drought. On August 23, Bayern Munich was crowned the 2019/2020 UEFA Champions League winners after defeating Paris Saint-Germain in the final, finishing the European elite club competition with a perfect record in 11 matches. Bayern Munich also won the Bundesliga and German Cup titles, achieving a treble for the second time in club history. (Photo by Julian Finney/UEFA via Xinhua)

Qiu Zhuo of Hainan team competes during the surfing event of 2nd National Youth Games in Wanning, south China's Hainan Province on Feb. 27, 2019. On December 7, breaking, skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing were confirmed as additional sports to be added to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Weightlifting had four events removed from the Paris 2024 program, with its quota reduced to 120 athletes from 196 at Tokyo 2020. (Xinhua/Yang Guanyu)

Vince Carter of Atlanta Hawks reacts during the 2018-2019 NBA regular season game between Atlanta Hawks and Brooklyn Nets on Jan. 9, 2019. Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova of Russia announced her retirement from professional tennis at 32 on February 26, followed by NBA star Vince Carter (June 25), Chinese badminton icon Lin Dan (July 4), and Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas (August 4). (Xinhua/Wang Ying)

Russia's Maria Sharapova poses with the women's single trophy after winning the championship at the Australian Open Tennis Tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Jan. 26, 2008. Five-time Grand Slam winner Maria Sharapova of Russia announced her retirement from professional tennis at 32 on February 26, followed by NBA star Vince Carter (June 25), Chinese badminton icon Lin Dan (July 4), and Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas (August 4). (Xinhua/Lui Sui Wai)

Chinese three-time Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang (2nd L) listens during a public hearing in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Montreux, Switzerland on Nov. 15, 2019, as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed against Sun Yang and FINA over FINA's previous decision in favor of Sun on his alleged anti-doping rule violations. On December 24, the Swiss Federal Tribunal set aside a previous ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) to ban Chinese swimmer Sun Yang for eight years and ordered the case back to the CAS to render a new award. In February, CAS found the three-time Olympic champion guilty of refusing to cooperate with sample collectors during a visit to his home in September 2018. The World Anti-Doping Agency brought the case to the CAS after the world swimming governing body FINA had issued Sun Yang a warning. (Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Xinhua)

Aerial photo taken on Dec. 21, 2020 shows the National Ski Jumping Center in Chongli District of Zhangjiakou City, north China's Hebei Province. Despite the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, China's preparations for the 2022 Winter Olympic Games progressed steadily. Construction of all the competition venues and related infrastructures will be completed by the end of this year. The past few months witnessed a number of milestones, such as the launch of a global competition for the medal, torch, and apparel designs. More than 960,000 people worldwide have registered to volunteer during the Games. Beijing 2022 has signed up 38 sponsors and suppliers in total to date. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)

Photo taken on Jan. 29, 2020 shows the memorials near the Staples Center to pay respect to Kobe Bryant and his daughter, Gianna, in Los Angeles, California, the United States. On January 26, retired NBA mega Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash above Calabasas, southern California. The only team he had played for throughout his NBA career, the Los Angeles Lakers, beat the Miami Heat in the Finals to win a record-equaling 17th NBA champions on October 11. On November 25, Argentine football legend Diego Maradona died of a heart attack at his home, aged 60. Maradona participated in four World Cups with the Argentine national team, among which the 1986 World Cup was remembered as his masterpiece. He played every minute of every game, scoring five goals and making five assists to lead Argentina to the champion. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Argentine coach Diego Maradona waves to the crowd before the 2010 World Cup Group B soccer match between Argentina and Greece in Polokwane, South Africa, June 22, 2010. On January 26, retired NBA mega Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash above Calabasas, southern California. The only team he had played for throughout his NBA career, the Los Angeles Lakers, beat the Miami Heat in the Finals to win a record-equaling 17th NBA champions on October 11. On November 25, Argentine football legend Diego Maradona died of a heart attack at his home, aged 60. Maradona participated in four World Cups with the Argentine national team, among which the 1986 World Cup was remembered as his masterpiece. He played every minute of every game, scoring five goals and making five assists to lead Argentina to the champion. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui)

A man holds an autobiography of Argentine football legend Diego Maradona in the Tigre district on the northern outskirts of Buenos Aires, Argentina, Nov. 25, 2020. On January 26, retired NBA mega Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash above Calabasas, southern California. The only team he had played for throughout his NBA career, the Los Angeles Lakers, beat the Miami Heat in the Finals to win a record-equaling 17th NBA champions on October 11. On November 25, Argentine football legend Diego Maradona died of a heart attack at his home, aged 60. Maradona participated in four World Cups with the Argentine national team, among which the 1986 World Cup was remembered as his masterpiece. He played every minute of every game, scoring five goals and making five assists to lead Argentina to the champion. (Photo by Martin Zabala/Xinhua)

Kobe Bryant's portrait is displayed outside the Staples Center to pay respects to Kobe Bryant, in Los Angeles, California, the United States, Jan. 26, 2020. On January 26, retired NBA mega Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash above Calabasas, southern California. The only team he had played for throughout his NBA career, the Los Angeles Lakers, beat the Miami Heat in the Finals to win a record-equaling 17th NBA champions on October 11. On November 25, Argentine football legend Diego Maradona died of a heart attack at his home, aged 60. Maradona participated in four World Cups with the Argentine national team, among which the 1986 World Cup was remembered as his masterpiece. He played every minute of every game, scoring five goals and making five assists to lead Argentina to the champion. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

Zhao Dan of China competes during the women's skeleton heat 2 at the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Jan. 19, 2020. The 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games were staged in the Swiss city of Lausanne, the Olympic Capital, between January 9-22. China dispatched 53 athletes to participate in 57 events, claiming three golds, four silvers, and five bronzes at what was considered the most significant international winter sports event before Beijing 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

NBA basketball player Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers shows his shooting skill during an event in Hong Kong, south China, July 24, 2009. On January 26, retired NBA mega Kobe Bryant was killed in a helicopter crash above Calabasas, southern California. The only team he had played for throughout his NBA career, the Los Angeles Lakers, beat the Miami Heat in the Finals to win a record-equaling 17th NBA champions on October 11. On November 25, Argentine football legend Diego Maradona died of a heart attack at his home, aged 60. Maradona participated in four World Cups with the Argentine national team, among which the 1986 World Cup was remembered as his masterpiece. He played every minute of every game, scoring five goals and making five assists to lead Argentina to the champion. (Xinhua/Lui Sui Wai)

International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach (4th R) takes selfies with athletes from the five continents during the opening ceremony of the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games held at Vaudoise Arena in Lausanne, Switzerland, Jan. 9, 2020. The 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games were staged in the Swiss city of Lausanne, the Olympic Capital, between January 9-22. China dispatched 53 athletes to participate in 57 events, claiming three golds, four silvers, and five bronzes at what was considered the most significant international winter sports event before Beijing 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Chenlin)

Gu Ailing of China poses with medals after the awarding ceremony of women's freeski big air final of Freestyle Skiing event at the 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games in Leysin, Switzerland, Jan. 22, 2020. The 3rd Winter Youth Olympic Games were staged in the Swiss city of Lausanne, the Olympic Capital, between January 9-22. China dispatched 53 athletes to participate in 57 events, claiming three golds, four silvers, and five bronzes at what was considered the most significant international winter sports event before Beijing 2022. (Xinhua/Lu Yang)