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Paris Olympics (2024) - Discussion Thread

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Paris Olympics by the numbers: Participating country stats and facts​


The whole world has its eyes on Paris.

Athletes from more than 200 countries across the globe will attend the 2024 Summer Olympics in France's capital city.

Each of the Olympians gathering in Paris this summer will add to the long history of the Olympics, which have been played every four years since 1896 (except 1916 due to World War I, 1940 and 1944 due to World War II and 2020 due to COVID-19). Paris has hosted the Olympics twice before in 1900 and 1924, so this return trip is long overdue.

Here are some different records and stats ahead of the 2024 Olympics:

How many countries are competing in the 2024 Olympics?

There are 206 countries in the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and each will have at least one athlete in Paris this summer.

What is the smallest country to compete in the Olympics?

Nauru holds the distinction as the smallest nation (by population) to compete in the Olympics. A small island located in the Pacific Ocean to the northeast of Australia, Nauru has an estimated population of 12,100.

The country has yet to medal since it first competed in the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. Nauru has only competed in the Olympics for weightlifting, judo and track and field, sending a total of 15 athletes in the last seven Games (1996 to 2020).

Which is the most populous country to never win an Olympic medal?

Bangladesh, with a population of 169,828,911 in its 2022 census, is the most populous country to never win an Olympic medal.

While Bangladesh has never competed in the Winter Olympics, it has sent athletes to the Summer Olympics every four years since 1984. Forty-nine athletes from Bangladesh have represented their country in track and field, archery, swimming, shooting, gymnastics and golf over the last 10 Olympics.

Four more athletes will represent Bangladesh in 2024: Md Sagor Islam (archery), Md Robiul Islam (shooting), Samiul Islam Rafi (swimming) and Sonia Aktar (swimming).

Which country has the fewest Olympic medals?

There are more than 60 countries that have never earned an Olympic medal. Some of the larger, more notable countries never to medal (outside of Bangladesh) include Bolivia, Cambodia, Honduras, Nepal and Yemen.

Which country has competed in the most Olympics without winning a gold medal?

Monaco has competed in 21 Summer Games without earning a gold medal, which is the most appearances ever without a gold.

Known for its famed Formula 1 race and as a tourist destination among the wealthy, Monaco has sent 114 athletes to the Summer Olympic Games since its first trip in 1920. Monaco has not only never won a gold medal, it has never won any medal at the Olympics — summer or winter — in 32 appearances.

In 2024, Monaco will send five athletes looking to earn that first medal: Marvin Gadeau (judo), Quentin Antognelli (rowing), Théo Druenne (swimming), Lisa Pou (swimming) and Tang Xiaoxin (table tennis).

Which country has attended the fewest Olympics?

Among currently existing nations, South Sudan and Kosovo have attended the fewest Olympics with two appearances each (2016 and 2021).

Both of these countries have one key thing in common: they haven’t existed for very long. South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011, while Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, so neither country appeared in the Olympics until 2016 before returning in 2021 at the Tokyo Games.

How many athletes are competing in the Paris Olympics?

A estimate of 10,500 athletes are expected to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics — and for the first time ever, the split will be 50% men and 50% women. Those 10,500 athletes will compete in 32 different sports and 339 events this summer.

Which country has hosted the most Olympics?

France will play host for a sixth time in 2024, but it will still be chasing the United States as the country that has hosted the most Olympics.

The U.S. has hosted the Olympics eight times, and Team USA will once again be playing on its home turf when the Games return stateside with the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.

www.nbclosangeles.com

Paris Olympics by the numbers: Participating country stats and facts

Here are some surprising stats and facts about the participating countries of the past and present ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics.
www.nbclosangeles.com www.nbclosangeles.com
 
BTS’ Jin carries Olympic torch ahead of Paris games

BTS star Jin participated in the Paris 2024 Olympic Torch Relay yesterday (July 14) ahead of this summer’s games.

It comes soon after Jin was discharged from the military last month as the first member of the K-pop band to complete the requirement.

Jin, the torchbearer for South Korea, said: “It was an honour to be part of such a meaningful moment. I was able to take on the honourable role of a torchbearer thanks to the support of ARMY. I am truly grateful. I was so nervous to the point of not knowing how the time passed, but I was able to do my best thanks to the many people on site who loudly cheered me on.”

He added: “I hope that all the South Korean national teams participating in the Paris Olympics accomplish outstanding results from their tremendous hard work. I will be rooting for them wholeheartedly. I also hope that there will be continued interest in the 17th Paris 2024 Paralympics in August. I, too, will continue to work hard and always strive to put my best foot forward.”


uk.news.yahoo.com

BTS’ Jin carries Olympic torch ahead of Paris games

The superstar was recently discharged from military service as the first member of the K-pop band to complete the requirement.
uk.news.yahoo.com uk.news.yahoo.com
 
cant remember a less hyped Olympics, tokyo "2020" was so underwhelming, also a lack of track celebrities.
 
Egyptian cyclist barred from Olympics over crash with team-mate

An Egyptian track cyclist who collided with a rival team-mate will no longer compete in the Paris 2024 Olympics, after the Egyptian Olympic Committee (EOC) ruled that she should be barred over the incident.

The EOC said Shahd Saeed, 19, was not eligible because of the one-year suspension from local competitions that was imposed by the Egyptian Cycling Federation in April.

Many Egyptians had criticised her selection for the Olympics by the federation, whose president had said it was acting “in favour of Egypt”.

In a TV interview following the EOC’s decision, Saeed admitted she was at fault for the crash with Ganna Eliwa but insisted it was “not deliberate”.

“I wish I had represented Egypt in the Olympics and my efforts over three years had paid off,” she told a talk show.

Eliwa, who is also 19, said she was happy that Saeed would be unable to compete.

“It was expected,” she added. “Saeed does not deserve to be at Paris.”

Eliwa was left concussed and with a broken right collarbone and severe cuts and bruises to the right-hand side of her body, according to a medical report, after she was pushed off her bike 300m (980ft) before the finishing line of an event in Suez on 27 April.

In video footage of the incident, Saeed is seen riding behind Eliwa before she swerves, forcing Eliwa into the barrier. The latter underwent an operation to fix her right shoulder, suffered temporary loss of memory and is still unable to resume competitive cycling.

Saeed said several times that it was an accident, but Eliwa said she never apologised for what happened. It was unclear what caused Saeed to swerve into her opponent.

After an investigation into the incident, the Egyptian Cycling Federation suspended Saeed from the sport for one year and fined her the equivalent of $100 (£77) - the maximum penalty.

Despite that, the federation still registered her for the track cycling at the Olympics.

The decision sparked public anger in Egypt. Many social media users urged authorities to reconsider, with some saying the selection violated the values of Olympism - excellence, respect and friendship.

In a statement issued late on Saturday, the EOC noted that the cycling federation had found that Saeed violated “the regulations, customs, values and ethics of sports” during April’s event.

"Shahd Saeed is not eligible to participate in any international competition, including the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, due to her one-year suspension until 26 April 2025," it said.

The EOC also urged Egyptian media and public to support the remaining members of the national team at the Olympics.

BBC
 
ElRaja said:
cant remember a less hyped Olympics, tokyo "2020" was so underwhelming, also a lack of track celebrities.
Click to expand...
Paris is pretty hyped bhai, Tokyo suffered from bad time zone from Western perspective and also Covid lockdown.
French politics is in news quite a bit, But sporting world is pretty hyped for Paris.

US Basketball media is pumped for redemption after the debacle at FIBA world Cup. Noah Lyles really riled them up.
It might be the best Olympics of this century, it will be hard to top London 2012 though.
 

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swims in the Seine nine days before Olympic Games kickoff​


Nine days before the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics, Anne Hidalgo, the mayor of the French capital, braved the murky waters of the Seine on Wednesday morning to show that the river is clean enough to host the Games’ outdoor swimming events.

Sporting a wetsuit and goggles, Hidalgo swam in the famed waterway as hundreds of onlookers watched from the riverbanks and fulfilled a promise she made back in January.

She broached the river feet first – two bikes and a scooter had been fished out of the river that morning – and she didn't dive to avoid injuring herself.

She was joined by Tony Estanguet, head of the Paris 2024 Games.

French President Emmanuel Macron, who had promised to join the Seine bathers, was a notable absentee, with the beleaguered head of state consumed by a political crisis caused by his decision to call snap parliamentary elections last month.

“The Seine is exquisite,” said Hidalgo from the water. After emerging, she continued to rave, “The water is very, very good. A little cool, but not so bad.'' She also said today was “a dream” and a “testimony that we have achieved a lot of work", referencing the city’s “swimming plan” that was launched in 2015.

The pair swam along the stretch of the river that passes by City Hall and the Notre Dame Cathedral in a bid to showcase the river’s improved cleanliness.

"On the eve of the Games, when the Seine will play a key role, this event represents the demonstration of the efforts made by the city and the state to improve the quality of the Seine's waters and the ecological state of the river," Hidalgo's office said on Tuesday.

Despite investing some $1.4 billion euros in preparing the Seine for the Olympics – largely to prevent sewage leaks into the river – the Seine had until recently repeatedly failed daily water quality tests. Concerns over the Seine’s flow and pollution levels have also persisted.

Hidalgo had originally planned to swim in June, but had to delay her dip because bacteria indicating the presence of faecal matter were found to be sometimes 10 times higher than authorised limits.

On the initial date, the hashtag ”jechiedanslaSeine” (“I’m pooping in the Seine”) trended on social media as some threatened to protest against the Olympics – and Hidalgo – by defecating upstream.

But since the beginning of July, as heavy rains finally gave way to sunnier weather, samples have shown the river to be ready for the open-water swimming and triathlon – and for 65-year-old Hidalgo.

"It's been raining all over France. Summer has been very late to arrive and so have the good results," said Marc Valmassoni from clean-water campaign group Surfrider which has been conducting weekly tests on the Seine since last year.

"They're not excellent, they're not terrible, they're average. But at this time the water is swimmable."

Hidalgo followed in the footsteps of French Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra, who swam in the Seine on Saturday in a wetsuit.

www.france24.com

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo swims in the Seine nine days before Olympic Games kickoff

Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo took a long-awaited dip in the River Seine on Wednesday morning in a bid to prove the water is clean enough to host the outdoor swimming events at the Olympics later this month.
www.france24.com www.france24.com
 
Paris mayor takes pre-Olympics dip to prove Seine clean ahead of 2024 Games

The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has taken a long-awaited swim in the murky waters of the Seine amid joy and relief that the river is finally clean enough for outdoor Olympic swimming events later this month.

Wearing goggles and a wet suit, the 65-year-old city leader swam breaststroke under bright sunshine on Wednesday morning before immersing her face and beginning a front crawl, covering about 100 metres (about 110 yards) downstream.



www.aljazeera.com

Paris mayor takes pre-Olympics dip to prove Seine clean ahead of 2024 Games

Anne Hidalgo is the latest French politician to take the plunge and show River Seine is clean enough for Olympic events.
www.aljazeera.com www.aljazeera.com
 
Cycling sisters defy the Taliban to achieve Olympic dream

Speeding along a road in the foothills of the Swiss Alps, Fariba Hashimi rises out of the saddle of her £15,000 bike and works the pedals even harder to close the gap between her and her sister, Yulduz, a few metres up ahead.

Training rides like this are the last steps on a journey that began with the two siblings from rural Afghanistan racing in disguise on borrowed bikes, before having to escape when the Taliban came to power.

Now they're on their way to the Olympic Games in Paris. And, despite a Taliban ruling banning women from sport, they will compete under their country's flag.

Uphill challenge

In a world where many elite athletes take up sport almost as soon as they can walk, Fariba, 21, and Yulduz, 24, came late to cycling.

They grew up in Faryab, one of the most remote and conservative provinces in Afghanistan, where it was practically unheard of to see women on bicycles.

Fariba was 14 and Yulduz 17 when they saw an advert for a local cycle race and decided to take part.

There were two problems; they didn’t have a bike and they didn’t know how to ride.

The sisters borrowed a neighbour's bike one afternoon. After a few hours, they felt they had got the hang of it.

Their next challenge was to avoid their family finding out what they were doing because of the stigma around women taking part in sport in conservative areas of Afghanistan.

The sisters used false names and covered themselves up, wearing big baggy clothing, large headscarves and sunglasses so people didn't recognise them.

Race day dawned, and incredibly the sisters came first and second.

“It felt amazing,” says Fariba. “I felt like a bird who could fly."

They kept on entering races and kept on winning until their parents eventually found out when they saw pictures of them in the local media.

"They were upset at first. They asked me to stop cycling," Fariba says. "But I didn't give up. I secretly continued," she smiles.

It didn’t come without dangers - people tried to hit them with cars or rickshaws as they rode or threw stones at them as they cycled past.

"People were abusive. All I wanted to do was win races," says Yulduz.

And the situation was about to get worse.

Fleeing their home

In 2021, four years after the sisters started riding, the Taliban retook control of the country and clamped down on women’s rights, restricting their access to education and limiting how they could travel. They also banned women from taking part in sport.

Yulduz and Fariba had dreamed of one day competing in the Olympics. Now they knew if they wanted to race at all they had to leave Afghanistan.

Using contacts in the cycling community they managed to secure seats on an Italian evacuation flight, along with three teammates.

Once in Italy, the women joined a cycling team and got proper coaching for the first time.

“Back in Afghanistan, we didn’t have professional training,” says Yulduz. “All we used to do was take our bikes and ride.”

But leaving their homeland and family was not easy.

“The biggest thing for me is to be away from my mother,” says Fariba. “I never thought that because of cycling I would be separated from my brothers and sisters.”

“I’ve sacrificed a lot.”

The Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan also threw into doubt whether the country would even be allowed to compete at the Olympics.

National Olympic Committees are supposed to select athletes for the Games without any government interference.

As the Taliban’s ban on women playing sport breaks this rule, by preventing women being chosen for Afghanistan’s team, it led to calls for the country to be banned from the Olympics - as it had been when the militant group was last in power.

But the International Olympic Committee wanted to find a way to allow Afghan women to compete at the Games.

