January 1, 1971
1971 battle of the Bangladesh Liberation War
1971 European Athletics Championships — 1971 edition of the European Athletics Championships
1971 CONCACAF Championship — 1971 edition of the CONCACAF Championship association football competition
1971 Formula One season — sports season
Eurovision Song Contest 1971 — 16th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest
1971–72 UEFA Cup — inaugural season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA
1971–72 European Cup — 17th season of the UEFA club football tournament
1971 World Women's Handball Championship — 1971 edition of the World Women's Handball Championship
EuroBasket 1971 — 1971 edition of the FIBA EuroBasket
Freighters seized by Cuban gunboats.