Everything You Need to Know About the Paris Olympics Starting Today
Get ready to cheer, celebrate and be inspired as the Paris 2024 Olympics are underway. At Goodable, our team is offering special coverage of all things Olympics from now until the Closing Ceremonies. The Goodable App now has a dedicated Olympics category. You can find it on the main newsfeed page where all your news categories are listed. Here are the top stories to look out for.
A Historic Host: Paris' Olympic Legacy
Paris is no stranger to the grandeur of the Olympics. The 2024 Games will mark the third time the city has hosted the event, making it a city rich in Olympic history. The first time Paris welcomed the Olympics was way back in 1900, a time when the modern Olympic movement was still in its infancy. The city then hosted the Games again in 1924, becoming the first city to host two separate Olympics. This sets up a beautifully symbolic 100-year anniversary for the 2024 Games. Paris is also spending tens of millions of dollars to make this the most eco-friendly Olympics in modern history. It’s a story we’ll be keeping a close eye on.
A Festival on the Water: The Unique Opening Ceremony
In a break from tradition, the Paris 2024 opening ceremony will be held outside a stadium for the first time in Summer Games history. Athletes will parade down the iconic River Seine on boats, creating a mesmerizing spectacle. The procession will cover 4 miles (6km), passing some of Paris’ most famous landmarks, including the Louvre and Notre-Dame.
A total of 10,500 athletes on 94 boats will participate, culminating in a grand finale at the Trocadéro, opposite the Eiffel Tower. It’s here where the Olympic cauldron will be lit and French President Emmanuel Macron will officially open the Games. Each boat will be equipped with cameras, ensuring that viewers feel intimately connected to the action and their favorite athletes.
New Additions to the Olympic Lineup
Paris 2024 will see the debut of two new sports that bring fresh excitement to the Games. Breaking, an urban dance style characterized by acrobatic movements and deep roots in hip-hop culture, will be showcased on the world stage. This addition highlights the Olympics' evolving nature and its commitment to embracing diverse athletic forms.
Another new event making waves is kayak cross, where four kayakers race simultaneously, navigating a challenging course filled with obstacles. This thrilling competition promises high-speed action and intense rivalries, perfect for capturing the spirit of the Games.
But that’s not all. Skateboarding, surfing, sport climbing and three-on-three basketball are returning after their successful debuts in Tokyo 2020 (held in 2021 due to the pandemic). These sports captured the imagination of fans around the globe and their return is eagerly anticipated.
A Touch of History in Every Medal
All 5,084 gold, silver and bronze medals for the Paris Games will feature a unique six-edged metal medallion set like a gemstone, designed by the elite French jewelry house Chaumet. "We wanted to offer to all medal winners at the Paris Olympics and Paralympics a piece of the Eiffel Tower from 1889," said Tony Estanguet, head of the local organizing committee. These medals combine the precious metals of gold, silver and bronze with a piece of the iconic Eiffel Tower, making them a true symbol of French heritage and Olympic achievement.
Stars of the Paris 2024 Olympics
The roster of athletes set to compete in Paris reads like a who’s who of the sporting world. Here are some of the biggest names to watch:
Basketball Legends: Lebron James, Steph Curry, Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and Rookie sensation Victor Wembanyama are expected to bring their A-game, thrilling fans with their skills and teamwork.
Swimming Phenomenon: Katie Ledecky, who won her first Olympic title in London 12 years ago, continues to be a dominant force in the pool.
Tennis Titans: Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Naomi Osaka, Jessica Pegula and Coco Gauff will compete, with Gauff making her much-anticipated Olympic debut after having to withdraw from Tokyo due to COVID-19.
Gymnastics Greats: Simone Biles and Suni Lee are set to dazzle. Biles, in particular, aims to secure her legacy by attempting a new skill on the uneven bars that could be named after her, adding to her impressive repertoire (more on this below!)
Track and Field Sensations: Sha’Carri Richardson will be another athlete to watch, bringing her speed and determination to the track.
Simone Biles' New Challenge
Simone Biles, already a legend in gymnastics, is setting her sights on a new achievement. She will attempt a skill on the uneven bars that no one has done before: a "clear hip circle forward with 1 1/2 turns to handstand." If successful, it would be the sixth skill named after her and make her the only active female gymnast with a skill on all four apparatuses.
This move, starting from a handstand, involves dipping below and around the bar, then executing 1 1/2 pirouettes before returning to a handstand. The International Gymnastics Federation values this skill highly, giving it a difficulty value of 0.5 points.
The Closing Ceremony: A Grand Finale
The closing ceremony for the Paris 2024 Olympics will be held on Sunday, August 11, at the Stade de France. Starting at 2 p.m. Eastern, the event will include a parade of flags, a parade of athletes and various victory ceremonies. The Tokyo closing ceremony lasted about three hours and Paris is expected to deliver an equally spectacular conclusion to the Games.
Goodable's Olympic Coverage: Your Source for Good News in Paris
At Goodable, we only share stories about good things in the world - and Paris 2024 will be full of them. coverage will focus on the triumphs, the perseverance and the moments of pure joy that define the Games. You can find all the amazing Olympic stories in the olympic category of our app.