Behind the scenes talks took place between the heads of Afghan sporting bodies, including some now living in exile, about putting together a special team to represent the country in Paris.

Heading to Paris

As time ticked by, and Paris 2024 got ever closer, it looked as if no Afghan athletes would be at the Games.

Then, in June, International Olympic Committee announced that it had arranged for a special gender-equal team representing Afghanistan to go the Paris Olympics. It would be made up of three women and three men. And both the sisters are among them.

“This was a big surprise for both of us,” says Fariba.

“We always dreamt of taking part in the Olympic Games, this is our dream come true,” Yulduz adds.

“Despite all the rights that were taken from us we can show that we can achieve great success, we will be able to represent 20 million Afghan women.”

The IOC say no Taliban officials will be allowed to attend Paris 2024.

Final preparations

The sisters are preparing for the Olympic road race event while riding for a development team run and funded by the UCI and based at the World Cycling Centre, an ultra-modern facility in the Swiss town of Aigle.

The elite facilities are a world away from the dusty roads in Afghanistan where Yulduz and Fariba first taught themselves to cycle.

But their spirit remains the same.

“We are each other’s strength - I support her and she supports me,” says Yulduz.

“Our achievement belongs to Afghanistan,” adds Fariba. “This belongs to Afghanistan women. I am going to the Olympics because of them.”

BBC
 
Ghosts of Olympics past leave their mark in Paris

“If Greece is the cradle of the Olympics, Paris represents its home.”

So begins a somewhat partisan account of the city’s long association with the Games, published ahead of its failed bid (to London) for 2012.

Paris, wrote the author hopefully, is where the Olympic movement “rediscovered its vigour after an interminable historical amnesia,” and where there took place “so many important steps in its modern-day growth.”

Step one was the founding congress of the International Olympic Committee, chaired by the French aristocrat Pierre de Coubertin at Sorbonne university in June 1894.

And then came steps two and three: the second and eighth Olympic Games, both organised in the French capital.

Today there are still traces of both those Games. Here and there, if you look, their “legacy” is still very much alive.

Exhibit one is the magnificent vélodrome in the Bois de Vincennes known as the Cipale (short for Municipale), which continues in use 124 years after the first Paris Games.

Cycling was one of the most popular sports back in 1900, but the Cipale was also used for gymnastics, football, rugby … and cricket.

It was on this hallowed turf that the (until now) only ever Olympic cricket match took place – between England and France.

England won – but that still means France is the title holder of the Olympic silver. That will presumably end in 2028 when cricket returns for Los Angeles – but who knows?!

There have been renovations at La Cipale over the years but apart from the roof, the viewing stand is unchanged.

So is the concrete track with its raised curves at either end, and there - forgotten behind the bushes in the corner - the original urinals, the relief of generations of hard-pressed cycling fans!

The 1900 Games were strange ones, and are only just accepted today as part of the Olympic canon.

Talking of cannons, one of the unusual events was artillery firing. There were also boules, fishing, crossbow-firing, barrel-rolling and long-distance ballooning. The winner of that one landed near Kyiv.

The difficulty was that the Games took place at exactly the same time as the Paris World Fair, and many people – including competitors - thought the sports were part of the World Fair.

But they served an important purpose in establishing – after the first Greek edition in 1896 – that the Games were to be international, and not forever Hellene.

And they helped advance the growing idea that sports were something to be taken seriously, and not just a frivolous pastime.

The work of the French scientist Etienne Jules Marey was significant in this regard. Famous for his photographic studies of sportsmen in action, he persuaded many 1900 athletes to perform at his outdoor studio (under what is now Court 1 at Roland-Garros).

Less brilliantly, he also sent round an anthropological questionnaire to Olympic participants seeking elucidation on such vital points as: the colour of their beards; the physical strength of their grandfathers; and whether they’d been fed as babies on breast or bottle.

The 1900 Games were the first to see the participation – in golf, tennis, sailing and croquet - of (a few) women. By 1924, the sports of swimming, diving and fencing had been added, and 135 women took part.

The main legacy of the 1924 Games is the Colombes stadium in the north-western Paris suburbs, where the opening ceremony and much of the subsequent sporting action were staged.

The stadium – built on a former horse-racing track – went on to have a famed life, becoming for much of the last century France’s pre-eminent football and rugby venue, before being superseded by the Parc des Princes and then the Stade de France.

Today it is very much still standing – and will be used in these Olympics as the venue for field hockey events.

“For French people who love sport, Colombes is a place full of emotion,” says sports historian Mickael Delepine. “So many famous people have run and kicked and tackled here. It is full of ghosts."

For British sports fans, the ghosts are of sprinters Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell who won the golds here that were later immortalised in the film Chariots of Fire.

The film faithfully recreated the stadium at a venue in the Wirral, Merseyside. In Colombes, the track is exactly where it was 100 years ago, overlooked by the same iron stand.

The1924 Games were the first to take advantage of advances in communication - and winning athletes for the first time became household names. The Flying Finns Paavo Nurmi and Ville Ritola dominated middle-and long-distance racing, and long-jumper William de Hart-Hubbard was the first black man to win an event.

Colombes also saw victory for the Uruguayan football team - setting up its triumph at the first World Cup on home turf in 1930. And there was a famously dirty rugby final between the USA and France, whose violence contributed to the game being excluded from future Olympics. (The USA won).

The 1924 Olympics were also the first to display the Olympic motto - Citius, Altius, Fortius (Faster, Higher, Stronger); and the first to use a 50-metre swimming pool with lanes painted on the bottom.

Among the heroes availing themselves of this innovation was one Johnny Weissmuller – later to find fame as cinema’s Tarzan.

It all happened at the purpose-built Tourelles swimming pool in the 20th arrondissement of Paris. A century on the pool is still there, and in use as a practice venue for today’s Olympic stars.

BBC
 
Liberté, egalité … fraternité? Conflict looms large as Paris welcomes world to Olympics

ou can sense the fire and ambition in Paris as the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad draws close. It’s on the faces of the athletes, and the lips of those running the show. But there’s something even more fundamental too: a yearning for the Olympics to be spectacular and carefree again. It’s been a while. But after the corruption-soaked chaos of Rio, and the crowd-free Ghost Games of Tokyo, the hope is that Paris will rekindle an old flame. As Étienne Thobois, Paris 2024’s chief executive, puts it: “We want a huge party. And we want that party to be extraordinary.”

It will certainly start with a bang. As the sun goes down over Paris, a flotilla of boats carrying thousands of athletes will set off down the Seine, cheered on by hundreds of thousands of spectators – 220,000 of whom will be watching for free. If all goes to plan, the athletes will then travel a 6km route along the river, past the city’s most famous attractions while watching what organisers say will be a “unique multi-sensory spectacle”.

The biggest and boldest opening ceremony in history will then finish with the official bienvenue at the Trocadéro, with the Eiffel Tower providing a lavish backdrop. It is a thrilling statement of intent, but also an audacious high wire act. The threat of terrorism is such that 45,000 police and security forces will be on guard. But if all goes well, organisers will expect the Games to soar for the duration. Expect early mornings and late nights, familiar names and new sensations. For Team GB that means the swimmer Adam Peaty and the diver Tom Daley back for a final splash, world champions such as the triathlete Alex Yee and the swimmer Matt Richards hoping to swell their medal hauls, and emerging stars, including the pole vaulter Molly Caudery and the cyclist Emma Finucane potentially crashing into the mainstream.

The Olympics will also serve up classic global head to heads, such as the battle in the pool between the Canadian teen Summer McIntosh and the USA’s Katie Ledecky – with the former recently ending Ledecky’s 13-year winning streak in the 800m freestyle. And don’t forget the men’s 1500m, where Britain’s world champion, Josh Kerr, squares off once more against the reigning Olympic gold medallist, Jakob Ingebrigtsen.

French eyes, meanwhile, will be on Antoine Dupont in the men’s rugby sevens, the swimmer Léon Marchand, who recently broke Michael Phelps’s last remaining world record, and the judoka star Teddy Riner. And there is Victor Wembanyama, all 7ft 4in of him, who is a vital cog in France’s basketball squad.

However there may not be a bigger star in Paris than the American gymnast Simone Biles, especially if she adds to her seven Olympic medals and puts her struggles with the Twisties in Tokyo further behind her.

The Games will finish with another spectacular set piece, as the women’s marathon is being staged on the route of the Women’s March on Versailles in 1789. It was a key moment of the French Revolution, with cries of “Liberté, egalité, fraternité!” reverberating around the city. But it also invites the question: will the Olympics be able to live up to those ideals?

Liberty? Yes, especially given organisers have tried to take sport out of the stadiums and to open up the Games. If you thought the beach volleyball at Horse Guards Parade was iconic, wait until you see it at the Eiffel Tower. Or the BMX, Breaking, 3x3 basketball and skateboarding at Place de la Concorde. Meanwhile equestrian sports get the suitably grand stage of the Palace of Versailles.

It’s not just that either. Much of the joy of an Olympics is found beyond the field of play. In London it felt like serotonin had been pumped into the Thames to lift the mood. Few cities are as well equipped as Paris to repeat that trick.

Equality? Here the picture is more nuanced. On the plus side, female athletes will have as many places in the Games as men for the first time. Notably, the women’s marathon and basketball finals – not the men’s, as is traditional – will bring these Games to a close.

Elsewhere 20,024 people will get the chance to run the Olympic marathon course on the same day as the world’s best over 26.2 miles. However there is no escaping the high price of most tickets. Athletics, for instance, costs €990 (£840) for “Category First” seats during evening sessions, and €690, €385, €195 or €85 for Category A-D tickets. That said, one million tickets – about 10% of the total – were sold for €24.

What about fraternity? This is where the widest divide between warm words and hard reality exists. The International Olympic Committee’s message has always been that the Games is the only event that brings the entire world together in peaceful competition. As usual an Olympic truce will be in place. Whether anyone will observe it is another matter.

As Michael Payne, who was a senior IOC marketing executive across multiple Games, points out: “It has been several decades since the Olympics has taken place to such a conflicted backdrop.

“In many ways the Palestine issue is as sensitive as Ukraine. And there are various groups, who frankly wouldn’t get much oxygen without the magnifying glass of the Olympics, who will be looking to do something.

“That’s before we get to the potential fallout from the French elections – or the ongoing row over the 23 Chinese swimmers who were cleared by the World Anti-Doping Agency after initially testing positive.”

But Thobois says he still sleeps well at night, despite the many potential challenges. “We love sport,” he says. “And we love big events. There is a fanbase for every sport in France, and we’re very excited to be welcoming the world.”

It is bound to be a tightrope, from first day to last. But, as always, the Olympics will make for dazzling and compelling viewing.

THE GUARDIAN
 
Welcome to kayak cross - the chaotic new Olympic event

The gates open. That is about the only certainty.

There is the briefest moment of serenity before they do. A time for deep breaths to calm rapidly beating hearts as the adrenaline soars.

Then, all hell breaks loose.

What unfolds after the ramp-drop is dynamic disorder - a confused kaleidoscope of brightly coloured boats powered by paddles brandished frantically, tearing through unforgiving white water.

It is brutal, full-contact, high-octane fun which, for good measure, demands competitors must also submerge themselves to complete a 360-degree boat roll.

And, at the end of it all, Britain's Kimberley Woods is the kayak cross world champion.

"Hectic. Absolutely hectic. That’s what I love so much about it - you never know what is going to happen," Woods, 28, tells BBC Sport.

"You will always have the favourites in the race and you know they are very strong contenders.

“But so many things can go wrong. So many things can happen, both in terms of your own plans and other paddlers intruding on them."

That Woods, who claimed her first individual world title at Lee Valley last September, has little sense of what will happen at Paris 2024 is a fitting tribute to canoeing's latest Olympic addition.

The canoe and kayak singles remain the individual races against the clock as seen at Tokyo 2020, but this time they are complemented in the programme by the eye-catching kayak cross, which pits four athletes in direct competition.

Upstream and downstream gates must still be navigated and speed remains crucial - but not as paramount as speed of thought in a fast-changing landscape.

All courtesies are left on the start line before the boats do battle, colliding repeatedly as they fight for the best line, and often ruining the best-laid plans.

"I love that it is so inconsistent in a way that you just don't know what is going to happen," Woods says.

"You can't plan for anything. You can only plan to react in the moment.

"Hopefully you are able to react well and make good decisions in the moment. That is one of my strengths - I'm instinctive, which is probably why I'm good at it."

Woods will be part of a Team GB canoeing squad full of medal potential in Paris, alongside Olympic medallists Joseph Clarke and Mallory Franklin, and Adam Burgess - who missed out on the Tokyo podium by 0.16 seconds.

Despite the anticipated chaos, Woods will hope to replicate her kayak cross world gold - and will also compete in the women's kayak singles (K1), in which she finished 10th on her Olympic debut three years ago.

Her breakthrough triumph, achieved in front of a home crowd last year, was an emotional achievement for Woods, who has overcome serious mental health issues to reach a second Games.

Woods, who pursued canoeing from a young age after watching a video of her aunt - herself a world junior medallist, told BBC Sport in 2020 she had overcome depression and self-harm, which she linked to being bullied as a child.

Sport offered an escape - and it has taken her to the top of the world.

"It is something that has been a dream since I was a junior," says Woods.

"I definitely watch the final back if I'm feeling a bit down. It makes me realise how far I’ve come and how big that achievement was. I get those same feelings again and that will remain recorded on my TV for many years."

Woods, who also won the overall kayak cross World Cup title last year, continued her Paris preparations with bronze at the canoe slalom World Cup in Krakow in June.

The kayak cross competitions begin in Paris on 3 August at Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium, with an initial time-trial round to determine the heats.

With Olympic experience to call upon and evidence she can win major titles, Woods will be ready as she waits for the gates to open - and the mayhem to start.

"The belief was there in Tokyo, but it is definitely there now. It kind of scares me a little bit to think what could happen - in a good way," says Woods.

"There is that internal pressure, knowing I can go out there and win each race, but it's more wanting to than needing to - I think there's a big difference between those two things."

