NEW YORK — Olympians gathered in the cultural capital of the world Wednesday for a much-anticipated moment. 100 days left until Paris 2024. 100 days left until the City of Lights ignites. There are 100 days left until an unprecedented opening ceremony (maybe, just maybe) rolls down the Seine and the opening of the 30th Summer Olympics, which is more than just an Olympics.
For many Americans, these are the Games that must reinvigorate the entire Olympic movement.
“In a way, we can reintroduce the Olympics and Paralympics to this country,” USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland said Monday at a three-day media summit here. “One minute has passed.”
It's been 983 days since Tokyo, but as gold medalist Nevin Harrison said, Tokyo is Really strange. “It's been a long time, more than six years. usually Olympics – COVID-19 free, fans and traditional extravaganza. And it's been eight years since the last Olympics were held west of Beijing, which is less than a dozen time zones away from him.
During that time, the Tokyo Games had the lowest ratings in American television history. The ratings for Beijing 2022 were even worse. U.S. Olympic officials know that holding three consecutive Games in Asia (including the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea) has hurt their reach and resonance in Asia. They know they need to re-engage with children and young people. They must reverse this trend.
Their plan in a nutshell: Paris. Beach volleyball played under the Eiffel Tower. Equestrian at the Palace of Versailles. It's an open water swim in the (supposedly) sanitized Seine.
Sprinter Gabby Thomas said of the host city: “It's centrally located and really nice.” “It's going to be a great environment, especially with the strange Tokyo Olympics where no one can come.”
In that sense, these are palate cleanser games. Virus, controversy, Russia no longer invited. Simone Biles and the NBA MVP will be back in the spotlight.
“This is an opportunity to get serious about something great: Olympic and Paralympic sports,” Hirshland said.
For athletes, it's also a chance to share something great with friends and family. For some, Tokyo felt like an anonymous regional race, with BMXer Alyse Willoughby saying, “You could almost hear the voices of parents cheering their kids on the final straight.” For others, it felt like training camp. Some stayed in “off-the-beaten-path” hotels. “We didn't get the full Olympic experience,” said U.S. gymnast Brody Malone.
Paris will be much more than that, unless security threats and geopolitics tear the party apart.
Opening ceremony and security
Starting on July 26th, more than 100 boats will take to the world's most fascinating rivers. For decades, the Olympics have opened with parades and theatrical performances inside the stadium. Paris 2024 begins with a procession down the Seine through the city center. Approximately 10,000 athletes will travel nearly four miles in front of hundreds of thousands of spectators stationed on the river banks. The world will watch in awe.
At least, that's what the organizers dreamed.
They envisioned a magical opening ceremony under a sparkling Parisian sunset, past iconic landmarks and concluding at the Trocadero, wowing tourists and rekindling the Olympic Games.
On the other hand, some police experts see this as “the worst configuration imaginable.''
When USOPC Security Director Nicole Deal first heard the details, she burst into laughter.
“oh,” she thought, “This will be interesting.”
Diehl said there is still no credible threat to Team USA. But the world is full. The war continues. The uncontained outdoor opening ceremony posed a logistical nightmare for French authorities. Paris has been a target for terrorists in the past. The entire country is on high alert. “The risk of terrorism is extremely high,” French Interior Minister Gerard Darmanin said in January.
That's why the French “stay”[ing] It’s nimble,” Deal said. Also, he's 100 days old, and plans for the bold ceremony are still in progress, but evolving. In recent months, organizers have pulled back some of the grander elements. They originally promised 600,000 spectators. This winter, the government officially reduced the estimated number to 300,000 due to logistical and safety concerns. Deal said he was “excited” about the cuts because he saw them as an example of flexibility.
The French have also exploited every conceivable resource. They consulted allies and civilian institutions. Mr Deal said they were “working with the government on these competitions”. They would welcome assistance from thousands of foreign troops. They have designed an elaborate and almost invisible security operation, which Mr Deal said was “very satisfying”.
But that's all subject to change. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that the ceremony could be moved to the Stade de France if necessary. “If there is considered to be a risk, there are alternative scenarios depending on the analysis of the situation,” he said. “I have a plan B and a plan C.”
team usa
Then, if all goes well, the Olympics begin.
Biles will be the face of America at this Olympics. She will be competing in the Summer Games for the third time, aiming for some of the medals that the “weight of the world” and “twist” took away from her in Tokyo.
In the pool, Katie Ledecky will return for her fourth Olympics, but she and Team USA will be challenged by an Australian and a Canadian. And perhaps the most famous swimmer in Paris is Frenchman Leon Marchand.
On the track, Noah Lyles has emerged as the fastest man in the world. Shakari Richardson, who missed Tokyo after testing positive for marijuana during the Olympic trials, should make his Olympic debut.
USA Basketball will reportedly feature LeBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid and eight other All-Stars on the court. That women's team may or may not include Caitlin Clark. In any case, winning a record-extending eighth consecutive gold medal will be a huge advantage.
A total of about 600 American athletes are expected to participate. They are expected to win 123 medals, including 39 gold medals, a slight increase from the 113 gold medals and 39 gold medals at the Tokyo Games, but this will probably be mainly due to the war in Ukraine and Russia. There will also be an impact from the multi-layered bans imposed on players.
The U.S. women's volleyball and women's water polo teams will be aiming for back-to-back championships and a fourth consecutive championship. The USWNT women's soccer team will be looking to bounce back from a series of disappointments. U.S. men's soccer, made up mostly of U23 teams, will return to the Olympics for the first time since 2008 to face a French team that could include Kylian Mbappé. (Mbappe wants to play, and Macron wants him, but his soon-to-be new club, Real Madrid, may not allow him.)
Meanwhile, American athletes will compete for podium spots in fencing and shooting, wrestling and canoeing, cycling and skateboarding, BMX and surfing. This competition will be held on the other side of the world in Tahiti.
And for the first time, breakdancing (commonly but incorrectly known as breakdancing) will be included in the Olympic program.
Breaking, new sport
The newest and most popular Olympic sport was born in the Bronx as an art form for Black Americans in the 1970s. Breaking began as one of his four pillars of hip-hop. It boomed in the 1980s and quickly spread all over the world. It went from an impromptu street dance to a mainstream phenomenon. And as it faded within the black and brown communities that pioneered it, it became a competitive sport.
As a sport, it is controversial for a variety of reasons. It is managed by the World Dancesport Federation, which has its roots in ballroom dancing. It took to the Olympic stage with little representation or voice from the black men and women who popularized it. Many of the top competitive breakers (often referred to as B-boys and B-girls) are Asian. Two of America's leading B-girls, Sunny Choi and Vicki Cheung, took jobs as executives at a cosmetics company and environmental consultants, respectively. They are far from their natural demographic.
But they're not trying to co-opt the culture. American breakers Choi and Victor Montalvo, who have already qualified for Paris, spoke here in New York about paying homage to the pioneers of the sport. They acknowledge the contradiction. But they're enthusiastic about Paris and the opportunity to break out to a wider audience while paying homage to its roots.
Oh, they're definitely cool.
The same goes for their sports. Despite its imperfections, it captivated the Youth Olympic Games when it was first held in 2018. With its music and unique personality, it's sure to be a hit this summer.
And then it goes away. So far, this is breaking's only Olympic moment. It is the only new sport in Paris. Then, in 2028, when the Olympics will be held in Los Angeles, his squash, cricket and flag will be replaced by football, lacrosse, baseball and softball.
