The mascots for the Beijing Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games are seen on a street in Beijing on January 11, 2022. Photo: VCG

The world's collective hangovers should have worn off and it is full speed ahead with New Year's Resolutions for 2022 - for those who have not already given up until 2023, that is.

The sporting world is also looking to make a fresh start this year after the huge impact of COVID-19 on the calendar for 2020 and 2021.

It is full steam ahead already this month, which started with football's African Cup of Nations on January 9. The tournament runs until February 6 as the 24 teams look to be crowned the kings of the continent.

Blink and it is time for another big event - the Australian Open. The first tennis Slam of the year runs from ­January 17 to 30 at Melbourne Park. This is the 110th edition of the event and it is not likely to disappoint.

Way on the horizon is the biggest event of them all, the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, which will take place from November 21 to December 18, but there is plenty more to come in between.

So what else can we look forward to in the months to come?

Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games - February 4-20

History will be made when the Olympic cauldron is lit to mark the opening of the 24th Winter Games as Beijing will become the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics. 

Events will take place in the ­Chinese capital, including at venues previously used for the Summer Games of Beijing 2008, and on the slopes on neighboring Hebei Province. Despite the difficulties presented by international travelers descending on China during the coronavirus pandemic organizers are confident that they will put on a Games to remember as the world feasts on 109 events over 15 disciplines in seven sports.

Super Bowl LVI - February 13

The NFL's annual showpiece is set to roll into Los Angeles this year and will be making itself at home in the plush surroudings of the $5 billion SoFi Stadium if all goes to plan. 

Local living legend Dr Dre has been booked for the halftime show and the long-awaited commercials have already begun being teased, too.

However, COVID-19 means that the Super Bowl might yet have to switch venues, with the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, the home of the ­Cowboys, among alternative options being mentioned if Los Angeles cannot play host. 

One thing is for sure, the show will go on, wherever it is and whoever makes it.

Women's ODI Cricket World Cup - March 4-April 3

Postponed for a year because of COVID-19, which then cut last year's qualifiers short, the World Cup finally arrives in New Zealand where the top eight teams will battle it out for the one-day crown. 

Bangladesh, Pakistan and the West Indies are in on account of their One Day International rankings and they join the hosts along with Australia, England, South Africa and India. England are the reigning champions after winning at home five years ago though Australia might be favorites. 

The men's T20 World Cup takes place in Australia from October 16 to November 13 with the hosts also the holders.

Southeast Asian Games - May 12-23

Another event that was meant to take place in 2021 before COVID-19 saw it delayed until this year, the SEA Games will take place in Vietnam for this 31st edition of the regional competition. 

This time there will be 40 sports on show, most of which are from the Olympics alongside regional favorites such as muay thai, sepak takraw and pencak silat.

2021 Summer World University Games - June 26-July 7

Formerly known as Universiade, the tournament pits the best sporting students in the world against one another in 18 sports across 268 events. This is another tournament that has been delayed a year with Chengdu set to become the third Chinese city to host the sporting jamboree.

UEFA Women's Euro 2022 - July 6-31

England steps up to host another European Championships with the women's event coming a year after their men went all the way to Wembley before losing to Italy in the final last summer, the yearlong delay of which pushed this tournament back to 2022. 

The hosts will be vying with the holders the Netherlands to lift the ­trophy which they won at the 2017 edition. All 16 teams, incuding debutants Northern Ireland, will have dreams of Wembley.

Commonwealth Games - July 28-August 8

Birmingham becomes the third English city to host the Commonwealth Games this summer where it will lay on 283 events in 20 sports. Some of the biggest names in athletics are expected to be on show as more than 5,000 athletes from 72 nations battle it out for gold.

2022 Asian Games - September 10-25

Hangzhou follows Beijing and Guangzhou in hosting the jewel in the crown of Asian sporting excellence, with the city welcoming athletes from Oceania for the first time at an Asian Games. 

Those athletes will be taking part in events where Paris 2024 qualification is on offer, while eSports will be full medal events for the first time after making its debut as a demonstration sport in 2018. China's athletes, who so impressed at the Tokyo Olympics last year, will look to put on a show at home.

Rugby World Cup - October 8- November 12

The ninth women's edition of the tournament was delayed a year with hosts New Zealand also the reigning champions. 

They played a part in the previous tournament, which was held in Northern Ireland, posting record attendance and viewing figures and organizers World Rugby will be looking for similar success in the southern hemisphere summer. 

The men's Rugby League World Cup, which runs from October 15 to November 19 in England, means it is a bumper month for rugby fans.