Contemplating what it would mean to win Olympic gold, Woods adds: "I'll be absolutely distraught. Everything would just come out. I was crying at the top of the podium in London after wining the worlds. I'm hoping I will be more composed - but there will probably be some ugly photos of me crying happy tears.

"It would be a nice moment to realise that all the effort, tears, hurt and ups and downs have been worth it."

BBC
 
USA narrowly avoid huge shock against South Sudan

The United States came from 16 points down to avoid one of the biggest shocks in basketball history in a dramatic 101-100 victory over South Sudan in London.

South Sudan led 58-42 in the second quarter before taking a 14-point lead into the break in an Olympics warm-up game at the O2 Arena.

The USA went on a 16-0 run to end the third quarter with a five-point lead but South Sudan battled back to go one point ahead with 20 seconds remaining.

LeBron James hit a crucial lay-up to put his side ahead by one point with eight seconds to go, and South Sudan could not hit a late winner.

The USA are targeting a fifth consecutive men's basketball gold medal at this summer's Olympics in Paris, while South Sudan, ranked 33rd in the world, will play in their first Games.

The 12-man USA roster is filled with some of the NBA's greatest talents, while only four of the South Sudan team have played an NBA game.

But they outplayed the world number one side in the first half, hitting 61% of their shots, while the USA only made one three-pointer.

Marial Shayok scored a game-high 25 points for South Sudan and Charlotte Hornets forward JT Thor hit a three-pointer to put his side 100-99 ahead late on.

But the USA were indebted to James, who capped a fine second-half showing with the game-winner to finish with 23 points.

The United States have won all four of their pre-Olympic exhibition games, with their final warm-up coming against Germany at the O2 on Monday.

"That was better than the blowouts, at least we got tested - I like getting tested baby," said two-time Olympic champion James, 39.

The USA and South Sudan will face each other in Group C of the 2024 Olympics on 31 July.

"The match was super important because we feel like we can’t be beaten and they showed us we can be beat," said USA guard Anthony Edwards.

"We have to come ready to play."

BBC
 

Israeli athletes to receive 24-hour protection at Paris Games​


Israeli athletes will receive 24-hour protection during the Paris Olympics, France's interior minister said, after a left-wing politician said Israel's delegation was not welcome and called for protests against their participation.

The Games begin on Friday amid pronounced security concerns at a time of heightened geopolitical tensions over the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Israel's war against Hamas that has devastated Gaza has become a lightning rod among France's far left, with some critics accusing pro-Palestinian members of antisemitism.

French Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said in a TV interview Israeli athletes would be protected around the clock during the Games, 52 years after the Munich Olympics massacre in which 11 Israelis were killed by Palestinian militants.

Foreign Minister Stephane Sejourne told a meeting of European Union counterparts in Brussels: "I want to say that on behalf of France, to the Israeli delegation, we welcome you to France for these Olympic Games."

He said he would emphasise that point in an imminent phone call with his Israeli counterpart, and also "tell him that we are ensuring the security of the Israeli delegation".

At a pro-Gaza rally on Saturday, far-left France Unbowed (LFI) party politician Thomas Portes was filmed saying Israel's Olympic athletes were not welcome in France, and that there should be protests against their taking part in the Games.

"We are a few days away from an international event which will be held in Paris, which is the Olympic Games. And I am here to say that no, the Israeli delegation is not welcome in Paris. Israeli athletes are not welcome at the Olympic Games in Paris," he said to applause, according to images posted on social media.

Some LFI politicians offered a partial defence of Portes' comments.

Manuel Bompard, a senior party official, wrote on X that he supported Portes "in the face of the wave of hatred he is experiencing".

"Faced with repeated violations of international law by the Israeli government, it is legitimate to ask that its athletes compete under a neutral banner in the Olympic Games," he wrote.

In a sign of the complex security issues surrounding the Israeli delegation, a memorial ceremony for the Israeli athletes killed in the 1972 Munich attack has been moved from outside Paris' City Hall to the Israeli embassy.

"The request from the French authorities to move the ceremony to the embassy from City Hall was received due to the fact that it was destined to be held in the restricted security area ('grey area') prior to the Olympic Games," the embassy said in a statement.

The Games kick off with an ambitious opening ceremony along the Seine with athletes paraded in barges down the river.

Participation is optional, however, and Israeli officials have declined to say whether Israel's athletes will take part.

www.rte.ie

Israeli athletes to receive 24-hour Olympics protection

Israeli athletes will receive 24-hour protection during the Paris Olympics, France's interior minister said, after a left-wing politician said Israel's delegation was not welcome and called for protests against their participation.
www.rte.ie www.rte.ie
 
Recycled bottle tops and tables made from shuttlecocks - the greenest Olympics?

The organising committee of Paris 2024 has vowed to make it the greenest Games in Olympic history, with half the carbon footprint of London 2012 and Rio 2016.

London 2012 had an estimated carbon footprint of 3.3m tonnes, while Rio 2016 had a total estimated footprint of 3.6m tonnes of carbon.

The 2024 Games will be held in the same city where world leaders met in 2015 to sign a number of commitments to prevent global temperatures rising by more than 1.5C and there will be lots of attention on sustainability efforts.

From tables made out of shuttlecocks to plant-based menus, Paris 2024 have announced a number of initiatives that they claim will help them reach their targets.

In an exclusive interview, Thomas Bach, president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), told BBC Sport that sustainability is an issue "very close" to his heart.

Bach said that climate change represents an "extremely serious threat, not only for sport, but for all our lives," adding, "this is why, with our Olympic agenda reforms, we undertook to tackle these issues by focusing on reducing our footprint."

Existing stadiums, not new buildings

Before London 2012, six new stadiums were built. Rio built 10 permanent new sites and seven temporary ones.

Of the 35 stadiums housing events at Paris 2014, only two will be new and purpose-built – an aquatics centre and an arena for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics.

The organisers claim these will be built using "low-carbon construction methods". The aquatic centre will include seats made from "recycled local plastic waste", with wood used throughout construction.

Cardboard beds and tables from shuttlecocks

The beds in the athletes’ village at Tokyo 2020 were constructed using recycled cardboard and went viral when American runner Paul Chelimo claimed on social media they were "aimed at avoiding intimacy among athletes" because they would collapse under the weight of more than one person.

That claim was debunked and the same manufacturer is also providing the beds for Paris 2024.

Also in the athletes' area, there will be "coffee tables made from recycled shuttlecocks, poufs from parachute canvas and chairs from recycled bottle tops", according to organisers.

Double the amount of plant-based food

As well as promising to double the proportion of plant-based ingredients available to spectators and the workforce compared to London 2012 and Rio 2016, the organising committee for the Games has also promised to source 80 per cent of ingredients from "local agriculture production" in order to reduce transport.

Place de la Concorde, which will host urban sports, will exclusively serve vegetarian food.

With a food culture synonymous with beef bourguignon and steak tartare, the move towards plant-based food is a significant one.

Electric v diesel

At previous Games, some stadiums had to rely on diesel generators for power. Paris organisers have instead promised to focus on connecting stadiums to the public electricity network. Those connections will also last beyond the Games.

The Commission for a Sustainable London 2012 found in a report following those Games that the Olympic Broadcasting Service (OBS) had engaged in "unnecessary deployment of generators", external because of "gross overestimates of energy consumption".

Georgina Grenon, environmental excellence director for Paris 2024 said recently that at London 2012, four million litres of diesel were burned just for electricity purposes.

Turning Paris into a cycling city

Transport between stadiums has been considered, with a 60km cycling network linking all of the Olympic venues - 30km of which has been built in the run-up to the Games.

The challenges - heat, overseas travel and water pollution

A report by University of Portsmouth scientists Rings of Fire, external has warned about the effects of extreme heat on athletes. It found that average July and August temperatures had increased by 2.4°C and 2.7°C respectively over the 100 years since the Olympics was last held in France in 1924.

The Olympic village was originally designed to be free of air conditioning, but in light of concerns about heat, 2,500 temporary cooling units will now be fitted.

There were doubts as to whether triathlon and open water swimming events could be held in the River Seine after it was revealed last month it had failed water quality tests.

However, last week Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and other members of the Paris Olympic committee swam in the river to prove it was safe.

The biggest challenge to Paris meeting the targets is likely to come from spectator travel, which can account for about 80% of a sporting event's emissions.

At London 2012 organisers set a target of selling 75% of tickets to UK fans.

By contrast, this year's Olympics will be the first where tickets have been sold centrally to all fans worldwide at the same time, which could result in greater numbers of international fans flying to the Games.

Bach told BBC Sport the Games must balance considerations about carbon reduction against "what great impact the Games have with regard to peace, with regard to health, with regard to bringing the entire world together".

In 2023, France banned short-haul flights where train alternatives exist.

Criticism of sponsors

Coca Cola, the longest-standing partner of the Olympics, was named the world's leading plastic polluter, external in a recent survey by non-governmental organisation Break Free From Plastic.

Toyota has committed to providing 500 hydrogen-fuel cell vehicles to "the Olympic and Paralympic family", with zero tailpipe emissions. However, a group of scientists, academics and engineers have penned an open letter to the IOC, external arguing that hydrogen vehicles require three times more electricity than battery electric vehicles.

Bach told BBC Sport that the use of EV, hybrid and hydrogen-powered vehicles within the fleet for Paris 2024 sent "a very strong signal with regard to reducing the footprint of the Games".

He added that Coca Cola will use "a beverage fountain" for catering at the Games, which "will reduce their plastic used by 50%".

The Games plan to serve beverages in reusable plastic packaging at scale. However, French newspaper Le Monde has reported, external that 40% of drinks will still be served in single-use plastic bottles.

More than 100 athletes have signed an open letter, external calling on Coca Cola and Pepsi to stop selling single-use plastic bottles and promote reusable products.

BBC
 
American rapper Snoop Dogg to carry Olympic torch

American rapper Snoop Dogg has been named as one of the final torchbearers of the Olympic flame before Friday's opening ceremony in Paris.

The 52-year-old will carry the torch through the streets of Saint-Denis in the north of Paris, which is home to the Stade de France Olympic Stadium, on Friday.

The Saint-Denis stretch is the penultimate leg of the flame's journey before the relay ends at the Eiffel Tower.

The Olympic torch has crossed France since starting its journey in May and has been carried by a host of different personalities, including former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, Formula One driver Charles Leclerc and actress Halle Berry.

Snoop Dogg, whose full name is Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr, was born in Los Angeles - the host city for the 2028 Games.

The US artist will be joined by fellow torchbearers in Saint-Denis, including French actress Laetitia Casta and French rapper MC Solaar.

BBC
 
GB's Dujardin given provisional ban and out of Games

Charlotte Dujardin, Britain's joint-most decorated female Olympian, has been provisionally suspended for six months by equestrian's governing body the FEI.

The dressage star had already pulled out of Paris 2024 after a video emerged which she said showed her "making an error of judgement".

The FEI said it had received footage showing three-time Olympic gold medallist Dujardin "engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare - during a training session conducted at Ms Durjardin’s private stable".

The FEI said Dujardin confirmed she was the individual in the video which was "filmed several years ago" and "requested to be provisionally suspended pending the outcome of the investigations".

Although the ban remains provisional while the FEI investigates, Dujardin, who has six Olympic medals in total, has said she will "withdraw from all competition while this process takes place".


BBC
 
As the Olympics nears, Paris puts 75,000 troops on the streets

A scrum of disappointed tourists stared, wistfully, through the maze of metal fences lining the River Seine. Ahead of them, Notre Dame cathedral and other Parisian treasures lay, tantalisingly, out of reach.

“We don’t have a code,” said a woman from Mexico, watching others – armed with the requisite QR security code – pass, with an approving beep, through a police checkpoint.

Further downstream, beside the Eiffel Tower, a weary couple trailing large suitcases performed a slow U-turn on a crowded pavement.

“Closed. You’ll have to walk around,” a French gendarme had just told them, gesturing towards the south.

As Paris prepares to unveil its unique Olympic opening ceremony – a river-based extravaganza that will see athletes on burnished barges being paraded through the heart of the French capital on Friday evening – the country’s police and armed forces are laying the finishing touches to an equally unprecedented security operation.

“We are ready,” declared a cheerful President Emmanuel Macron, his customary swagger seemingly undented by weeks of political turmoil prompted by his recent shock decision to dissolve the French parliament.

The security operation – the phrase hardly does justice to the scale of it – involves the largest peacetime deployment of security forces in French history, with up to 75,000 police, soldiers and hired guards on patrol in Paris at any one time.

Roads and metro stations have been closed. Some 44,000 barriers have been erected. And an elaborate system of QR codes has been set up for residents and others seeking access to the river Seine and its islands.

There have, inevitably, been teething problems and frustrations in a city that would ordinarily be teeming with unrestricted foreign tourists.

“I’m a little bit worried. I’ve never seen it so calm. Ninety percent of clients have gone,” said a waiter, Omar Benabdallah, 25, surveying a pavement’s worth of empty tables on the Île de la Cité.

But the French authorities insist the disruption will be both brief – many of the barricades along the Seine will be removed after Friday’s opening ceremony – and worthwhile, with the world treated to a spectacular show celebrating Paris’s history and beauty.

“I wouldn’t describe it as a nightmare. We’re focused, and determined,” said Gen Lionel Catar with a half-smile. He’s responsible for coordinating the work of some 5,500 French troops brought into the capital.

Gen Catar acknowledged the “exceptional” scale of the Olympic and Paralympic security operation but explained that it had evolved out of France’s pre-existing Opération Sentinelle, a decade-old response to a string of deadly attacks by Islamist groups and individuals.

“We have demining teams. We have dog teams. There are anti-drone systems, radars, and divers patrolling the River Seine,” said Gen Catar.

The decision to move the operational headquarters from the outskirts of Paris to the grand, sprawling, “École Militaire,” behind the Eiffel Tower was based on advice from UK police following their experience of the 2012 London Olympics.

“I think their headquarters were a bit far from the city centre. They advised us to be close to the politicians in charge and to the police,” he said.

Some 250 British officers – and 50 police dogs - will be in France over the coming weeks, with some joining French foot patrols around the centre of Paris. They are among 1,750 foreign police from dozens of countries taking part in the operation, including Spain, Germany, South Korea and Qatar.

