American football

• Louisiana State University Tigers defeat The Ohio State University Buckeyes 38-24 in the 2008 BCS National Championship Game, thus becoming the first two-time BCS National Champions, and the first BCS titlists with two losses in a single season.
• New York Giants upset the heavily favored and previously unbeaten New England Patriots 17-14 in Super Bowl XLII, held in Glendale, Arizona at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Quarterback Eli Manning is awarded the Super Bowl MVP.
• September 21 - New England Patriots lost to the Miami Dolphins to end their NFL record 21-game regular-season winning streak dating back to December, 2006
• Detroit Lions became the first team since the 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers to lose all their regular season games. They lost an NFL record 16 games during the regular season.

Archery

• 2008 Meteksan Archery World Cup takes place at Santo Domingo, Domican Republic. Leading medal winners are USA, Italy and Russia.

Association football

• Egypt win the 2008 Africa Cup of Nations 1-0 over Cameroon. It is the sixth title in the competition for the Pharaohs.
• Manchester United wins the UEFA Champions League, defeating another English side Chelsea by penalty shootout 6-5, after a draw of 1-1 at the final.
• Spain defeated Germany 1-0 in the final of the 2008 UEFA European Football Championships
• LDU Quito wins the 2008 Copa Libertadores, defeating Fluminense in the final.

Australian rules football

• Papua New Guinea win the 2008 Australian Football International Cup defeating New Zealand 7.12.54 to 7.4.46 in the Grand Final. A special 'Peace Team' composed of local Israeli and Palestinian players competed in the tournament.
• Hawthorn defeat Geelong 18.7.115 to 11.23.89 in the 2008 AFL Grand Final to win their tenth premiership. The crowd of 100,012 at the MCG is the largest at a VFL/AFL Grand Final since the 1986 VFL Grand Final.
• North Ballarat defeat Port Melbourne 18.12.120 to 11.9.75 in the 2008 VFL Grand Final at the Telstra Dome. This is the club's first VFL premiership in its 13th season in the league.

Baseball

• Fresno State University Bulldogs made history by becoming the biggest underdogs to win an NCAA championship by beating their University of Georgia namesakes in the 2008 College World Series in Omaha, Nebraska
• For the first time in both World Series and post-season history, a contest is suspended during an official game as Game Five is halted in the sixth inning with a tie score of 2-2 between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The game resumes two days later and the Phillies clinch their second World Championship with a 4-3 victory, winning the 2008 World Series in five games. Cole Hamels was named the World Series Most Valuable Player.
• Japan Series winners Saitama Seibu Lions won the 2008 Asia Series by beating Taiwan Series winners Uni-President 7-Eleven Lions by 1-0 at the final at Tokyo Dome

Basketball

• University of Kansas Jayhawks defeat the Memphis Tigers in the championship game of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament, 75-68 in overtime in San Antonio, Texas. The Jayhawks' Mario Chalmers was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
• Universtity of Tennessee Knoxville Lady Vols, led by Most Outstanding Player Candace Parker's hustle, defeated the Leland Stanford Jr. University Cardinal, 64-48 to win their second consecutive NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament in Tampa, Florida
• Boston Celtics win their seventeenth NBA Championship by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in six games in the 2008 NBA Finals. Paul Pierce was named Finals MVP.
• Euroleague won by CSKA Moscow of Russia by defeating Maccabi Tel Aviv 91-77 in the final
• The Detroit Shock would win their 3rd championship in franchise history after sweeping the league-best San Antonio Silver Stars in the 2008 WNBA Finals. It was the first sweep in the finals in a best-of-5 series.
• The Melbourne Tigers defeat the Sydney Kings in five games in the NBL Grand Final series to win their fourth championship.

Bowls

• April – World Indoor Singles and Mixed Pairs Championship held at Bowls Stadium, Swansea

Boxing

• February 23 – Wladimir Klitschko defeats WBO heavyweight champion Sultan Ibragimov at Madison Square Garden in New York City, to unify the IBF and WBO Heavyweight titles. The Klitschko-Ibragimov fight was the first heavyweight unification bout since Holyfield-Lewis in 1999.
• March 8 – David Haye achieves a TKO of Enzo Maccarinelli in the second round in a unification fight for the WBC, WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles.
• April 19 – Joe Calzaghe, fighting for the first time in the USA, wins a 12-round split decision over Bernard Hopkins for the latter's world light heavyweight title
• June 28 – Manny Pacquiao defeats David Díaz via 9th-round knockout to take the WBC lightweight crown, his 4th world title in 4 divisions.
• October 18 – Bernard Hopkins beats then-undefeated Kelly Pavlik via unanimous decision. Throughout the fight, Hopkins, although 17 years older than Pavlik, managed to outwork and outhustle Pavlik throughout the fight.
• November 8 – Joe Calzaghe remains unbeaten after 46 fights with a 12-round unanimous decision over Roy Jones, Jr. at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
• December 6 – Manny Pacquiao defeats Oscar De La Hoya after eight rounds in a fight billed as "The Dream Match" in Las Vegas, when De La Hoya couldn't answer the bell for the ninth round. It was officially a technical knockout.

