For billions of people around world, January 1st, 2020 seemed like great day. It was the start of year that sounded like science fiction - 2020. Many people had great hopes for year ahead. Few knew what rollercoaster ride 2020 would be and how the world would change. The year has been dominated by COVID-19 pandemic. This has brought hundreds of thousands of deaths, economic chaos, lockdowns and masked populations. Another huge event was death of George Floyd at hands of U.S. police in July. This sparked Black Lives Matter movement and global protests. The year ended with Joe Biden being voted in as the President-elect of the USA.
Different people will have different memories of 2020. Our reporters asked people around world to tell us what they will remember 2020 for. Ahmed Hussein from Lebanon said he would never forget massive explosion at Beirut port in August that killed at least 190 people. He said he thanked God none of his family or friends were hurt, but was sad at destruction of his city. Lucy Baxter, nurse in the UK, said her happiest moment came with the news of vaccines for COVID-19. She said she could see light at end of long and dark tunnel. Ayumi Miyamoto of Japan was saddened by the postponement of Tokyo Olympics but is happy they will go ahead in 2021. She said 2021 would be good year.
