Participants wearing masks during a hazy day at the Beijing International Marathon in front of Tiananmen Square, in Beijing, October 19, 2014. (Photo by Reuters/Stringer)

Sports have the ability to transform groups of strangers into a united community. In the celebratory spirit surrounding the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Sony and the World Photography Organisation present UNITED – a contest honouring the passion of football fans around the world. Seven inspirational photographers have been selected by Sony and WPO to capture the atmosphere and celebration of the World Cup across the globe. Photo: France – French fans cheering for their team. (Photo by Anthony Lepinay)

China has sent its first woman into space on a mission to dock with an orbiting station, the latest step in an ambitious programme to go to the moon and on to Mars.

Photo: China's first female astronaut Liu Yang, waves during a sending off ceremony before she departs for the Shenzhou 9 spacecraft rocket launch pad at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, China, Saturday, June 16, 2012. China will send its first woman and two other astronauts into space Saturday to work on a temporary space station for about a week, in a key step toward becoming only the third nation to set up a permanent base in orbit. (Photo by Ng Han Guan/AP Photo)

Television actress Catherine Fuller visits Trafalgar Square in London and feeds the famous pigeons. (Photo by Harry Kerr/BIPs/Getty Images). 26th June 1956

A to-do list written by John Lennon on display at the GOTTA HAVE IT! Rock & Roll Pop Culture Auction Press Preview at the Gotta Have It! store on November 30, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Getty Images)

Participants dressed as Santa Claus take part in the Great Edinburgh Santa Run on December 11, 2011 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Around a thousand people took part in the annual fundraising event, with all money raised being donated to the charity “When You Wish Upon a Star”. (Photo by Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images)

A man walks on the Cobb as storm waves break behind on December 13, 2011 in Lyme Regis, England. (Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Sally Fitzgibbons of Australia competes in the Women's Final of the 2012 Australian Surfing Open on February 19, 2012 in Manly, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)