The Paris Olympics, starting this Friday, are set to be a special event, marking the first time in 100 years that Paris is hosting the Summer Games. The theme for these Olympics is “Games Wide Open,” and the opening ceremony will be unique, featuring boats carrying athletes and dignitaries down the River Seine, with space for 300,000 spectators.
This year’s Games are historic for several reasons. Paris is hosting the Olympics for the first time in a century, and it’s also the first time that men and women athletes will compete in equal numbers, with 5,250 athletes of each gender.
Preparations in Paris are nearly complete. Despite concerns about overcrowding, price hikes, and local disruptions, the city is ready, with a massive security presence ensuring safety. The total cost of the Games is around 9 billion euros, and organizers are aiming to make it the greenest Olympics ever.
The Games will feature a mix of new and traditional venues. Only two new arenas have been built: one for swimming and another for badminton and rhythmic gymnastics. Other events will take place in well-known locations like the Stade de France and Roland Garros, as well as historic sites like the Grand Palais.
There were worries about the quality of the Seine River’s water, but Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has demonstrated its safety by swimming in it. The water will be regularly tested before the swimming events.
This year’s Olympics also see the addition of breaking, a dance style, and the first time men can compete in synchronized swimming. Some of Britain’s top athletes, like Andy Murray and Max Whitlock, are ending their careers at these Games, while stars like Simone Biles and Stephen Curry are set to compete.
Russian and Belarusian athletes will compete as Individual Neutral Athletes due to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This decision has faced criticism, but IOC President Thomas Bach has defended it, emphasizing the role of athletes as peace ambassadors.
The opening ceremony is set to be a grand spectacle, different from past Olympics, with the official opening done by President Macron and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron. Although the ceremony starts at 19:30 CET (18:30 BST), some sports like rugby sevens and football have already begun.
This event is a major occasion for Paris and promises to be memorable for all involved.
(Information from BBC)
https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c728q3ev8vvo