“We’re envisaging nearly half a million UK citizens coming to enjoy the Games. It’s the first time we’ve been able to deploy officers to a major event [abroad] in this way,” said Chief Superintendent Matt Lawler, head of the National Police Coordination Centre.

There has also been direct military cooperation between France and the UK on anti-drone technology, particularly during the opening ceremony.

French officials say there have been no specific threats made towards the Games, but that they’re concerned about “militarised terrorism” – either from abroad or within France. They’re also focused on the risk of cyber-attacks that could target ticketing systems and other infrastructure.

In recent months the government has expressed growing anger at what it believes is a Kremlin-backed online campaign to raise exaggerated fears about security for – and about French preparedness at - the Olympics.

“Interference and distortion of information is not only being carried out by Russia, but also by other countries that we’re watching closely. We’re not naïve. We’re hoping an Olympic truce will be observed…. by all countries,” said Gerald Darmanin, France’s interior minister.

On Tuesday, French police arrested a Russian man suspected of plotting acts of “destabilisation” during the Games.

Earlier on the same day, on the outskirts of Paris, an elite squad of French police carried out another rehearsal for a hostage situation onboard a bus. Amid gunfire and loud explosions, the unit – the same to have responded to the 2015 Bataclan attack – rescued civilian actors trapped inside the bus.

“We’re feeling impatient. We’ve spent more than two years preparing for these Games. Let’s hope we will not have to take any action,” said the unit’s commander, Simon Riondet.

BBC
 
Russian chef arrested in Paris over alleged ‘large scale’ Olympic Games plot

A Russian chef who has lived in France for 14 years has been arrested on suspicion of plotting with a foreign power to stage “large scale” acts of “destabilisation” during the Olympic Games in Paris.

The 40-year-old man was arrested during a raid of his apartment in central Paris on Sunday where a document linked to an elite Russian special forces unit operating under the command of the FSB, an heir to the KGB, was reportedly found.

A judicial investigation has been opened into allegations of sharing “intelligence with a foreign power with a view to provoking hostilities in France,” a crime punishable by 30 years of imprisonment. The alleged plot is not believed to have been terror related.

The man, who has not been named, was indicted on this charge on the same day and placed in pretrial detention.

The ambitious opening ceremony of Paris 2024 will be staged on the banks of the Seine on Friday evening and there has long been concern that Russia could seek to meddle in events.

Prosecutors in Paris said the search of the Russian national’s apartment had been carried out at the request of the French interior ministry.

According to briefings given to the French media, agents found evidence suggesting the man was preparing a “large-scale project” that could have had “serious” consequences during the three weeks of games.

The French newspaper, Le Monde, reported that the intelligence services had listened into a call two months ago between the individual and a Russian intelligence services handler in which the suspect had stated that “the French are going to have an opening ceremony like there has never been before”.

No details have been provided as to the nature of the alleged conspiracy to destabilise the games.

The paper reported that the detained man had been trained as a chef in Paris and that he had participated in Russian reality and cooking shows. He had described himself on his CV as a “private chef”.

He first arrived in France in 2010 and spent some time in Courchevel, a ski resort popular with the Russian elite, where he worked in a Michelin starred restaurant, before leaving for Paris in 2012.

According to emails dating from September 2012, and seen by Le Monde, the suspect had told his landlady, named by the paper as Viviane, that he was returning to Moscow to work as an official in the Russian government. But he took part in a civic training day, a mandatory integration step in France, in April 2013.

The intelligence services had tracked him for months. They picked up on his alleged phone call to his handler in May during at a time when he was returning from a trip to Istanbul to his home in Paris.

He missed his flight due to excessive alcohol consumption and instead returned via Bulgaria, at which point the conversation about the Olympics opening ceremony was monitored, according to Le Monde.

At 6am on Sunday, police officers from the elite ‘research and intervention brigade (BRI), called in by the General Directorate of Internal Security, raided the suspect’s home on Rue Saint-Denis on the right bank of the Seine. It is claimed that the police found “documents of diplomatic interest” among his possessions.

Last month Microsoft said Russia was seeking to undermine the Olympics with the creation of fake websites replicating authentic French media outlets and the use of artificial intelligence to fuel concern about violence and terrorism.

The French interior minister, Gérald Darmanin, said this week that authorities had screened over one million people ahead of the games.

“We are here to ensure that sport is not used for espionage, cyberattacks or to criticise and sometimes even lie about France and the French,” Darmanin said.

BBC
 

Half-time​

The flares are out in the Morocco end and the Atlas Lions are heading down the tunnel on a high.
Plenty of work to be done for Javier Mascherano.

Argentina 0-1 Morocco
 
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Paris 2024 Olympics: Tennis world No.1 Jannik Sinner out of Games due to illness: "It is a huge disappointment"​


World No.1 tennis player Jannik Sinner announced his withdrawal from the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on Wednesday (24 July) due to illness.

The reigning Australian Open champion said he began feeling unwell in recent days, and was diagnosed with tonsillitis. He called missing the Games, which were set to be his Olympic debut, "a huge disappointment."

"I am saddened to inform you that unfortunately I will not be able to participate in the Paris Olympic Games," the 22-year-old said in a post on X written in Italian.

He continued: "After a good week of clay training I started to feel unwell. I spent a couple of days resting and during a visit the doctor found tonsillitis and strongly advised me against playing."

"It was one of my main goals for this season. I couldn't wait to have the honour of representing my country in this very important event. Good luck to all the Italian athletes who I will support from home."

Sinner's withdrawal should mean that world No.2 Novak Djokovic will slot into the top spot of the men's singles draw. The official draws are set to be made Thurssday (25 July) at Stade-Roland Garros.

Sinner was also due to be the top-seeded doubles team alongside Lorenzo Musetti.

 

Canada send two staff members home over drone incident​


Canada women's football manager Beverly Priestman will not take charge of her side's Olympics opener against New Zealand after two members of her backroom staff were sent home for allegedly flying a drone over the Kiwis' team training session.

Priestman, 38, has "voluntarily withdrawn" from Thursday's match in St Etienne after the New Zealand Olympic Committee reported that a drone had been flown over their training session on Monday.

Jasmine Mander, Priestman's assistant, has been sent home along with "unaccredited analyst" Joseph Lombardi.

The Canadian Olympic Committee say a scouting report filed by Lombardi was sent to Mander.

Priestman says she takes responsibility for the actions of her colleagues.

"I first and foremost want to apologise to the players and staff at New Zealand Football and to the players on Team Canada. This does not represent the values that our team stands for,” Priestman said.

“I am ultimately responsible for conduct in our program."

The COC confirmed on Wednesday that a "non-accredited member of the Canada Soccer support team" was detained by authorities.

"The Canadian Olympic Committee stands for fair play and we are shocked and disappointed," it added in a statement., external

"We offer our heartfelt apologies to New Zealand Football, to all the players affected, and to the New Zealand Olympic Committee."

The NZOC said it has "formally lodged the incident with the IOC integrity unit and has asked Canada for a full review".

"The NZOC and New Zealand Football are committed to upholding the integrity and fairness of the Olympic Games and are deeply shocked and disappointed by this incident."

www.bbc.com

Olympics 2024: Canada send home two staff members over New Zealand drone incident

Canada send two members of staff home from the Olympics after a drone is flown over New Zealand's training session.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 

Ireland start Olympics bid with South Africa win​


Ireland's Rugby Sevens team kicked off their Olympics bid with a 10-5 win over South Africa at the Stade de France.

Jordan Conroy's try with the final play of the first half gave Ireland a 5-0 lead at the break.

Terry Kennedy scored a second try with two minutes remaining but South Africa set up a grandstand finish when Shelvyn Davids squeezed over the line with 30 seconds left.

In sweltering heat in Paris, Ireland made a bright start and Kennedy was inches away from latching onto his own kick, with the ball going dead as he was set to touch down.

Conroy went event closer to getting the first points on the board but he spilled the ball with the try line gaping with 90 seconds left in the first half, but the record try scorer in Ireland's Sevens history made amends as he got on the end of Zac Ward's offload to score.

South Africa almost touched down midway through the second half but the ball was knocked on by Shilton van Wyk as he challenged for the ball.

Ryan Oosthuizen was then sent to the sin bin for a high tackle on Gavin Mullin, and Ireland immediately capitalised as he spotted a gap on the blindside and darted for the line.

Davids got South Africa on the board in the closing stages, but a poor kick-off allowed Ireland to send the ball into touch and secure the win.

The Rugby Sevens squad were the first representatives in action at the 2024 Games for Team Ireland.

James Topping's side, who finished 10th in the delayed Tokyo Games three years ago, are back in action against Japan at 20:00 BST in their second Pool match.

www.bbc.com

Paris Olympics 2024: Ireland open medal bid with South Africa win

Ireland's Rugby Sevens team kick off their Olympics bid with a 10-5 win over South Africa at the Stade de France in Paris.
www.bbc.com
 

Morocco beat Argentina in game marred by crowd trouble​


Crowd trouble forced the first football match of the Olympics to be suspended for nearly two hours amid chaotic and worrying scenes, with the game eventually completed in an empty stadium.

Morocco had been 2-0 ahead against Argentina, but Cristian Medina appeared to have equalised in the 16th of what had been 15 scheduled minutes of injury time at the end of the second half.

After the resulting crowd trouble, play finally resumed after a lengthy delay with no fans present, and with VAR having ruled out Argentina's equaliser, Morocco secured a controversial 2-1 victory.

A number of bottles and cups were thrown at the celebrating players after Argentina's second goal, which was later disallowed

Fans had to leave the stadium after the crowd trouble

Here's how the chaos and confusion unfolded...

Immediately after Medina looked to have made it 2-2, a number of cups and bottles were then thrown at the celebrating Argentina side before what appeared to be a flare landed near the players and coaching staff.

A number of fans in Morocco colours also ran on to the pitch, with some being escorted off the pitch by stewards.

Riot police moved to the side of the pitch and the referee immediately took the players off the pitch.

The fans inside the stadium in Saint Etienne were told to leave the ground and a message on a big screen in the stadium said: "Your session has been suspended please make your way to the nearest exit."

It was unclear whether the match had been classed as finished, but it was then revealed the final three minutes would be played in an empty stadium with no fans present.

Before the match could be played to a finish, it was announced that Argentina's potential equaliser had actually been ruled out by a video assistant referee decision that showed a player was offside before Medina scored.

Referee Glenn Nyberg gestures after VAR disallowed Argentina's second goal

The players had gone off the pitch at 16:05 BST, and they then came back to warm up at 17:45 before the match could resume at 18:00.

Immediately the referee checked to see if the 'equaliser' should stand via a pitchside monitor and, as expected, the 'goal' was disallowed.

Play resumed just after 18:00 for the last three minutes, and with neither side scoring further, Morocco won the match 2-1.

Both Morocco goals were scored by Soufiane Rahimi, one just before half-time and then a penalty early in the second half as they looked to begin their 2024 gold-medal bid with a win.

Argentina pulled a goal back through Giuliano Simeone, the son of Atletico Madrid manager and former Argentina midfielder Diego Simeone.

But, after all the drama, it was Morocco who took the three points.

Argentina won the men's Olympic football tournament in 2004 and 2008 and ex-Liverpool midfielder Javier Mascherano, who was a part of the winning squad for the second of those successes, is managing the team in 2024.

Mascherano's side will now need to get positive results against Iraq on Saturday and Ukraine on Tuesday to have a chance of finishing in the top two in the group and advancing to the quarter-finals.

Source: BBC
 
India pins hopes of Olympic glory on star athletes

India will be looking to top its previous medal tally of seven as its best athletes compete in the Paris Olympics 2024.

The games will kick off on Friday, with the opening ceremony being held along the scenic Seine river.

India has sent 117 athletes to participate in 16 of the competition's 32 sports, the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) has said.

The contingent includes previous Olympic winners such as javelin champion Neeraj Chopra and boxer Lovlina Borgohain.

PT Usha, one of India's legendary track and field athletes and president of the IOA, told Times of India newspaper that she was confident that India would have a "double digit medal tally" in the 2024 Olympics.

She added that efforts had been made to provide competing athletes with critical support staff, including mental conditioning experts and personal coaches to aid their performance.

India will be looking to its top players to surpass its previous Olympic medal tally of one gold, two silver and four bronze won in Tokyo four years ago.

Here are some of the country's most promising players from the contingent:

Neeraj Chopra

India's most famous track-and-field athlete, Neeraj Chopra will be hoping to defend his Olympic gold in men's javelin throw from Tokyo 2020. Chopra has performed well in recent competitions, but could face a tough fight from Germany's Max Dehning who, in February, became the youngest javelin thrower to breach 90m. Chopra's best throw in Tokyo was 87.58m, while his overall best is 89.94m.

Nikhat Zareen

The two-time World Champion in boxing will be making her Olympic debut this year. Zareen, who will be competing in the 50kg category, is in great form and sports experts say a medal in Paris is well within her reach. She will undoubtedly be looking to step out of ace boxer Mary Kom's shadow, who has reigned over the sport and made history in 2012 by becoming the first Indian woman to win an Olympic medal in boxing.

Zareen will be accompanied by Lovlina Borgohain, who will be competing in the 75kg category. Borgohain, who had won bronze in Tokyo, has had a meteoric rise in the sport and her fans hope her upward trajectory continues in this Olympics.

Mirabai Chanu

Chanu clinched a silver in women's weightlifting in Tokyo and she will be looking to up her medal tally in Paris. But she has had a rough couple of months after battling a hip injury that made her lose crucial time needed for training. But with a personal best of 207kg (88kg in snatch and 119kg in clean and jerk) Chanu might just be able to give tough competition to rivals Hou Zhihui from China and Jourdan Delacruz from the US.

Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty

The duo are India's most promising badminton players in the competition. They currently have a World No 3 ranking in men's doubles, are in great form and have won medals in important tournaments like the Asian Games, Asian Championships and the World Championships. There is also PV Sindhu, who already has an Olympic medal in her kitty and will be looking to up her wins in the women's singles match.

