Year-end Review: Top 10 Sports Stories of 2017

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CGTN Sports Scene unveils its Top 10 sports stories of 2017.

FIFA expands World Cup to 48 teams from 2026

CBA logo /CGTN Photo

FIFA decided to expand the World Cup to 48 teams, an increase of 16 more nations for the 2026 tournament. This means that Asia will have 8 teams competing at the 2026 World Cup.

Administrative reforms implemented in China

Administrative reform has been the buzzword in China, with Yao Ming shaking up basketball's national teams and the CBA league, while football officials work to rein in CSL spending, and ensure that more young talents receive playing time.

Neymar joins PSG for world record fee

Neymar holds his jersey. /VCG Photo

Plenty of money would exchange hands throughout the year in football, especially in Neymar's move from Barcelona to Paris St Germain for a world record transfer fee of 222 million euros.

Usain Bolt retires from track & field

Usain Bolt in action /VCG Photo

Usain Bolt stuck to his plan to retire after the IAAF World Championships, but did not cross the line in a blaze of glory, finishing third in the 100 meters before bowing out with a hamstring injury in the 4×100m relay.

Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer rule tennis

The men's tennis campaign was one for the veterans, as Rafael Nadal won the French and US Opens, while Roger Federer topped the podium at the Australian Open and Wimbledon, as the longtime rivals moved back to the top two spots in the rankings.

Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer each won two grand slams. /CGTN Photo

IOC awards two Olympics at one session

The IOC awarded the 2024 Summer Olympics to Paris, while also announcing that Los Angeles will stage the 2028 games. This marked the first time that two host cities had been announced during the same session.

Feng Shanshan ascends to world No. 1

Feng Shanshan won three titles and posted 12 Top 10 finishes on the LPGA Tour, with a late season surge cementing her rise to World Number One, the first golfer from the Chinese mainland to achieve that prestigious honor.

Feng Shanshan became the women's World No.1. /VCG Photo

Cristiana Ronaldo claims team & solo glory

On the football pitch, Cristiano Ronaldo led Real Madrid to glory in Spain's La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and the Club World Cup. CR7 also helped Portugal qualify for the FIFA World Cup, and earned his fifth Ballon d'Or.

FIFA World Cup qualifying concludes

Qualifying for next year's FIFA World Cup wrapped up with defending champions Germany breezing into the main draw in Russia, while perennial powers like Italy and the Netherlands stunningly failed to make it through to football's biggest stage.

IOC bans Russia from upcoming winter Olympics

And there won't be any Russian Spirit at the 2018 Winter Olympics, as the IOC has banned the country from the Pyeongchang Games after an investigation into a doping scandal from the 2014 edition which Russia hosted in Sochi.