Five sporting events to get excited for in April 2024
By the end of this month, the Olympic Games Paris 2024 will be less than 100 days away and things are heating up in the world of sport.
Quotas for the Games are on offer in numerous sports, athletes are beginning to rise to their peak and the excitement for the Olympics is gaining momentum as people across the globe eagerly await the year's greatest sporting event.
April will see the NBA Playoffs kick off, the 2024 Masters and so much more. Read on to discover the very best the next month has to offer.
100 days to Paris 2024
On 17 April, a key milestone in the lead-up to Paris 2024 will be celebrated: 100 days to go until the beginning of the Games.
As the countdown to Paris 2024 prepares to fall to double digits, April marks the beginning of a new stage on the Olympic timeline. Preparations for the Games are in full swing in France, athletes are being named to Olympic teams and, less than one month after the 100-day mark, the Olympic torch will be lit and its journey will begin.
The official Omega Olympic countdown clock located beside the River Seine displays the 366 remaining days until the Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
NBA Playoffs
The NBA playoffs fall just over three months before the basketball tournaments begin at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 - and the excitement for hoops is at an all-time high.
With players who represent national teams from across the globe competing in the league, the playoffs will offer an intriguing insight into what could go down in Paris later this year.
The US men's team have been a dominant force in the Olympic realm since they first took gold in 1936 - when the sport made its debut at the Games - and, after their summer training camp, the 2024 team will be named. With legends like LeBron James, Kevin Durant and so many more in the mix to play in Paris, the playoffs will set the stage for a highly anticipated competition at the Games.
2024 Masters Tournament
Kicking off on 8 April, the Masters Tournament, one of golf’s most prestigious events, will see the world’s best male golfers compete in Augusta.
In Paris, 120 golfers will compete and the quota places for men will be decided according to the Olympic Golf Ranking (OGR) on 17 June. USA’s Scottie Scheffler currently sits at the top of that list and is among the favorites to win the 2024 Masters. After drawing a record number of over 12 million viewers on CBS last year, 2024 is set to be even more of a spectacle ahead of the Olympic Games.
Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the 18th tee during the final round of the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club on April 10, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia.
British Swimming Championships
Opening the month of sports on 2 April, the British Swimming Championships will see the top swimmers from across the United Kingdom go head-to-head in hopes of securing Olympic quotas.
The championships are returning to London for the first time since 2015 and will take place from 2-7 April at the iconic London Aquatics Centre in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. With high stakes and quick times, the championships will provide a look into what Team GB could have in store for later this year in Paris.
NFL Draft
With flag football set to make its Games debut at LA 2028, Olympics fans will begin turning their attention to the National Football League (NFL) after the upcoming Games in Paris.
From 25-27 April, the 89th annual NFL draft will select its next generation of players - some of whom could make an appearance in LA. Lloyd Howell Jr., executive director of the NFL Player’s Association confirmed that the association is on board during a news conference in February, saying: “The players want to do it. We’re supportive of the players wanting to do it…so, we’re all for it.”