Ah, the Olympics, an event as old as olive oil, but we all knew that. Ever since its revival in 1896, the ancient Greek sporting event has been a place for countries to come together, not just through athletics, but through culture, art, and a general sense of peace.
After a few rocky years thanks to COVID-19 and a worldwide shutdown of all things international, the Olympic Games are officially back for good, and in the right year. This time, they’re taking place in Paris, France.
The Sports
Along with beloved classics such as gymnastics, swimming, and table tennis, the Olympic Games will continue to feature sports that debuted in Tokyo: surfing, skateboarding, and sports climbing. That being said, baseball and karate are both off the table, despite their popularity back in 2021. However, baseball fans are encouraged to cling on to hope, as it is already confirmed to be returning to the event in 2028, when the games will take place in Los Angeles, Calif.
Despite these losses, 2024 does still see an introduction of a whole new sport: break-dancing, convincing the general public that dance is indeed a sport and should be considered as such.
As the Olympics become more and more inclusive of less mainstream sports, one can only hope the International Olympic Committee Executive Board (IOC EB) brings back the much beloved and largely forgotten tug-of-war.
The Players
206 countries are participating this year, with an additional number of athletes hailing from the Refugee Olympic Committee—a team made up entirely of international refugees that first participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics—as well as International Neutral Athletes that do not represent a country at all, but rather themselves.
Unsurprisingly, almost all of the Team USA skateboarders hail from somewhere in California, or Hawaii. The most local athlete competing is Taylor Nye from Costa Mesa. Nye most recently competed in 2023 in Santiago, Chile.
On returning players: Simone Biles, previous four-time gold-medalist, is returning to compete in the Olympic Trials, with an expected return to Paris. Tom Daley, the British diver also known for his knitting, is also set to come back, this time participating in synchronized diving.
The Schedule
The Paris 2024 Olympics are set to begin on July 24 with soccer and rugby sevens. The games will go on until August 11, involving a total number of 329 sporting events. Apart from surfing, which is being held in Tahiti, all events are expected to take place in the heart of Paris.
As the French city gears up for a chaotic, sporty summer, audiences in the USA can tune into the events from the official Olympic Channel for free!