The men's hockey team

In 2020, the Indian team made history by winning an Olympic medal after 40 years. The team will be looking to better their win this year or at least repeat it. Though their performance in recent pro league matches has been lacklustre, fans hope they will put on a better show at the Olympics.

Sift Kaur Samra

In recent years, India has done well in shooting at the Olympics and all eyes will be on the contingent to bring home a medal or two. Samra is a promising young face from the lot, having set a new world record in the recent Asian Games by bagging 469.6 points to win the gold medal in women’s 50m rifle three positions - which involves shooting in the kneeling, prone and standing positions.

Antim Panghal

India has performed well in wrestling at the Olympics, having won seven medals in the sport so far. But last year, Indian wrestling was rocked by a controversy involving sexual harassment allegations against its federation's chief, which saw months-long protests by top wrestlers.

Two-time Olympian Vinesh Phogat, who was the face of the protests, will be looking to use her resilience and fortitude to bag a medal in Paris. But Antim Panghal, who qualified before Phogat for the Olympics, is arguably in better shape and has been on a winning spree in recent international competitions.

Some other notable players from this year's contingent include steeplechaser Avinash Sable, Jyothi Yarraji - who is India's first ever participant in women's 100m hurdles - and the men's relay team who put up impressive performances in Tokyo and the World Championships.

BBC
 
Not an oeuf: Athletes report eggs shortage in Olympic village

Several athletes have complained about a shortage of food at the Olympic Village in Paris, according to reports.

Competitors have said the amount of food available, specifically eggs, which were rationed at breakfast on Wednesday, and grilled meats, is insufficient, according to the French newspaper L'Équipe.

The official catering partner to the Olympic Village, Sodexo Live!, confirmed "a very high demand" for certain products and said that "volumes will be increased" to "satisfy the needs of the athletes".

The Olympic Village is set to serve approximately 13 million meals - 40,000 per day - during the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"It was requested to revise upwards the quantities initially planned, which the group will be able to satisfy," a spokesman for the Carrefour group, which is in charge of supplying fresh products to the Olympic Village, confirmed.

Feeding 15,000 international athletes from 208 territories and nations is a gargantuan task.

During the two 15-day periods of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, more than 13 million meals will be served - the equivalent of the amount of food provided at 10 football World Cups.

Athletes have access to six main areas devoted to French, Asian, Afro-Caribbean and world cuisine, with 500 different recipes catering to a wide variety of tastes.

A strict quality charter also governed the food at the Paris Olympics. It was developed over the course of four years of work with the goal of halving the carbon footprint of meals produced during the Games, in comparison to London 2012.

As a result, a quarter of all ingredients will be sourced in a 250km radius from Paris, and 20% will be certified organic.

All meat, milk and eggs will be from France, and a third of the food will be plant-based.

Two hundred water, juice and soda fountains have been installed in the Olympic Village, and only reusable cups and crockery will be offered.

BBC
 

Paris Olympics organisers investigating football pitch invasion mayhem​


Paris Olympics organisers are looking into what led to a pitch invasion during the opening match of the Olympic football tournament between Argentina and Morocco.

Argentina lost 2-1 following a VAR review after play was suspended with the scores level at 2-2 but the final result was only confirmed two hours later when the game was restarted.

“The football match between Argentina and Morocco at the Saint-Etienne Stadium was suspended due to a pitch invasion by a small number of spectators,” Games organisers said on Thursday.

“The match then restarted and was able to conclude safely. Paris 2024 is working with the relevant stakeholders to understand the causes and identify appropriate actions.”

Argentina’s Cristian Medina scored deep in stoppage time to salvage what looked like a 2-2 draw, but the decision ruling out the goal for offside following a VAR review was delivered about two hours after play was suspended.

Once order was restored, and the teams had left the field following the invasion in which security staff chased several fans around the pitch, it became clear the match had not been completed but suspended.

The teams re-emerged to finish the match in an empty stadium, playing for 3 minutes and 15 seconds after VAR completed its review and disallowed the goal, in a turbulent start to the competition.

“There was a little intrusion that shouldn’t have happened, but it was good-natured. A debrief has been held between the organising committee and FIFA and everything will be back to normal,” French Sports Minister Amelie Oudea-Castera said.

“There’s a match next week in Saint Etienne and everything will be fine, I promise.”

www.aljazeera.com

Paris Olympics organisers investigating football pitch invasion mayhem

A fan pitch invasion in the Argentina vs Morocco opener marked an unfortunate start to Olympics football competition.
www.aljazeera.com www.aljazeera.com
 

2024 Paris Olympics: 10 candidates to light the cauldron​


For all the years-long buildup to the Olympic Games in Paris and all the overwhelming spectacle of the Opening Ceremony along the Seine River, there’s one closely guarded secret at the heart of it all: Who will light the cauldron to begin the 2024 Summer Olympics?

The highest ceremonial honor a host nation can bestow, the cauldron lighter is traditionally an Olympic figure of the highest standing — think Muhammad Ali in Atlanta in 1996, or Naomi Osaka in Japan in 2021. We already know Snoop Dogg will be carrying the torch for part of its final run, but Snoop — not exactly a well-known French athlete — likely won’t be doing the final honors. Here are 10 potential nominees for the role on Friday night:

Renaud Lavillenie: A pole vaulter, he won gold in 2012 at London and silver in 2016 at Rio. He won a total of 20 medals across a range of international competitions throughout the 2010s.

Laure Manaudou: Won France’s first-ever gold medal in women’s swimming when she captured the 400m freestyle event at the 2004 Athens Games. She also won silver and bronze that Olympics, making her only the second French woman to win three medals at a single Games. She also competed in the 2008 and 2012 Games.

Kylian Mbappé: One of the finest soccer players on the planet, Mbappé captains the French national team and, until recently, starred for Paris-St. Germain. He now plays for Real Madrid, which blocked his opportunity to play for France in the 2024 Olympics.

Tony Parker: A French high school legend who was inspired by Michael Jordan, he won four NBA championships playing alongside Tim Duncan for the San Antonio Spurs. He played for several medal-winning national teams throughout his NBA career.

Marie-José Pérec: One of France’s most famous Olympic athletes, Pérec won three gold medals in track and field over the 1992 and 1996 Games. She was named an Officer of the Legion of Honour, France’s highest commendation, in 2013.

Michel Platini: Three-time winner of the Ballon d’Or, Le Roi (“The King”) is one of France’s most famous soccer players of all time. He was seventh in FIFA’s “Player of the Century” rankings, and helped organize France’s 1998 World Cup tournament.

Thomas Pesquet: An incredibly popular French astronaut, he played the French National Anthem on saxophone during the end of the 2020 Summer Olympics … while orbiting the earth on the International Space Station.

Teddy Riner: Standing 6-foot-8 and weighing 290 pounds, Riner — nicknamed “Teddy Bear” — is one of the most physically imposing athletes in French history. A three-time Olympic gold medalist in judo, he triumphed in the 2012, 2016 and 2020 Games.

Omar Sy: One of France’s best-known actors, and the star of the hugely popular 2011 French film “Intouchables.” American audiences know him from the Netflix show “Lupin” or his appearances in the Jurassic Park and X-Men franchises.

Zinedine Zidane: One of the finest soccer players of all time, he won the 1998 Ballon d’Or, led France to the 1998 World Cup, and was named the 2006 World Cup Player of the Tournament. Like Pérec, Lavillenie and Riner, Zidane has been awarded a Legion of Honour commendation. He is one of only a handful of players to have won the World Cup, the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or.

sports.yahoo.com

2024 Paris Olympics: 10 candidates to light the cauldron

The potential candidates range from an astronaut to an actor to all-time soccer greats.
sports.yahoo.com sports.yahoo.com
 

Palestinian Olympic team greeted with cheers and gifts in Paris​


Palestinian Olympic athletes were greeted with a roar of a crowd and gifts of food and roses as they arrived in Paris on Thursday, ready to represent war–torn Gaza and the rest of the territories on a global stage.

As the beaming athletes walked through a sea of Palestinian flags at the main Paris airport, they said they hoped their presence would serve as a symbol amid the Israel-Hamas war that has claimed more than 39,000 Palestinian lives.

Athletes, French supporters and politicians in the crowd urged the European nation to recognize a Palestinian state, while others expressed outrage at Israel’s presence at the Games after U.N.-backed human rights experts said Israeli authorities were responsible for “war crimes and crimes against humanity.”

The same report said Palestinian militants committed war crimes during the first months of the war in Gaza, which began after Hamas launched deadly attacks on Israel on Oct. 7. Israel has rejected the allegations from the independent experts.

“We’re 50 million people without a country,” he added.

Al-Bawwab, one of eight athletes on the Palestinian team, signed autographs for supporters and plucked dates from a plate offered by a child in the crowd.

The chants of “free Palestine” echoing through the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport show how conflict and the political tension are rippling through the Olympic Games. The world is coming together in Paris at a moment of global political upheaval, multiple wars, historic migration and a deepening climate crisis, all issues that have risen to the forefront of conversation in the Olympics.

In May, French President Emmanuel Macron said he prepared to officially recognize a Palestinian state but that the step should “come at a useful moment” when emotions aren’t running as high. That fueled anger by some like 34-year-old Paris resident Ibrahim Bechrori, who was among dozens of supporters waiting to greet the Palestinian athletes in the airport.

“I’m here to show them they’re not alone, they’re supported,” Bechrouri said. Them being here “shows that the Palestinian people will continue to exist, that they won’t be erased. It also means that despite the dire situation, they’re staying resilient. They’re still a part of the world and are here to stay.”

Palestinian ambassador to France Hala Abou called for France to formally recognize a Palestinian state and for a boycott of the Israeli Olympic delegation. Abou has previously said she has lost 60 relatives in the war.

“It’s welcome that comes as no surprise to the French people, who support justice, support the Palestinian people, support their inalienable right to self-determination,” she said.

That call for recognition comes just a day after Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu delivered a scathing speech to Congress during a visit to Washington, which was met with protests. He declared he would achieve “total victory” against Hamas and called those protesting the war on college campuses and elsewhere in the U.S. “useful idiots” for Iran.

Israel’s embassy in Paris echoed the International Olympic Committee in a “decision to separate politics from the Games.”

“We welcome the Olympic Games and our wonderful delegation to France. We also welcome the participation of all the foreign delegations,” the Embassy wrote in a statement to The Associated Press. “Our athletes are here to proudly represent their country, and the entire nation is behind to support them.”

The AP has made multiple attempts to speak with Israeli athletes without success.

Even under the best of circumstances, it is difficult to maintain a vibrant Olympics training program in Gaza, the West Bank and east Jerusalem. That’s become next to impossible in nine months of war between Israel and Hamas as much of the country’s sporting infrastructure have been devastated.

Among the large Palestinian diaspora worldwide, many of the athletes on the team were born or live elsewhere, yet they care deeply about the politics of their parents’ and grandparents’ homeland. Among them was Palestinian American swimmer Valerie Tarazi, who handed out traditional keffiyehs to supporters surrounding her Thursday.

“You can either crumble under pressure or use it as energy,” she said. “I chose to use it as energy.”

apnews.com

Palestinian Olympic team greeted with cheers and gifts in Paris

Palestinian Olympic athletes have been greeted with a roar of a crowd and gifts of food and roses as they arrived in Paris.
apnews.com apnews.com
 

Australian coach criticised for backing Korean Kim​


Australian Olympic swimming coach Michael Palfrey has been spoken to by team bosses after he said he hoped South Korean swimmer Kim Woo-min beats his Australian rivals to the 400m freestyle gold at the Paris Olympics.

Palfrey, who in addition to being one of the coaches on the Australian team also works with Woo-min, made a "serious error of judgement" according to the Australian Olympic Committee.

Australia duo Sam Short and Elijah Winnington are contenders alongside current world champion Kim for the gold medal.

Speaking to South Korean media, Australian Palfrey said: "There will be three or four of them in the race that think they can win it.

"I think it's going to come down to that last 100 metres.

"We need Woo-min to lift, that's what I’ll be saying to him. He's got to race tough.

"I really hope he can win, but ultimately I really hope he swims well."

Australian Team chef de mission Anna Meares said Palfrey's comments were a "surprise and a shock".

Australia head swimming coach Rohan Taylor is set to have a conversation with Palfrey, who is still with the team, on Thursday about potential further action over the matter.

"The fact that he's commented about the athlete winning against the Australian team, that's the bigger issue," Meares added.

"Clearly whatever decision is made will be about the best interests of the athletes from a high-performance perspective and from a wellbeing perspective."

It is not uncommon for Olympic swimming coaches to work with multiple nations on a freelance basis.

However, in April Swimming Australia told Olympic team coaches not to start new arrangements with foreign swimmers.

Palfrey coaches three Australian swimmers on the Olympic team - Zac Incerti, Abbey Connor and Alex Perkins.

He has also been working with other South Korean swimmers who, like Kim, have trained in Australia.

Palfrey is still in Paris, with the men's 400m freestyle event to take place on Saturday.

www.bbc.com

Paris 2024: Australian Olympic swimming coach faces punishment after backing Korea's Kim Woo-min

Michael Palfrey could face punishment after he said he hopes South Korean swimmer Kim Woo-min wins the 400m freestyle gold in Paris.
www.bbc.com www.bbc.com
 

Olympics: Dhiraj Bommadevara, Ankita Bhakat Shine As Indian Archers Secure Direct Quarter-Final Berths For Men And Women's Events​


Led by the in-form Dhiraj Bommadevara and Ankita Bhakat, India's campaign at the Paris Olympics began on a positive note as the country's archers secured a direct entry into the quarterfinals of both the men's and women's team events after finishing third and fourth respectively in the ranking round in Paris on Thursday. Debutants Dhiraj and Ankita's spectacular show in the qualifications helped India finish in the top four, giving them favourable draws to clinch an elusive Olympic medal in archery.

The top four in the team standings directly advance to the quarterfinals, while those ending between 5th to 12th play the Round of 16 fixtures.

The Indian men's team is seeded third, which means they will not feature in the same pool as the invincible Koreans in the next round. Now, both the Indian teams need just two wins for securing Olympics medals.

