As the years passed by, the way we perceive sport changed as records were rewritten, stars were born, legends moved on and some others were disgraced... Here are some moments that will never be forgotten.
2000
May 24: Former Pakistan cricket captain Salim Malik is banned for life for match-fixing.
1999 World Cup captain Wasim Akram, among others, is also censured.
South Africa and India captains, Hansie Cronje and Mohammad Azharuddin, are also banned for life later in the year.
Sept 15-Oct 1: Cathy Freeman lights the Sydney Olympic flame in a symbol of reconciliation between Aboriginal Australians and the European settlers.
She goes on to win Australia’s only track gold in the
400 metres.
Teammate Ian Thorpe wins three golds and three silvers in the pool and American sprinter Marion Jones wins three golds and two bronzes.
2001
April 8: Tiger Woods becomes the first man to hold all four golf Major titles at the same time.
2002
{{/usCountry}}2002
{{/usCountry}}Feb 8-24: Croatian Alpineskier Janica Kostelic sets record with three golds and one silver.
Norway’s Ole Einar Bjoendalen also sets a record with golds in all four biathlon events at the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.
June 8: Lennox Lewis destroys Mike Tyson in eight rounds.
June 30: Ronaldo scores two goals which gave Brazil victory over Germany in the World Cup final in Japan. Brazil win an unprecedented fifth title and Ronaldo’s eighth goal of the tournament equals Pele’s cup tally of 12.
Aug 25: Pete Sampras retires at age 32 after winning record 14 Grand Slam tennis titles.
Nov 23: England’s Jonny Wilkinson kicks winning goal in rugby World Cup final against Australia, the first time a northern hemisphere side have won the trophy.
2004
Aug 13-29: Greek medal hopes Costas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou withdraw from Athens Olympics after missing drugs tests on eve of the Games.
Moroccan Hicham El Guerrouj wins 1,500m title, goes on to complete the first 1,500-5,000m double for 80 years.
2005
July 22: Yelena Isinbayeva breaks women’s five-meter pole vaulting barrier
July 24: Lance Armstrong wins record seventh successive Tour de France.
2006
July 9: France captain Zinedine Zidane is sent off after headbutting Italy’s Marco Materazzi in the Berlin World Cup final.
Italy go on to win the penalty shootout 5-3.
Sept 10: Michael Schumacher, 37, announces his retirement at the end of the Formula One season after winning the Italian Grand Prix, the 90th career victory for them German.
2007
July 3: Swiss syndicate Alinghi defeat Team New Zealand to win 32nd America’s Cup off Valencia, the first European team to defend yachting’s elite trophy
Sept 20: American 2006 Tour de France champion Floyd Landis banned for two years after being found guilty of doping violations.
Oct 5: Marion Jones admits she used steroids before the 2000 Sydney Olympics Her results dating back to September 2000 and her five Sydney medals are annulled.
2008
July 6: Rafael Nadal defeats Roger Federer at Wimbledon final.
Aug 8-24: Usain Bolt breaks 100m & 200m records and Michael Phelps wins a record eight gold in the pool in Beijing Games.
Nov 2: Briton Lewis Hamilton overtakes on the final lap of season-ending Brazilian GP to become youngest Formula One champion.
2009
March 3: Five policemen and a bus driver are killed when gunmen attack Sri Lanka cricket team bus in Lahore.
Six members of the team and their British assistant coach are wounded.
Sept 21: Formula One team Renault are given suspended two-year ban after admitting to race-fixing at the 2008 Freeman Singapore Grand Prix.