Canadian football

• November 23 – The Calgary Stampeders win the 96th Grey Cup game, defeating the Montreal Alouettes 22-14 at Olympic Stadium in Montreal.

Cycling

• Carlos Sastre wins the 2008 Tour de France.
• Alberto Contador wins the 2008 Giro d'Italia.
• Alberto Contador wins the 2008 Vuelta a España.

Competition aerobatics

• Mikhail Mamistov won the 16th FAI European Aerobatic Championships in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
• Ferenc Tóth won the 9th FAI European Glider Aerobatic Championships in Radom.

Cricket

• Rajasthan Royals win the 2008 Indian Premier League.

Curling

Diving

• FINA Diving World Cup concludes with China taking 7 gold and 4 silver medals

Figure skating

• March – 2008 World Figure Skating Championships held at Göteborg

Floorball

• December – 2008 Men's World Floorball Championships

Gliding

• The winners of the 30th FAI World Gliding Championships in Lüsse are Michael Sommer (Open Class), György Gulyas (15m Class) and Olivier Darroze (18m Class).
• Laurent Couture (World Class), Michael Buchthal (Standard Class) and Matthias Sturm (Club Class) won the gold medals in the 30th FAI World Gliding Championships in Rieti, Italy.

Golf

• The Masters – Trevor Immelman wins his first major.
• Tiger Woods wins the 2008 U.S. Open Golf Championship over Rocco Mediate following an eighteen hole playoff which they tie at even par. This forces a sudden death playoff on the seventh hole and Woods makes a par to Mediate's bogey.
• United States defeats Europe to win the 2008 Ryder Cup at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky

Handball

• 2008 European Men's Handball Championship: Denmark
• 2008 European Women's Handball Championship: Norway

Horse racing

• Cheltenham Gold Cup – Denman
• Grand National – Comply or Die

• Australia – Melbourne Cup won by Viewed
• Canadian Triple Crown:
  1. Queen's Plate – Not Bourbon
  2. Prince of Wales Stakes – Harlem Rocker
  3. Breeders' Stakes – Marlang
• Dubai – Dubai World Cup won by Curlin
• France – Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe won by Zarkava
• Ireland – Irish Derby Stakes won by Frozen Fire
• Japan – Japan Cup won by Screen Hero
• English Triple Crown Races:
  1. 2,000 Guineas Stakes – Henrythenavigator
  2. Epsom Derby – New Approach
  3. St. Leger Stakes – Conduit
• United States Triple Crown Races:
  1. Kentucky Derby – Big Brown
  2. Preakness Stakes – Big Brown
  3. Belmont Stakes – Da' Tara
• Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships:
  • Day 1:
    1. Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint – Ventura
    2. Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf – Maram
    3. Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies – Stardom Bound
    4. Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf – Forever Together
    5. Breeders' Cup Ladies' Classic – Zenyatta
  • Day 2:
    1. Breeders' Cup Marathon – Muhannak
    2. Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint – Desert Code
    3. Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile – Albertus Maximus
    4. Breeders' Cup Mile – Goldikova
    5. Breeders' Cup Juvenile – Midshipman
    6. Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf – Donativum
    7. Breeders' Cup Sprint – Midnight Lute
    8. Breeders' Cup Turf – Conduit
    9. Breeders' Cup Classic – Raven's Pass

Ice hockey

• Detroit Red Wings win the Stanley Cup defeating the Pittsburgh Penguins 4 games to 2
• IIHF World Championships: Russia wins the gold medal by defeating Canada in overtime in the final

Lacrosse

• 26 May – Syracuse University wins the 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Championship
• 7 August – Federation of International Lacrosse, the new unified governing body for the sport, holds its first meeting. The body was formed with the merger of the former governing bodies for the men's and women's versions, respectively the International Lacrosse Federation and International Federation of Women's Lacrosse Associations.