Dhiraj, the world cup bronze-medallist, who defeated Tokyo Olympics silver winner Mauro Nespoli in Antalya, lived up to the expectations by finishing fourth in the individual round.

The duo of Ankita and Dhiraj, who was the star of the day with an excellent performance in the second half of his competition, will be seeded fifth in the mixed team round of 16 event.

India's mixed team finished at the fifth position with 1347 points. Dhiraj got 681 while Ankita scored 666 earlier in the day.

The mixed team score is determined by summing the best individual score from the women's and men's individual event.

The Indian men's team made it to the quarter-finals by finishing third in the ranking round with 2013 points.

Dhiraj shone with a fourth-spot finish in individual section with 681 points. Appearing in his fourth Olympics, Tarundeep Rai ended 14th with 674 points while Pravin Jadhav finished 39th with 658 points.

Korea's Woojin Kim and Je Deok Kim bagged the top two positions with scores of 688 and 682 respectively. Germany's Florian Unruh was third with 681.

Earlier in the day, Games debutant Ankita left behind seasoned campaigners like Deepika Kumari to emerge as the best-placed Indian archer at 11th in the women's individual qualifications as the country secured a quarterfinal spot by finishing fourth.

The 26-year-old Ankita was the top-ranked Indian woman, followed by Bhajan Kaur (22nd with 559 points) and Deepika (23rd with 658 points).

India grabbed the fourth spot by scoring 1983 points. South Korea topped the standings with 2046 points. China finished runners-up while Mexico grabbed the third spot.

India will face the winner of the contest between France and Netherlands in the quarterfinals.

If they clear the quarters, India could be headed for a semifinal showdown with heavyweights Korea.

The Korean women's team has been invincible in the Olympics, winning a ninth straight medal in Tokyo three years ago.

In the individual section, Korea's Lim Sihyeon smashed a world record score of 694 to top the standings, while her compatriot Suhyeon Nam scored 688 points to finish second.

China's Yang Xiaolei was third with 673.

Ankita, who hails from Bengal and represents Tata Academy, was the surprise package on the day from the Indian perspective, even as four-time Olympian Deepika faltered to return her worst ever qualification result at the Games.

Halfway through the men's qualification round, India were placed sixth in the team event, with Rai on 14th, Dhiraj on 24th and Jadhav on 37th place respectively.

After that, India made a remarkable recovery and jumped to the third spot after set seven. The team then improved its position further by moving to second place after set nine.

However, India dropped back to third after set 10 as South Korea maintained their hold of the top spot.

India will face either Turkey or Colombia in the men's quarterfinals.

sports.ndtv.com

Olympics: Dhiraj Bommadevara, Ankita Bhakat Shine As Indian Archers Secure Direct Quarter-Final Berths For Men And Women's Events | Olympics News

India's archers secured a direct entry into the quarterfinals of both the men and women's team events.
sports.ndtv.com sports.ndtv.com
 

Paris Olympics 2024 Men’s basketball: Team USA, format, matches, venues​


Basketball became an official Olympic sport at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin although it first featured as a demonstration sport at the St Louis 1904 Olympic Games.

As the 2024 Olympics kicks off in Paris, here is all you need to know about the men’s basketball competition:

🏀 Which men’s basketball teams have qualified for the Olympics?
A total of 12 countries have qualified for men’s basketball at Paris 2024:

Group A: Australia, Greece, Canada, Spain
Group B: France, Germany, Japan, Brazil
Group C: Serbia, South Sudan, Puerto Rico, United States

🏀 What is the format of men’s Olympic basketball?
The men’s basketball tournament will divide the 12 teams into three groups of four teams each.

The top two from each group along with the two best third-placed teams will progress to the next round. Then a draw will take place to determine the pairings of the quarterfinals.

The winners of the quarterfinals will progress to the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals meet in the gold medal match while the losers play in the bronze medal match.

🏀 Who are the favourites to win the gold?
The Americans’ dominant status in Olympic men’s basketball makes them the heavy favourites in Paris.

Team USA have won a record 16 gold medals out of a possible 20 – including a first-place finish in the last four Summer Games.

They can expect a challenge from their northern neighbours, Canada, who boast the star-studded NBA guard tandem of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray.

Germany, the 2023 FIBA World Cup winners, are also among the contenders alongside host nation France, whose squad features the phenomenal Victor Wembanyama, the NBA Rookie of the Year.

Tokyo 2020 silver medallists France had a poor showing at the 2023 FIBA World Cup but will enjoy the backing of a partisan home crowd at the Olympics.

Serbia, led by reigning NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nikola Jokic, is also a leading challenger, having won the silver medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.

From the legendary LeBron James to the rising star Wembanyama, the Paris 2024 Olympics arguably features the finest collection of global basketball talent to ever take part in the games.

Four-time NBA champion James, 39, will make his Olympic return for Team USA for the first time since London 2012 while his teammate Stephen Curry, the NBA’s all-time three-point leader, will make his Olympic debut, aged 36.

France’s 20-year-old Wembanyama is expected to have a breakout tournament in front of his home crowd.

Standing at a towering 2.24 metres (7ft, 4 inches) and possessing an incredible 2.44 metre (8ft) wingspan, the Frenchman has already established himself as a once-in-a-generation talent in his first season in the NBA.

The spotlight will also be on former NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who helped lead Greece to Olympic qualification for the first time since 2008.

Source: Al Jazeera
 
Paris set for its first Olympics in 100 years

'Games wide open' is the motto for this year's Paris Olympics, which officially begin on Friday with the opening ceremony.

It is the first time in 100 years that the French capital has hosted the summer Games, with the majority of the events taking place in or around the city's most iconic areas.

Friday's opening ceremony will see boats carry athletes and dignitaries down 6km of the River Seine, with room for 300,000 spectators.

Few details are known about the event - though there has been speculation about Celine Dion and Lady Gaga performing - with the ceremony's artistic director Thomas Jolly saying he wants to "show France in all its diversity".

The Paris Games is the first to achieve gender parity among athletes, with 5,250 male and 5,250 female athletes set to compete.

With millions expected to attend the Games, Paris is making the final touches for a Games it hopes will be like no other.


www.bbc.com

Paris 2024 Olympics: Seine, security and familiar faces - French capital prepares for Olympic Games

'Games wide open' is the motto for this year's Paris Olympics, which officially begin on Friday with the opening ceremony.
www.bbc.com
 
Australian hockey star amputates finger to play at Olympics

An Australian field hockey player has opted to amputate part of his finger to compete at the Paris Olympics.

Matt Dawson badly broke a digit on his right-hand during team training in Perth two weeks ago, and recovery from surgery to repair it would have taken months.

So, the 30-year-old decided to have the finger removed from the knuckle up in order to take part in his third Games, shocking his teammates and coach.

He will take to the field with the Kookaburras as they face Argentina on Saturday, just 16 days after he was injured.

Dawson has told media the break was so bad that he passed out when he saw his finger in the changing room. He thought his Olympic dream was over.

He urgently consulted with a plastic surgeon who said that even with surgery to repair the finger - and the long recovery time - it may not regain full function. But if it was amputated, he could be back playing in 10 days.

Despite being warned by his wife not to do anything "rash", Dawson says he made his “informed” decision that same afternoon.

"I'm definitely closer to the end of my career than the start and, who knows, this could be my last [Olympics], and if I felt that I could still perform at my best then that's what I was going to do," he told the Parlez Vous Hockey podcast.

"If taking the top of my finger was the price I had to pay, that's what I would do."

Team captain Aran Zalewski said the decision sent ripples of shock around the squad, but ultimately, they supported Dawson.

"We didn't really know what to think, and then we heard that he went to the hospital and chopped his finger off, which was pretty interesting because I know people would give an arm and a leg and even a little bit of finger to be here sometimes,” he said at a press conference in Paris.

"When you've spent a lifetime of choice and sacrifice to come and compete at the highest level, I think for him it was an easy decision.”

Earlier this week Kookaburras coach Colin Batch said Dawson was back training with the team.

“Full marks to Matt. Obviously he’s really committed to playing in Paris. I’m not sure I would have done it, but he’s done it, so great,” he told Australia’s Seven News Network.

It is not the first time Dawson has faced an extreme injury, nearly losing an eye after being hit by a hockey stick in the lead up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

He managed to still play for the Kookaburras as they won gold in that tournament, and again when they won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics.

BBC
 
The Bald Eagle said:

Paris Olympics 2024 Men’s basketball: Team USA, format, matches, venues​


Basketball became an official Olympic sport at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin although it first featured as a demonstration sport at the St Louis 1904 Olympic Games.

As the 2024 Olympics kicks off in Paris, here is all you need to know about the men’s basketball competition:

🏀 Which men’s basketball teams have qualified for the Olympics?
A total of 12 countries have qualified for men’s basketball at Paris 2024:

Group A: Australia, Greece, Canada, Spain
Group B: France, Germany, Japan, Brazil
Group C: Serbia, South Sudan, Puerto Rico, United States

🏀 What is the format of men’s Olympic basketball?
The men’s basketball tournament will divide the 12 teams into three groups of four teams each.

The top two from each group along with the two best third-placed teams will progress to the next round. Then a draw will take place to determine the pairings of the quarterfinals.

The winners of the quarterfinals will progress to the semifinals. The winners of the semifinals meet in the gold medal match while the losers play in the bronze medal match.

🏀 Who are the favourites to win the gold?
The Americans’ dominant status in Olympic men’s basketball makes them the heavy favourites in Paris.

Team USA have won a record 16 gold medals out of a possible 20 – including a first-place finish in the last four Summer Games.

They can expect a challenge from their northern neighbours, Canada, who boast the star-studded NBA guard tandem of Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Jamal Murray.

Germany, the 2023 FIBA World Cup winners, are also among the contenders alongside host nation France, whose squad features the phenomenal Victor Wembanyama, the NBA Rookie of the Year.

Tokyo 2020 silver medallists France had a poor showing at the 2023 FIBA World Cup but will enjoy the backing of a partisan home crowd at the Olympics.

Serbia, led by reigning NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) Nikola Jokic, is also a leading challenger, having won the silver medal at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016.

From the legendary LeBron James to the rising star Wembanyama, the Paris 2024 Olympics arguably features the finest collection of global basketball talent to ever take part in the games.

Four-time NBA champion James, 39, will make his Olympic return for Team USA for the first time since London 2012 while his teammate Stephen Curry, the NBA’s all-time three-point leader, will make his Olympic debut, aged 36.

France’s 20-year-old Wembanyama is expected to have a breakout tournament in front of his home crowd.

Standing at a towering 2.24 metres (7ft, 4 inches) and possessing an incredible 2.44 metre (8ft) wingspan, the Frenchman has already established himself as a once-in-a-generation talent in his first season in the NBA.

The spotlight will also be on former NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, who helped lead Greece to Olympic qualification for the first time since 2008.

Source: Al Jazeera
Click to expand...
This should be the end of Era of the American domination in basketball.
Even if they win, consider it one of the last ones as an outright favorites.
 
French high-speed rail vandalised before Olympic ceremony

Hours before the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics, French rail company SNCF says its high-speed network has been targeted by "malicious acts" aimed at paralysing the system.

Several high-speed TGV lines have been hit to the west, north and east of Paris and queues have formed at Montparnasse station which serves destinations to the west of the capital.

Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete has strongly condemned "criminal acts" that he said would affect people's holiday plans.

A number of trains have been cancelled and SNCF has warned that the situation could last "at least all weekend while repairs are conducted".

Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra described the attacks as "downright appalling", adding that the impact on the public and Olympic athletes was currently being assessed.

More than 300,000 spectators are expected in the heart of Paris on Friday for an opening ceremony that will see thousands of Olympic athletes sailing down the River Seine.

SNCF said fires had been set alight aimed at damaging its facilities.

A source close to the investigation told AFP news agency that the attack involved acts of "sabotage".

Although no-one has admitted targeting the high-speed network, there will inevitably be concern that it involves apparently co-ordinated acts of vandalism.

Some high-speed services have been diverted on to other lines, causing a knock-on effect to other services.

BBC
 
Aang_The_last_airbender said:
This should be the end of Era of the American domination in basketball.
Even if they win, consider it one of the last ones as an outright favorites.
Click to expand...

King James will lead them to victory.
This is a dope squad. By far the best in the contention.
 
BouncerGuy said:
French high-speed rail vandalised before Olympic ceremony

Hours before the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics, French rail company SNCF says its high-speed network has been targeted by "malicious acts" aimed at paralysing the system.

Several high-speed TGV lines have been hit to the west, north and east of Paris and queues have formed at Montparnasse station which serves destinations to the west of the capital.

Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete has strongly condemned "criminal acts" that he said would affect people's holiday plans.

A number of trains have been cancelled and SNCF has warned that the situation could last "at least all weekend while repairs are conducted".

Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra described the attacks as "downright appalling", adding that the impact on the public and Olympic athletes was currently being assessed.

More than 300,000 spectators are expected in the heart of Paris on Friday for an opening ceremony that will see thousands of Olympic athletes sailing down the River Seine.

SNCF said fires had been set alight aimed at damaging its facilities.

A source close to the investigation told AFP news agency that the attack involved acts of "sabotage".

Although no-one has admitted targeting the high-speed network, there will inevitably be concern that it involves apparently co-ordinated acts of vandalism.

Some high-speed services have been diverted on to other lines, causing a knock-on effect to other services.

BBC
Click to expand...

The criminal immigrants are at it again.
Can we not put them in jail until the big event is over? Disgraceful
 
BouncerGuy said:
Why do you think it was immigrants who did that??

Any proofs???
Click to expand...

There are always hints and it’s very obvious now. I’m worried about the security of our athletes and let it be known if something happens to anyone we will take serious action and might be triggered to bring it to the attention of PM Modi ji
 
Bhaijaan said:
There are always hints and it’s very obvious now. I’m worried about the security of our athletes and let it be known if something happens to anyone we will take serious action and might be triggered to bring it to the attention of PM Modi ji
Click to expand...
Your hints and obvious words will mean nothing if you have no proof to back it up.

