September 11 attacks — 2001 attacks in the United States

EuroBasket 2001 — 2001 edition of the Eurobasket

2001–02 UEFA Cup — 31st season of Europe's secondary club football tournament organised by UEFA

2001 World Championships in Athletics — 2001 edition of the World Championships in Athletics

2001 Formula One World Championship — sports season

2001 insurgency in Macedonia — armed conflict during the Yugoslav Wars

UEFA Women's Euro 2001 — 2001 edition of the UEFA Women's Euro

Eurovision Song Contest 2001 — 46th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest

2001 Copa América — 2001 edition of the Copa América association football competition

2001 FIFA Confederations Cup — 5th FIFA Confederations Cup, held in South Korea and Japan

2001 World Men's Handball Championship — 2001 edition of the World Men's Handball Championship