1997 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.
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- World Artistic Gymnastics Championships –
- Women's all–around champion: Svetlana Khorkina, Russian
- Women's team competition champion: Romania
- Women's vault champion: Simona Amânar, Romania
- Women's uneven bars champion: Svetlana Khorkina, Russian
- Women's balance beam champion: Gina Gogean, Romania
- Women's floor exercise champion: Gina Gogean, Romania
- Men's all-around champion: Ivan Ivankov, Belarus
- Men's team competition champion: China
- Men's vault champion: Sergei Fedorchenko, Kazakhstan
- Men's still rings champion: Yuri Chechi, Italy
- Men's floor exercise champion: Alexei Nemov, Russian
- Men's parallel bars champion: Zhang Jinjing, China
- Men's pommel horse champion: Valery Belenky, Germany
- Men's horizontal bar champion: Jani Tanskanen, Finland
Men's professional
Men's amateur
Women's professional
- The Grand National Saturday meeting was abandoned after two coded bomb threats were received, causing evacuation of the course. The race was eventually run on the following Monday.
Steeplechases
Flat races
The following is a list of major noteworthy MMA events during 1997 in chronological order.
Date |
Event |
Alternate Name/s |
Location |
Attendance |
PPV Buyrate |
Notes |
February 7 |
UFC 12: Judgement Day |
— |
Dothan, Alabama, United States |
3,100 |
— |
UFC rule change, split main tournament into heavyweight (200lbs+) and lightweight (Under 200lbs) divisions. Eight-man tournament ceases. Introduction of titles. Superfights cease. |
May 30 |
UFC 13: Ultimate Force |
— |
Augusta, Georgia, United States |
5,100 |
— |
Closed fisted strikes to the head were banned for this event only. |
July 27 |
UFC 14: Showdown |
— |
Birmingham, Alabama, United States |
5,000 |
— |
UFC rule change, requires fighters to use 4–6 oz gloves. |
October 11 |
Pride 1 |
— |
Tokyo, Japan |
47,860 |
— |
Pride FC's first event. The event featured one kickboxing bout between Branko Cikatić and Ralph White. |
October 17 |
UFC 15: Collision Course |
— |
Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, United States |
— |
— |
UFC rule change, redefined permissible striking areas. |
December 21 |
UFC Japan: Ultimate Japan |
UFC 15.5 |
Yokohama, Japan |
5,000 |
— |
This event featured the first appearance of longtime UFC announcer Mike Goldberg. |
- 1 March – Townsville, Australia: The Adelaide Rams play their inaugural game, a loss to the North Queensland Cowboys 24–16 at Dairy Farmers Stadium before a crowd of 17,738.
- 2 March – Newcastle, Australia: The Hunter Mariners club plays its inaugural game, a 20–16 loss to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs at Topper Stadium before a crowd of 6,579.
- 18 May – Auckland, New Zealand: In the 1997 Oceania Cup's final New Zealand XIII defeat New Zealand Māori 20 – 15 at Carlaw Park.
- 19 May – Brisbane, Australia: In the final of the only Super League Tri-series to be played, New South Wales defeat Queensland 23–22 at ANZ Stadium before a crowd of 35,570. It sets a new record as the longest game of rugby league ever played before being decided by a field goal during extra time.
- 11 June – Melbourne, Australia: The 1997 State of Origin series is wrapped up in Game II by New South Wales who defeat Queensland 15–14 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground before a crowd of 25,105.
- The 1997–98 French Championship season finishes with the Villeneuve Leopards on top of the league table.
- 20 September – Brisbane, Australia: The 1997 Super League (Australia) season's Grand Final is won by the Brisbane Broncos who defeated the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 26–8 at ANZ Stadium before a crowd of 58,912.
- 28 September – Sydney, Australia: The 1997 ARL season's grand final is won by the Newcastle Knights who defeated the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles 22–16 at the Sydney Football Stadium before a crowd of 42,482.
- 12 October – Christchurch, New Zealand: The 1997 New Zealand season culminates in the Waikato Cougars 34–18 victory over the Canterbury Reds at Rugby League Park, Waikato defeated Canterbury 34–18 to win both the Challenge Cup and the Rugby League Cup.
- 18 October – Auckland, New Zealand: In the 1997 World Club Championship's final, the Brisbane Broncos defeat the Hunter Mariners 36–12 at Ericsson Stadium before a crowd of 12,000.
- In the Super League II, on Sunday 28 September, with the final of the Premiership was won by Wigan Warriors who defeated St. Helens 33–20. At the end of the season Bradford Bulls were crowned League champions by virtue of finishing the season at the top of the table.
- 16 November – Leeds, England: In the third and deciding test match of the Super League Test series, Australia defeat Great Britain 37–20 at Elland Road before a crowd of 39,337.