It could be an inside job.
 
Bhaijaan said:
There are always hints and it’s very obvious now. I’m worried about the security of our athletes and let it be known if something happens to anyone we will take serious action and might be triggered to bring it to the attention of PM Modi ji
Click to expand...
Wasn't Macron annoyed at Modi for buying Russian oil? Is it a KGB RAW hit job on the French? The Indian assassin was also arrested in Europe. One must think about it.
 
BouncerGuy said:
Your hints and obvious words will mean nothing if you have no proof to back it up.

It could be an inside job.
Click to expand...
Aang_The_last_airbender said:
Wasn't Macron annoyed at Modi for buying Russian oil? Is it a KGB RAW hit job on the French? The Indian assassin was also arrested in Europe. One must think about it.
Click to expand...

PM Modi hi has assured Macron that RAW & KGB have decided to sit this one out to allow for a fair Olympics.
They will instead share crucial intel with French agencies about possible sabotage plots from rebel immigrants.
 
The sabotage attempt is very coordinated and specific. They avoided any human casualty but timed it perfectly.
One has to admire the planner here, when you just want to send a loud message without blood on your hands.
 
Aang_The_last_airbender said:
The sabotage attempt is very coordinated and specific. They avoided any human casualty but timed it perfectly.
One has to admire the planner here, when you just want to send a loud message without blood on your hands.
Click to expand...

If only these guys can channel their skills into more productive outlets, like sports, among other things.
 

Paris Olympics: Soccer Star Robbed of Rolex Watch, Diamonds​


A Brazilian football legend had a suitcase worth half a million euros stolen in Paris during his visit to France for the Olympic Games.

Arthur Antunes Coimbra, also known as "Zico", had a briefcase containing a Rolex watch, diamond necklace, and several thousand dollars in cash stolen in the French capital by a pair of thieves who targeted his taxi, according to Le Parisien.

The thieves approached Zico's taxi, the newspaper said, with one addressing him and the taxi driver while the other stole the briefcase, which was on the back seat of the vehicle. Le Parisien estimates that the contents of the case were valued at around 500,000 euros.

The incident is being handled by a special unit of the French Ministry of the Interior called the Brigade for the Repression of Banditry. The Ministry is also responsible for security around Paris for the duration of the Olympics.

Zico was attending the Olympics as part of Brazil's delegation, as he has previously done at the delayed 2020 Japanese games, where he carried the Olympic flame. Soccer remains the most popular sport in Brazil by far, and Zico is regarded as one of the greatest players ever.

Zico is one of 10,500 athletes who are expected to attend the opening ceremony today. The delegations will be ferried across the River Seine in almost 100 boats. An estimated 11 million visitors are expected to attend the games in person.

Heightened tensions on the international stage have meant that security in Paris is at an all-time high for the Olympics. Thirty-thousand armed police officers have been deployed every day, with another 25,000 private security guards and 18,000 French soldiers being used as support. Large sections of Paris have been closed off for the event, and AI-powered facial recognition CCTV has also been put into use across the city.

In particular, the war in Gaza has led to members of the Israeli delegation being harassed, with their soccer team being booed heavily during a match with Mali. Israel Katz, Israel's foreign minister, told French ambassadors that they had intelligence indicating that Iranian operatives were targeting Israeli tourists.

Additionally, the Paris prosecutor's office confirmed to Newsweek that French authorities detained a Russian man on charges of "his intention to organize events likely to cause destabilization during the Olympic Games."

www.newsweek.com

Paris Olympics: Soccer star robbed of Rolex watch, diamonds

A member of the Olympic delegation of the Brazilian Embassy had a briefcase worth half a million euros stolen.
www.newsweek.com www.newsweek.com
 
FearlessRoar said:

Paris Olympics: Soccer Star Robbed of Rolex Watch, Diamonds​


A Brazilian football legend had a suitcase worth half a million euros stolen in Paris during his visit to France for the Olympic Games.

Arthur Antunes Coimbra, also known as "Zico", had a briefcase containing a Rolex watch, diamond necklace, and several thousand dollars in cash stolen in the French capital by a pair of thieves who targeted his taxi, according to Le Parisien.

The thieves approached Zico's taxi, the newspaper said, with one addressing him and the taxi driver while the other stole the briefcase, which was on the back seat of the vehicle. Le Parisien estimates that the contents of the case were valued at around 500,000 euros.

The incident is being handled by a special unit of the French Ministry of the Interior called the Brigade for the Repression of Banditry. The Ministry is also responsible for security around Paris for the duration of the Olympics.

Zico was attending the Olympics as part of Brazil's delegation, as he has previously done at the delayed 2020 Japanese games, where he carried the Olympic flame. Soccer remains the most popular sport in Brazil by far, and Zico is regarded as one of the greatest players ever.

Zico is one of 10,500 athletes who are expected to attend the opening ceremony today. The delegations will be ferried across the River Seine in almost 100 boats. An estimated 11 million visitors are expected to attend the games in person.

Heightened tensions on the international stage have meant that security in Paris is at an all-time high for the Olympics. Thirty-thousand armed police officers have been deployed every day, with another 25,000 private security guards and 18,000 French soldiers being used as support. Large sections of Paris have been closed off for the event, and AI-powered facial recognition CCTV has also been put into use across the city.

In particular, the war in Gaza has led to members of the Israeli delegation being harassed, with their soccer team being booed heavily during a match with Mali. Israel Katz, Israel's foreign minister, told French ambassadors that they had intelligence indicating that Iranian operatives were targeting Israeli tourists.

Additionally, the Paris prosecutor's office confirmed to Newsweek that French authorities detained a Russian man on charges of "his intention to organize events likely to cause destabilization during the Olympic Games."

www.newsweek.com

Paris Olympics: Soccer star robbed of Rolex watch, diamonds

A member of the Olympic delegation of the Brazilian Embassy had a briefcase worth half a million euros stolen.
www.newsweek.com www.newsweek.com
Click to expand...
World getting supposed "third world experience" in the heart of Europe!!
 

Chinese-Chilean table tennis player makes Olympics debut at age 58 in the Paris Games​


Table tennis player Zeng Zhiying left China in 1989, the same year of the Tiananmen Square massacre, to teach the sport in northern Chile. Fast-forward 35 years, she will debut in the Olympic Games at age 58 under the name she adopted in the South American nation: Tania.

Tania Zeng, who became famous in Chile after winning a bronze medal at the Pan American Games in Santiago last year, retired from table tennis long ago. Though the sport brought her to Chile, she stopped playing to have more time to dedicate to a business she opened and eventually start a family. Her dream of becoming a professional athlete returned during the pandemic. Her pinnacle will be reached in Paris.

“I never imagined (making it to the Olympic Games) because I took it up for entertainment, to do some sport," Zeng said in an interview with The Associated Press at the country's Olympic training center. "I gained confidence by playing a lot. Since I always won, I liked playing more and more.

“Qualifying for an Olympics is a big, gigantic dream, and being able to fulfill it at that age is a huge happiness,” said Zeng, the oldest athlete in her country's delegation.

Born in Foshan, in southern China, Zeng is the daughter of a local table tennis coach. As a child, she used to follow her mother to professional table tennis training sessions. For a decade, the Chinese-Chilean athlete was a high-performance player.

But her life took a turn in 1989, when she accepted an invitation to teach the sport to young athletes in Arica, in the far north of Chile. She married soon afterward and moved to Iquique, also in northern Chile, another city where Chinese presence was unlikely at the time.

Zeng is currently the 151st-ranked table tennis player. She is part of Chile's national team, beating Dominican Eva Peña Brito in her debut in the women's singles table tennis tournament at the Pan American Games. She lost to American Lily Ann Zhang in the following round but still managed to win the bronze in the team competition.

Zeng's life is now split between Iquique and Santiago, fueled by the appetite for the game and the affection of the fans.

“Everyone knows me, greets me, wants a photo and for me it’s just joy,” she said. “I am already Chilean in heart and soul, everything. They are going to bury me here.”

Zeng will play in Paris with more experience and the same determination to fulfill a lifelong dream. She hopes no injuries affect her performance at the Olympics, which is a concern for any older athlete.

“Any bad movement I could get injured, and that worries me a lot,” Zeng said.

On Saturday, not only Chileans will be glued to TV to follow a woman they now call their “Olympic grandmother.” Zeng’s brother and her 92-year-old father also will watch from China.

“When he found out that I had qualified, he jumped out of his chair, shouting. ... Go figure, a 92-year-old man,” Zeng said. “And he immediately told me: ‘It is your lifelong dream, which is now fulfilled. Go at it, go with everything.’”

abcnews.go.com

Chinese-Chilean table tennis player makes Olympics debut at age 58 in the Paris Games

Table tennis player Zeng Zhiying left China in 1989, the same year of the Tiananmen Square massacre, to teach the sport in northern Chile
abcnews.go.com abcnews.go.com
 

Rain forecast to turn opening ceremony to ‘disaster'​

A weather forecaster has predicted disastrous rain for the games’ unprecedented open-air ceremony in the heart of Paris later.

More than 300,000 spectators are expected to line the banks of the River Seine when the athletes parade through the heart of Paris on a flotilla of barges and riverboats, part of an extravagant opening ceremony that will be watched by a global audience of billions.

About 25mm (0.98 inch) to 30mm (1.18 inches) of rain is expected between 6pm and midnight on Friday during the three-hour ceremony attended by world leaders and global celebrities, the equivalent of 15 days of rainfall, weather forecaster Patrick Marliere said.

“It’s going to be a disaster for these few hours,” Mr Marliere, the head of independent weather forecaster Agate Meteo, said on RMC radio.

State weather forecaster Meteo France also expects rain on Friday evening, with cloudy skies.
“The scenarios of the last few days that had mentioned risks of rainfalls are being confirmed for the end of the day,” it says.

Souce: Independent News
 
BouncerGuy said:
French high-speed rail vandalised before Olympic ceremony

Hours before the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics, French rail company SNCF says its high-speed network has been targeted by "malicious acts" aimed at paralysing the system.

Several high-speed TGV lines have been hit to the west, north and east of Paris and queues have formed at Montparnasse station which serves destinations to the west of the capital.

Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete has strongly condemned "criminal acts" that he said would affect people's holiday plans.

A number of trains have been cancelled and SNCF has warned that the situation could last "at least all weekend while repairs are conducted".

Sports Minister Amélie Oudéa-Castéra described the attacks as "downright appalling", adding that the impact on the public and Olympic athletes was currently being assessed.

More than 300,000 spectators are expected in the heart of Paris on Friday for an opening ceremony that will see thousands of Olympic athletes sailing down the River Seine.

SNCF said fires had been set alight aimed at damaging its facilities.

A source close to the investigation told AFP news agency that the attack involved acts of "sabotage".

Although no-one has admitted targeting the high-speed network, there will inevitably be concern that it involves apparently co-ordinated acts of vandalism.

Some high-speed services have been diverted on to other lines, causing a knock-on effect to other services.

BBC
Click to expand...

Vandals strike French rail lines​


1722008224801.png
 
Last edited:
International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach says he has "full confidence" in the French authorities after arson attacks on the train network delayed thousands of travellers just hours before the Games' opening ceremony

A series of fires has badly affected several high-speed rail lines within Paris, with around 800,000 people expected to be affected.

Rail company SNCF described it as a "massive attack aimed at paralysing the network".

The Eurostar has also advised passengers not to travel and cancelled some services.

The opening ceremony is set to begin in Paris at 19:30 (18:30 BST), with boats travelling down the River Seine and the city's mayor Anne Hidalgo said the issue would have "no impact" on the event.

"I don't have concerns, we have full confidence in the French authorities," Bach told the BBC.

"All the measures are being taken. The French authorities are assisted by 180 other intelligence services around the world.

"We have good reason to have full confidence."

SNCF said on Friday that signal boxes had been damaged by fires in a "massive attack", affecting lines that connect Paris to cities in the north, east and south west of the country.

The company said further disruptions would take place over the weekend.

Christophe Dubi, the Olympic Games executive director, told the BBC he had seen a "quick reaction" from organisers.

"The organisers, including authorities and SNCF, have to prepare for different scenarios," he said.

"What I see here is a quick reaction and that gives me a lot of confidence.

"I have to feel for all those impacted by these delays, but I have confidence that organisers are really well prepared for any situation and this is definitely one."

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal described it as "co-ordinated and prepared acts of sabotage".

Eurostar, which has trains from London to Paris, has encouraged passengers not to travel after delays and cancellations.

"Paris 2024 has taken note of incidents affecting the Atlantic, North and East lines of the SNCF rail network," read a statement from Games organisers.

"We are working closely with our partner, the rail operator SNCF, to assess the situation."

The Paris prosecutor's office has opened a criminal investigation into the incident.

Amelie Oudea-Castera, the country's sports minister, said it was an attack on "the athletes' Games".

"These Games are for the athletes who have been dreaming of them for years, fighting for the holy grail of standing on the podium, and someone's sabotaging that for them" she told French broadcaster BFMTV.

The rainy weather has also caused some delays in Paris.

A scheduled news conference with Tony Estanguet, the president of the Games, was cancelled on Friday, reportedly because of the weather, external and its possible impact on the opening ceremony.

The Olympic torch procession has, however, continued throughout the day.

It is the first time a summer Olympics opening ceremony has been held outside the main athletics stadium.

It is expected to last just under four hours and will also include the official opening of the Games, carried out by President Macron, and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron.

Source: BBC
 

Paris Olympics: Arshad Nadeem-led Pakistani contingent all set for opening ceremony​


Pakistan's pride and joy, Javelin Thrower Arshad Nadeem, said he is looking forward to the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony while on his way to Paris on Friday.

"Alhamdulillah, the preparations are going very well," Arshad told The Express Tribune. "The training has been going very well too. I am feeling very good about everything. Everything is going smoothly. Since I've come here, we have been training properly, so far we've done two-hour sessions."

Meanwhile, the other athletes, including sprinter Faiqa Riaz, swimmers Muhammad Ahmed Durrani and Jehanara Nabi, shooters Kishmala Talat, Ghulam Muhammad Bashir, and Gulfam Joseph, are all set for the ceremony as well.