Motor racing

• Indy Racing League
  • 22 February – the bitter feud between the two major open-wheel racing series, the Indy Racing League and Champ Car, ends after 14 years with the two series agreeing to unify for the 2008 IndyCar Series season under the IRL banner
  • Indianapolis 500 won by Scott Dixon
  • Danica Patrick won the Indy Japan 300, becoming the first female to win an IndyCar race.
• Stock car racing
  • 50th annual Daytona 500 at Daytona Beach, Florida, is won by Ryan Newman
  • NASCAR – for the third straight season, Jimmie Johnson and the #48 Lowe's Chevrolet for Hendrick Motorsports wins the Sprint Cup championship, a feat equalled only by Cale Yarborough from 1976 through 1978

Olympic Games

• 8 August – Games of the XXIX Olympiad open in Beijing

Paragliding

• Greg Blondeau won the 10th FAI European Paragliding Championship in Niš, Serbia. Ewa Wisnierska won the gold medal in the female category.

Polo

• Chile defeats Brazil to win the 2008 Polo World Championship in México

Radiosport

• 14th Amateur Radio Direction Finding World Championship held at Hwaseong, South Korea

Rotorcraft

• Viktor Korotaev (pilot) and Nikolay Burov (co-pilot) won the 13th World Helicopter Championship in Eisenach.

Rowing

• The Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race – Oxford University beat Cambridge University to gain their third victory in five years.

Rugby league

• February 29 at Elland Road, Leeds – 2008 World Club Challenge is won by the Leeds Rhinos who defeat the Melbourne Storm 11-4 before 33,204
• April 17 at Sydney – 2008 marks the centenary of rugby league in Australia and an Australian rugby league team of the century is announced
• May 9 at the Sydney Cricket Ground – 2008 ANZAC Day Test match is won by Australia 28-12 over New Zealand before 34,571
• July 2 at ANZ Stadium, Sydney – 2008 State of Origin is won by Queensland in the third and deciding match of the series against New South Wales before 78,751
• August 30 at Wembley Stadium – 2008 Challenge Cup culminates in St. Helens' 28-16 win against Hull FC in the final before 82,821.
• October 4 at Old Trafford, Manchester – Super League XIII culminates in the Leeds Rhinos' 24-16 win against St Helens in the Grand Final before 68,810
• October 5 at ANZ Stadium, Sydney – 2008 NRL season culminates in the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles' record-breaking 40-0 win against the Melbourne Storm in the Grand Final before 80,388
• November 19 at Sydney – 2008 Golden Boot award for best international player is won by Australia's Billy Slater
• November 22 at Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane – 2008 World Cup tournament culminates in New Zealand's 34-20 win against Australia in the final before 50,599

Rugby union

• 114th Six Nations Championship series is won by Wales who complete the Grand Slam

Ski mountaineering

• 2008 World Championship of Skimountaineering held at Portes du Soleil, Switzerland

Tennis

• Australian Open
  • Men's Final: Novak Djokovic defeats Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 7-6(2)
  • Women's Final: Maria Sharapova defeats Ana Ivanovic 7-5, 6-3
• French Open
  • Men's Final: Rafael Nadal defeats Roger Federer 6-1, 6-3, 6-0
  • Women's Final: Ana Ivanovic defeats Dinara Safina 6-4, 6-3
• Wimbledon Championships
  • Men's Final: Rafael Nadal defeats Roger Federer 6-4, 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-7(8), 9-7
  • Ladies' Final: Venus Williams defeats Serena Williams 7-5, 6-4
• US Open
  • Men's Final: Roger Federer defeats Andy Murray 6–2, 7–5, 6–2
  • Women's Final: Serena Williams defeats Jelena Janković 6-4, 7-5

Water polo

• 2008 Men's European Water Polo Championship: Montenegro
• 2008 Women's European Water Polo Championship: Russia
• 2008 FINA Men's Water Polo World League : Serbia
• 2008 FINA Women's Water Polo World League : Russia

Weightlifting

• European Championships held at Lignano Sabbiadoro, Italy

References

1. FAI Sporting Calendar: Aerobatic Competitions - accessed 2008-02-17
2. EAC2008 results - accessed 2008-07-21
3. FAI: Euroepan Glider Aerobatic Championships 2008 - accessed 2008-08-21
4. 30th World Gliding Championships 2008 in Lüsse - accessed 2008-08-21
5. FAI Sporting Calendar: Gliding Competitions - accessed 2008-02-17
6. SoaringSpot: results of the 30th FAI World Gliding Championships in Rieti, Italy - accessed 2008-07-21
7. EUPGSerbia2008: results - accessed 2008-07-21
8. Final results of the 13th World Helicopter Championship - accessed 2008-08-22