But, naturally, the lion's share of competitions in February will be traditionally winter sports. By the way, on February 10-13, the Ukrainian hockey team will compete in Klagenfurt, Austria, for a spot at the 2006 Olympic Games. Similar competitions will be held on the same days in Swiss Kloten and Latvian Riga.
ENGLAND
In the 25th round of the country's football championship (February 1), a super interesting match will take place: «Arsenal» will host «Manchester United» in London. Other matches of the round are unlikely to arouse even a quarter of such interest. Even the meeting between «Blackburn» and «Chelsea» on February 2.
In the next round (February 5), the brightest match can be called the meeting in Birmingham between «Aston Villa» and «Arsenal». «Chelsea» will play at home against «Manchester City», «Manchester United» against «Birmingham».
On February 12, a local derby will take place in Manchester, which all of England is watching with interest: «City» will host «United». London's «Chelsea» will play in Liverpool against «Everton». And two weeks later – on February 26 – English football fans will have the opportunity to enjoy one of the capital derbies: «Tottenham» will play «Fulham».
ARGENTINA
On February 7, a men's tennis tournament with a prize fund of $380,000 will start in Buenos Aires. On February 8-20, the world championship in one of the sailing classes will take place in Buenos Aires.
BELGIUM
On February 14, a women's tennis tournament of the 2nd category with a prize fund of $585,000 will begin in Antwerp (last year's winner is Belgian Kim Clijsters).
HUNGARY
On February 4-6, the Short Track Speed Skating World Cup will be held in Budapest – speed skating on shortened tracks.
On February 6, the Fencing World Cup will be held in Godollo – among men's teams. The Women's Fencing World Cup will continue with competitions in Budapest on February 26-27.
GERMANY
The Snowboard World Cup stage will take place in Winterberg on February 5-6.
In the German football championship, which resumed at the end of January, the fight for the Silver Salad Bowl is in full swing. On February 5, Andrei Voronin's «Bayer» will face local «Bayern» in Munich, and «Schalke» will play in Rostock against «Hansa».
A week later, «Bayer» will host our Voronin's former club, «Mainz», in Leverkusen. «Bayern» will play in Bielefeld against «Arminia», «Schalke» will host «Wolfsburg» in Gelsenkirchen, and «Werder» in Bremen will host Borussia Moenchengladbach.
Skiing competitions will be held in Reit im Winkl on February 12-13, and on the same days a Speed Skating World Cup stage will take place in Erfurt. The World Cross-Country Skiing Championships will start in Oberstdorf on February 16 and end on February 27. And on February 18-20, an Alpine Skiing World Cup stage will be held in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
The central match of the 22nd round of the national football championship (February 19) will be the game between «Bayern» and «Borussia Dortmund». Andrei Voronin and his team will play in Nuremberg, while «Stuttgart» will host «Hertha» from Berlin. And finally, on the last weekend of February (the 26th), «Stuttgart» will take on «Bayer Leverkusen» at home. This will undoubtedly be the main match of the round.
The Men's European Team Chess Championship will take place in Dresden on February 20-26.
HOLLAND
On February 14, a men's tennis tournament with a prize fund of 765,000 euros will start in Rotterdam (last year's winner is Australian Lleyton Hewitt). The Speed Skating World Cup stage will take place in Heerenveen on February 18-20.
ITALY
The Alpine Skiing World Championship will start in the town of Bormio on January 29. The world forum will end on February 13.
The first February round of the Italian football championship will not please gourmets with bright duels. Andrei Shevchenko's «Milan» will play against «Messina» in Sicily on February 2, while «Juventus» will host «Sampdoria» at home. But on February 6, fans can expect such an interesting match as «Milan» – «Lazio» («Juventus» will play away against «Palermo», and «Parma» will host «Inter»).
A Biathlon World Cup stage will take place on the outskirts of Turin starting February 7. It will last until the 13th. On the same day, the Snowboard World Cup stage in «Bardonecchia» will end (it will begin on February 10).
Ski jumping and Nordic combined World Cup stages will take place in Pragelato on February 11-12. On the 12th, snowboarders will compete in Turin.
There will also be something to watch for calcio fans on February 13. In this round, «Inter» will test their strength against «Roma» at home, and «Juventus» – against «Udinese» («Milan» will play away against «Reggina»). In the 25th round (February 20), the Serie A giants will take a breather («Milan» will host «Cagliari», and «Juventus» will play away against «Messina»). But already on the next weekend (February 27), fans will be treated to a delicacy: the «Inter» – «Milan» match. The meeting between «Lazio» and «Parma» takes a back seat, as does the «Juventus» – «Siena» match.
Motorcyclists will compete in Milan on February 19. And on February 25-27, female alpine skiers will hold the next World Cup stage in San Sicario.
INDIA
On February 7, a women's tennis tournament of the 4th category will start in Hyderabad (prize fund – $140,000).
SPAIN
In February, the Spanish football championship will play four more rounds. And in each of them, very interesting duels are expected. For example, on February 6, «Barcelona» will meet Madrid's «Atletico» («Real» – with «Espanyol»). A week later, «Valencia» will test «Deportivo» at home («Barcelona» will play in Zaragoza, «Real» – in Pamplona). The meetings of «Barcelona» with «Mallorca» and «Real» with «Athletic» will adorn the 24th round (February 22). And on February 27, «Deportivo» will play «Real» in La Coruna, and this match will become the central one of the 25th round.
On February 6, motorcyclist competitions – the world championship – will be held in Barcelona.
To be continued.