Paris 2024 Olympics: Excitement Builds for the Games

Excitement Builds for the Paris 2024 Olympics

The much-anticipated Paris 2024 Olympics are set to commence this Wednesday, with the inaugural matches of football and rugby sevens taking place ahead of the grand opening ceremony scheduled for Friday at 7:30 pm CET. The games will unfold over a thrilling period until August 11, and the excitement surrounding this edition is palpable. As of July, organizers reported that this Olympics has already surpassed all previous summer editions in ticket sales, boasting an impressive 8.6 million tickets sold, eclipsing the 8.3 million sold during Atlanta 1996. In addition, over 1 million tickets have already been purchased for the Paralympics, showcasing the widespread enthusiasm for the events.

The 33rd edition of the Olympic Games is set across 35 venues, primarily in Paris but also extending to other vibrant French cities such as Lille, Marseille, Lyon, Nice, and the picturesque island of Tahiti. Paris 2024 places a significant emphasis on urban settings, with numerous competitions scheduled at iconic locations including the Champs-Élysées, the Eiffel Tower, Place de la Concorde, Invalides, and the magnificent Pont Alexandre III. This approach aims to bring athletes and citizens closer together, cultivating a sense of community and shared experience.

In preparation for the Games, Paris has undergone a monumental cleanup of the Seine River, and many venues have been renovated to minimize the need for new construction. Paris 2024 is committed to sustainability, with a goal to reduce the carbon footprint by 50% compared to previous Olympic Games. Notably, the Grand Palais will host fencing and taekwondo events, while the iconic Pont Alexandre III will feature cycling road, marathon swimming, and triathlon competitions.

Participation and Representation

A total of 206 teams are participating in Paris 2024, featuring approximately 10,500 athletes from around the globe. The United States leads the way as the most represented nation, sending 592 athletes, followed closely by France with 573 athletes, Australia with 460, Germany with 427, Japan with 404, China with 388, Spain with 382, Italy with 361, and Great Britain with 327. Interestingly, some countries, such as Belize, Lesotho, Malawi, Malta, Montserrat, and Nauru, will send only one athlete each.

This year also marks the largest Refugee Team in Olympic history, comprising 35 athletes primarily from Syria, Iran, and Afghanistan. Although Russia and Belarus are banned from participating due to the ongoing war in Ukraine, their athletes will compete under the Individual Neutral team banner, allowing them to showcase their talents while remaining unaffiliated with their respective nations.

Medal Predictions and Historical Opportunities

Forecasts from Gracenote-Nielsen suggest that the United States is poised to dominate the medal table once again, with an estimated 123 medals expected, a notable improvement from their tally of 113 at Tokyo 2020. Should Team USA meet these expectations, it will mark the eighth consecutive time they have topped the Summer Games medal table. China is projected to secure second place with 87 medals, while Great Britain is expected to finish third, followed by the host nation, France, which is anticipated to claim a greater share of gold medals.

The United States holds the record as the all-time top medal winner at the Summer Games, with a staggering 2,981 medals, followed by the former USSR with 1,204, Great Britain with 948, Germany with 892, and France with 835.

This edition also presents an opportunity for individual athletes to break records. On August 10, NBA superstar Kevin Durant could become the first male athlete to win four gold medals in any team sport if the US secures its fifth consecutive gold. However, this record may be matched the following day if Nikola Karabatić leads France to victory in men’s handball, earning his fourth Olympic gold after successes in Beijing 2008, London 2012, and Tokyo 2020. Karabatić is set to retire following these Games.

On the women’s side, German equestrian Isabell Werth and American swimmer Kate Ledecky have the chance to etch their names in history by winning the most Olympic gold medals in any sport. The current record for women is held by Soviet-Ukrainian gymnast Larisa Latynina, who amassed nine gold medals during her illustrious career. Additionally, Georgian shooter Niko Salukvadze may extend her record by competing in her 10th Olympic Games, having first participated in Seoul 1988. The all-time record for Olympic participation belongs to Canadian equestrian Ian Millar, who competed in 10 Games from 1972 to 2012, missing only the 1980 Moscow Olympics due to a Canadian boycott.

Opening Day Schedule: Football and Rugby Sevens

The official competitions for Paris 2024 will kick off on Wednesday, with football and rugby sevens leading the charge. Below is the schedule for the inaugural day of events:

Football, Group Stage

• Argentina vs. Morocco (3 pm CET, Saint-Étienne)
• Uzbekistan vs. Spain (3 pm CET, Paris)
• Guinea vs. New Zealand (5 pm CET, Nice)
• Egypt vs. Dominican Republic (5 pm CET, Nantes)
• Iraq vs. Ukraine (7 pm CET, Lyon)
• Japan vs. Paraguay (7 pm CET, Bordeaux)
• France vs. USA (9 pm CET, Marseille)
• Mali vs. Israel (9 pm CET, Paris)

Rugby Sevens, Men’s Pool

• Australia vs. Samoa (3:30 pm CET, Paris)
• Argentina vs. Kenya (4 pm CET, Paris)
• France vs. USA (4:30 pm CET, Paris)
• Fiji vs. Uruguay (5 pm CET, Paris)
• Ireland vs. South Africa (5:30 pm CET, Paris)
• New Zealand vs. Japan (6 pm CET, Paris)
• Australia vs. Kenya (7 pm CET, Paris)
• Argentina vs. Samoa (7:30 pm CET, Paris)
• France vs. Uruguay (8 pm CET, Paris)
• Fiji vs. USA (8:30 pm CET, Paris)

New Disciplines at Paris 2024

This year, the Olympics will also feature exciting new disciplines aimed at engaging younger audiences and diverse communities. Breakdancing will make its debut in Paris, joining other disciplines like skateboarding, sport climbing, BMX freestyle, and surfing, which were introduced in Tokyo 2020. Notably, surfing will be hosted outside of mainland France, taking place in the stunning territory of Tahiti at Teahupo’o, renowned for its massive and powerful waves. In total, Paris 2024 will showcase 32 sports across 48 distinct disciplines.