The shooters will compete in the 25 metre Rapid Fire Pistol, 10 metre Air Pistol, 10 metre Air Pistol Mixed Team while Faiqa will participate in the 100 metre athletics event.

According to the Pakistan contingent's Chef de Mission Muhammad Shafiq, the athletes will be donning white shalwar kameez with green waistcoats and black shoes.

"We are all ready, we will be representing Pakistan in the best way we can," said Shafiq who was among the first ones to arrive in Paris, on July 18. He also attended the initial meetings to set up the contingent once everyone else began to arrive.

In Paris, there was an incident just hours before the Olympic Opening Ceremony. France's high-speed rail network was hit by arson attacks that disrupted travel for hundreds of thousands of passengers.

But Shafiq said that everyone is feeling safe. "There is a sense of safety and we are all doing well," he reassured and requested supporters to pray that the team's performances go well.

Similarly, the Pakistan Swimming Federation (PSF) official Lt Col (R) Ahmed Ali Khan, who is also accompanying the athletes as part of the contingent, said that the experience has been great in terms of the facilities.

"It has been an amazing experience in Paris so far, what great facilities we have here," said Khan. "Our heats are in the morning sessions. So we are undergoing training during the morning. We reached the venue of our competitions where we have two swimming pools of international standard. We go there after breakfast around 8 am," he shared.

The PSF official added, "Both swimmers are training and resting as well. They will give their best performance by improving on their personal best. We'll see how they perform on the day of the event. Both Durrani and Nabi have qualified on the universality quota and they are here because they are the best swimmers in the country."

The swimmers are participating in the 200-metre freestyle on July 28.

About Jehanara, who will also be a flagbearer at the Opening Ceremony, Khan said that she is a very hardworking athlete. The 18-year-old has been on the International Olympic Committee's scholarship for the last two years.

The scholarship came her way through the Pakistan Olympic Association by the PSF. She has been the leading female swimmer in the country for the last four years.

"She got herself trained at a designated training centre by the World Aquatics. She kept training with them regularly and improved her timing. She has been performing really well," said Khan.

tribune.com.pk

Paris Olympics: Arshad Nadeem-led Pakistani contingent all set for opening ceremony | The Express Tribune

Contingent comprising 7 athletes, officials to don colours of Pakistan's flag, white shalwar kameez with green vests
tribune.com.pk tribune.com.pk
 

First positive doping test at Paris Olympics is Iraqi judoka for anabolic steroids​


A male judoka from Iraq tested positive for two anabolic steroids at the Paris Olympics, the International Testing Agency said Friday.

Sajjad Sehen, a 28-year-old first-time Olympian, tested positive for metandienone and boldenone in a sample taken in Paris on Tuesday. He was due to compete next Tuesday.

Sehen is provisionally suspended while a disciplinary case is prosecuted, said the ITA, which oversees the games-time anti-doping program for the International Olympic Committee.

“This means that the athlete is prevented from competing, training, coaching, or participating in any activity during the Olympic Games,” the agency said.

Sehen was due to compete in the men’s 81 kilogram class, starting Tuesday in the round of 32 against an opponent from Uzbekistan.

 
No safety from rain for the athletes, some will fall sick before their events...
Should we expect some upsets because of the opening ceremony :P
 
They probably thought it would be fun but it's a mess. The idea of the assassin's creed guy is great. But it should have been a single sequence.

What was lady gaga doing at the start with that terrible song?
 
bones said:
They probably thought it would be fun but it's a mess. The idea of the assassin's creed guy is great. But it should have been a single sequence.

What was lady gaga doing at the start with that terrible song?
Click to expand...
We would have enjoyed at the location, on TV its horrible and the commentators are absolutely abysmal.
London and Beijing were awesome
 
Credit where it's due, the eiffel tower light slow has been good. Kids have enjoyed it.

But these ceremony is now really dragging.
 
We already know who is going to win all the medals. China, USA and Russia.

Some are won by England, France.

The rest will win a medal if they get lucky.

Some become instant celebrity in India if they win a medal. They get all kinds of awards and cash rewards.

After a couple of weeks, no one remembers who won what.
 
Opening ceremony lights up Paris in unique style

The 2024 Olympics opened in Paris in spectacular style with thousands of athletes sailing along the River Seine past lively performers on bridges, banks and rooftops in an ambitious take on an opening ceremony.

Swapping a stadium for a waterway for the first time to open the "greatest show on Earth", the near four-hour spectacle culminated in French judo great Teddy Riner and sprinter Marie-Jose Perec lighting a cauldron shaped like a hot air balloon that rose high into the Parisian sky.

Blue, white and red fireworks had raised the Tricolore above Austerlitz Bridge before 6,800 athletes from 205 delegations travelled on 85 boats and barges past some of the French capital's most famous landmarks.

There were surprise performances through the ceremony, including a cabaret number from US singer-songwriter Lady Gaga, as well as an emotional return of Canadian icon Celine Dion.

The day had started with major disruption when the French train network was hit by arson attacks and heavy rain in the evening put paid to the original plan by artistic director Thomas Jolly to use the Parisian sun to "make the water sparkle".

The lashing rain may have forced athletes to add rain ponchos and umbrellas to their planned outfits but it did not detract from the lively journey through French history, art and sport told by some 2,000 musicians, dancers and other artists.

The last two boats to parade - first the US as the next hosts for Los Angeles 2028 and then France - had the largest numbers of athletes on board, while other barges carried several delegations together.

Rower Helen Glover and diver Tom Daley were Great Britain's flagbearers in Paris, which is hosting the summer Games for a third time and the first time in 100 years.

In opening the 33rd summer Olympics, which are taking part against a difficult international and domestic political backdrop, International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach told athletes they were now "part of an event that unites the world in peace".

More than 10,500 athletes will compete across 32 sports at the Games, which will close on 11 August.

Paris pulls off an Olympic first

When organisers first revealed plans to hold the opening ceremony along the river in the heart of the city, rather than in a stadium as is usual, there were some raised eyebrows and questions over how they would manage such a huge security operation.

The Seine itself had been under scrutiny for water cleanliness, while simply the logistics of transporting thousands of athletes along a six-kilometre stretch of river without a dress rehearsal seemed ambitious.

But on Friday evening, backed by a security operation involving tens of thousands of police, Paris pulled off its plan in dazzling fashion.

At times it was bizarre - one moment Lady Gaga surrounded by pink and black feathers was singing in French, the next Bangladesh's athletes were being introduced on their boat.

A lot of the time it was brilliantly frenetic and occasionally emotional.

Given the miserable weather after what had been a sunny week in Paris until now, it seemed fitting that the storyline at the start of the ceremony was about the arrival of the Olympic flame in Paris not going according to plan.

The torchbearer did not get the memo about it not being in the Stade de France, and then Zinedine Zidane's metro train broke down while he was transporting the torch.

There followed ballet, cancan, opera, famous artwork coming to life and even Minions - and every so often a masked torchbearer was shown running across rooftops and even zip-lining, while the flotilla made its way from Austerlitz Bridge to Pont d'Iena.

The boats with flag-waving athletes passed landmarks like the Louvre museum, Eiffel Tower, Grand Palais and Arc de Triomphe and were treated to 12 artistic segments.

One segment focused on rebuilding Notre Dame, which was damaged in a fire in 2019. A large troupe of dancers were accompanied by music composed using sounds captured from the iconic cathedral's reconstruction.

Another explored French history, with costumed singers performing music from Les Miserables and a choir of headless Marie Antoinettes accompanying French heavy metal band Gojira.

French-Malian R&B star Aya Nakamura - the world's most-streamed French-language artist - was among the musical acts.

The ceremony ended in the Trocadero, where the nearby Eiffel Tower lit up, with the flame - which had been on an elaborate journey with a masked torchbearer and a mechanical horse - being passed back to Zidane, who handed it to Rafael Nadal, Nadia Comaneci, Serena Williams and Carl Lewis.

The quartet carried the flame on a boat towards the Louvre, where a series of French athletes and para-athletes past and present - including 100-year-old gold-medal cyclist Charles Coste - carried it and eventually handed it to Riner and Perec.

And just when you thought the ceremony could not get any more beguiling, the pair lit the 30-metre high hot air balloon that now looks like it is floating above the city.

But there was one more magical moment to come, with Dion thrilling the crowds at the Eiffel Tower with a powerful rendition of Edith Piaf’s L’Hymne a l’amour in her first performance since revealing a serious neurological condition in December 2022.

Call for peace in world 'torn apart by wars'

Since the last Olympics - the Beijing 2022 Winter Games - wars have started in Ukraine and Gaza.

In his speech, IOC president Bach told athletes that "in a world torn apart by wars and conflicts, it is thanks to this solidarity that we can all come together tonight, uniting the athletes from the territories of all 206 National Olympic Committees and the IOC Refugee Olympic Team".

Earlier in the ceremony Paris had been plunged into darkness as the first notes of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Imagine - sung by Juliette Armanet on a drifting raft - rang out.

The peace anthem, part of all Olympic opening ceremonies, is aligned with the message of unity and tolerance conveyed by the Games.

The impact of conflicts is being felt at these Olympics, with Russians and Belarusians banned following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Just 15 Russian and 17 Belarusian athletes will be competing as Individual Neutral Athletes (AIN) in Paris and they were not part of the parade at the opening ceremony.

Some of the loudest cheers of the evening were for the athletes of the Refugee Olympic Team and the Palestine Olympic Committee.

More than 100 heads of state and government were in attendance, including Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron.

What's happening on Saturday?

There are 14 gold medals to be won on Saturday, with the first one most likely to come in shooting's mixed team air rifle

Great Britain's best chance of an opening-day medal could come in diving, with Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen in the women’s 3m synchro (from 10:00 BST), or the road cycling time trials (women's event from 13:30 BST, with the men’s at 15:34 BST).

Other highlights include a first glimpse of swimmer Adam Peaty in 100m breaststroke heats (from 10:00 BST), Max Whitlock and the rest of GB's men's gymnasts in qualification (from 10:00 BST) and the men's rugby sevens where French fans will hope Antoine Dupont can inspire the hosts to gold (final at 18:45).

There are four swimming finals on the opening day in the pool, with the highlight likely to be the women's 400m freestyle (19:55 BST) where US legend Katie Ledecky, Australian defending champion Ariarne Titmus and Canadian world record holder Summer McIntosh are expected to battle it out.

The eventing gets under way at Versailles (from 08:30 BST) with Great Britain defending their team crown days after equestrian was rocked by Charlotte Dujardin's withdrawal from the Games, and subsequent provisional suspension, after footage emerged of her "excessively" whipping a horse.

The tennis also starts at Roland Garros, with Novak Djokovic in action as well as the men's doubles pairing of Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal, while Great Britain's men start their hockey campaign against Spain.

www.bbc.com

Paris 2024 Olympic opening ceremony kicks off Games in unique style

The 2024 Olympics opened in Paris in spectacular style with thousands of athletes sailing along the River Seine past lively performers on bridges, banks and rooftops in an ambitious take on an opening ceremony.
www.bbc.com
 
Champ_Pal said:
We already know who is going to win all the medals. China, USA and Russia.

Some are won by England, France.

The rest will win a medal if they get lucky.

Some become instant celebrity in India if they win a medal. They get all kinds of awards and cash rewards.

After a couple of weeks, no one remembers who won what.
Click to expand...
I take it you’re not a fan of the olympics? I’m not either but I’m happy for all these athletes to have their moments every 4 years.

What I don’t like though is major sports taking the attention away from the amateur sports. Football and tennis for example shouldn’t be involved.
 
France travel disruption expected to last all weekend

French rail company SNCF has warned that disruption from Friday's sabotage against the country's train network could last until the end of the weekend and affect hundreds of thousands more passengers.

Coordinated arson attacks on three lines of the high-speed TGV network on Friday caused chaos for travellers, hours before the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics. A fourth attack was thwarted by rail workers.

Prime Minister Gabriel Attal described the attacks as "acts of sabotage".

About a quarter of international Eurostar trains were also cancelled, with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer among those affected.

In a statement issued on Friday evening, SNCF said traffic "would improve" on affected lines on Saturday thanks to the work of thousands of rail workers.

It said:

  • On the eastern line, trains would run normally from 06:00 (05:00 BST) on Saturday
  • On the northern line, 80% of trains would be running, with delays of 1-2 hours
  • On the south-western line, 60% of trains would be running, with delays of 1-2 hours
The company added that customers whose trains are delayed or cancelled will be contacted by email or text message.

Eurostar said it expected about a fifth of services over the weekend would be cancelled, while all trains would face delays of around 1.5 hours. Eurostar services use the northern high-speed line.

SNCF said surveillance of the rail network had been strengthened "on land and in the air," using 1,000 workers and 50 drones.

Junior Transport Minister Patrice Vergriete said around 250,000 people had been affected on Friday, while up to 800,000 could face delays and cancellations by Monday.

He added that disrupting holiday travel, rather than Friday's Olympic opening ceremony, was the most likely aim of the saboteurs.

"There is not necessarily a link" with the Olympics, he said in an interview.

The last weekend of July is traditionally a busy period for holiday travel.

No group has yet claimed that it was behind the attacks. A source linked to the investigation told the AFP news agency that the operation was "well-prepared" and organised by "a single structure".

Mr Attal said security forces were searching for those responsible.

At around 04:00 on Friday, saboteurs cut and set on fire specialised fibre optic cables essential for the safe functioning of the rail network, government officials said.

One site was at Courtalain, 150km (93 miles) south-west of Paris. A picture posted online purportedly showed burnt-out cables in a shallow gulley with its protective SNCF paving stones discarded.

The SNCF spoke of a "massive, large-scale attack aimed at paralysing" its services, not just at Courtalain but at Pagny-sur-Moselle, a village outside the eastern city of Metz and Croisilles, not far from the northern city of Arras.

Another attempted attack in Vergigny, south-east of Paris, was foiled by SNCF workers who were carrying out maintenance on site in the early hours of Friday.

Prosecutors have opened an investigation into attacks on "the fundamental interests of the nation".

BBC
 
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