As the rest of the world prepares to wind down and enjoy the festive period with their loved ones, professional athletes the world over are ready for the busiest period of the year.
From rugby to NFL to the Premier League, there are no shortage of sporting fixtures to fill up the hours on the couch as you enjoy yet another chocolate bar from the selection box. Don't worry about it, the diet starts on January 3rd...
December 23rd
NFL New York Giants @ Philadelphia Eagles: Sky Sports 1, 12.30am
Serie A Juventus vs. AC Milan (Italian Super Cup): Sky Sports 4, 4.30pm
PRO 12 Ulster Rugby vs. Connacht Rugby: Sky Sports, 7.35pm
Darts PDC World Darts Championship: Sky Sports 1, 1.00pm; 7pm
Image: ©INPHO/Presseye/Russell Pritchard
Aviva Premiership Northampton Saints vs. Sale Sharks: BT Sport 1, 7pm
NHL Tampa Bay Lightning @ Washington Capitals: Eir Sport 2, 12.00am
NBA Oklahoma City Thunder @ New York Knicks: BT Sport 1, 12.30am
NHL Detroit Red Wings @ Florida Panthers: Eir Sport 1, 12.30am
December 24th
Aviva Premiership Wasps vs. Bath: BT Sport 1, 1.30pm
NFL Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills: Sky Sports 1, 5.30pm
NFL Redzone: Sky Sports Mix, 6pm
NFL Indianapolis Colts @ Oakland Raiders: Sky Sports 1, 9pm
December 25th
NBA Boston Celtic @ New York Knicks: Eir Sport 1, 5pm
NBA Golden State Warriors @ Cleveland Cavaliers: Eir Sport 1, 7.30pm
The two teams that met in last year's NBA Finals come face to face again on Christmas Day. After blowing their 3-1 lead, the Warriors signed Kevin Durant during the off-season to make themselves the most feared team in the league. Will it be enough this time around?
NFL Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers: Sky Sports 1, 8pm
NBA Chicago Bulls @ San Antonio Spurs: Eir Sport 1, 10pm
Cricket Australia vs. Pakistan: BT Sport 3, 11pm
NBA Minnesota Timberwolves @ Oklahoma City Thunder: Eir Sport 1, 1am
NFL Cincinnati Bengals @ Houston Texans: Sky Sports 1, 1am
December 26th
Premier League Watford vs. Crystal Palace: Sky Sports, 12.30pm
Racing Race Day: Eir Sport 1, 2pm
A traditionally huge day on the racing calendar includes action from Leopardstown, Limerick and Down Royal.
Aviva Premiership Bristol vs. Worcester Warriors: BT Sport 1, 2.30pm
Premier League Hull vs. Manchester City: Sky Sports, 5.15pm
PRO 12 Munster vs. Leinster: TG4; Sky Sports, 5.30pm
NFL Denver Broncos @ Kansas City Chiefs: Sky Sports 1, 1.20am
December 27th
Darts PDC World Darts Championship: Sky Sports Darts 1pm; Sky Sports 1 8pm
Racing Race Day, Leopardstown, Limerick: Eir Sport 1, 2pm
Premier League Liverpool vs. Stoke: Sky Sports, 5pm
NHL Pittsburgh Penguins @ New Jersey Devils, Eir Sport 2, 12.00am
NFL Detroit Lions @ Dallas Cowboys: Sky Sports 1, 1.20am
NHL Winnipeg Jets @ Chicago Blackhawks, Eir Sport 1, 1.30am
NBA Houston Rockets @ Dallas Mavericks, BT Sport 1, 1.30am
December 28th
Racing Leopardstown: At The Races, 1.50pm, 3pm
Darts PDC World Darts Championship: Sky Sports 1, 1pm; Sky Sports Darts, 7pm
Premier League Southampton vs. Tottenham Hotspur: Sky Sports, 7.30pm
NHL Carolina Hurricanes @ Pittsburgh Penguins: Eir Sport 2, 12.00am
NHL Philadelphia Flyers @ St. Louis Blues: Eir Sport 1, 1am
December 29th
Racing Leopardstown: At the Races, 1.55pm, 2.30pm
Darts PDC World Darts Championship: Sky Sports 1, 1pm; Sky Sports Darts, 7pm
NHL Boston Bruins @ Buffalo Sabres: Eir Sport 2, 12am
NHL Montreal Canadiens @ Florida Panthers: Eir Sport 1, 12.30am
NBA Boston Celtics @ Cleveland Cavaliers: BT Sport, 1am
December 30th
Darts PDC World Darts Championship: Sky Sports 1 HD 1pm; Sky Sports Mix, 7pm
Premier League Hull vs Everton: Sky Sports, 8pm
NBA Chicago Bulls @ Indiana Pacers: BT Sport 3, 9pm
NHL Chicago Blackhawks @ Carolina Hurricanes: Eir Sport 2, 12.30am
UFC UFC 207: BT Sport 3, 1am
Ronda Rousey returns to the Octagon for the first time since she lost her title in 2015 to Holly Holm. Her road back has been a long and difficult one, and while she had been rumoured to be coming back on the Madison Square Garden card in November, she instead opted for tonight's card in Las Vegas.
December 31st
SPL Rangers vs. Celtic: Sky Sports 1, 11.30am
Racing Race Day: Eir Sport 1, 2pm
PRO 12 Leinster vs. Ulster: Sky Sports 2, 3pm
PRO 12 Connacht vs. Munster: TG4, 5.30pm
Premier League Liverpool vs Manchester City: BT Sport 1, 5.30pm
College Football Peach Bowl - Washington Huskies vs. Alabama Crimson Tide: BT Sport ESPN, 7.30pm
NBA Memphis Grizzlies @ Sacramento Kings: BT Sport 1, 10pm
College Football Fiesta Bowl - Ohios State Buckeyes vs. Clemson Tigers: BT Sport ESPN, 11.30pm
NHL Montreal Canadiens @ Pittsburgh Penguins: Eir Sport 2, 12am
NBA Los Angeles Clippers @ Oklahoma City Thunder: BT Sport 1, 1am
January 1st
Premier League Watford vs. Spurs: Sky Sports, 1.30pm
Premier League Arsenal vs. Crystal Palace: Sky Sports, 4pm
NFL Week 17 fixtures: Sky Sports 1, 6pm
As the NFL regular season comes to a close, there are a number of crunch games with plenty on the line. You can keep up with all the games on Red Zone, as the Tennessee Titans take on the Houston Texans, the Green Bay Packers face the Detroit Lions and Dallas Cowboys hope to continue their brilliant season to date against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders will face one of their most difficult games of the season as they take on the Denver Broncos, and the Kansas City Chiefs face the San Diego Chargers.
Darts PDC World Darts Championship semi-final: Sky Sports 1, 7pm
NHL Detroit Red Wings @ Toronto Maple Leafs: Eir Sport 2, 8pm
NBA San Antonio Spurs @ Atlanta Hawks: BT Sport 2, 11pm
NHL Philadelphia Flyers @ Anaheim Ducks, Eir Sport 2, 1am
January 2nd
Premier League Middlesbrough vs. Leicester City: Sky Sports 1, 12pm
Premier League West Ham vs. Manchester United: Sky Sports 1, 5pm
Darts PDC World Darts Championship final: Sky Sports 1, 8pm
NHL Chicago Blackhawks @ St. Louis Blues: Eir Sport 2, 6pm
NHL Boston Bruins @ New Jersey Devils: Eir Sport 2, 12am
NBA New Orleans Pelicans @ Cleveland Cavaliers: BT Sport 2, 12am
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