By Alexa Martinez Aguilar
The Olympics and Paralympic Games will be returning this year hosted in Paris, France. This will be the third time the games have been held in Paris. Over 100 different countries will be competing in winning for gold, silver, and bronze medals.
There has been a special change with this year’s medals. Each medal will contain a piece that was once of the Eiffel Tower, a symbol of France.
“What’s impactful for this year will be having a part of the original Eiffel Tower metal, the iron, in these various medals, and so this is what we wanted to do, to infuse all these 2024 athletes with that metal.” states Tony Estanguet, President of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee.
The Olympics Advisory Group has planned the opening ceremony to be set not only in a stadium, but to sail athletes on a parade of boats across the Seine River shining a view of the Eiffel Tower. After the parade, viewers and spectators will see the lighting of the cauldron with the Olympic Torch to officially begin the games and two weeks later to be extinguished. The Summer Olympics will be held from July 26th to August 11th, 2024.
The Olympics have announced around 10,000 athletes will be competing in several areas of sports. Sports like Beach volleyball, wrestling, fencing, skateboarding, and basketball will be played near famous landmarks such as Les Yvelines, Hôtel de Ville, Trocadéro, and Place de la Concorde. While some games like water polo, hockey, climbing, and rowing will be required to play outside of the capital of France. The Olympics Committee has added a new sport making its full debut called “Breaking” known as Breakdancing after the rise of popularity at the Summer Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires 2018. Breakdancing originated from New York during the 1970’s. African Americans and Latinos began to increase the popularity of the dance competing in dance battles out in public. Breaking will be split into two events, where 16 B-Boys and 16 G-Girls will compete in solo battles showing off their impressive and cool moves.
The cauldron will be rekindled and celebrated with a new flame at the opening ceremony of The Paralympic Games on August 28, 2024. Over 4,000 Paralympians will play 20 different types of sports, raising awareness for individuals with disabilities and giving them a chance to shine and show off their extraordinary athletic abilities. It has been said to be among the largest sporting events in the world.
Many viewers at home are expressing how excited they are to see the games over summer break.
“After seeing the last Olympic games, I’ve been motivated to start playing soccer again.” Rachel Najera (‘25) said.
Some others are excited to see their favorite athlete again.
“I heard that Simone Biles will be competing again this year, she’s my favorite athlete.” Natalie Sandoval (‘25) said.
The Olympics and Paralympics are genuinely inspiring and fascinating games that show nations around the world their amazing skills and sportsmanship. This will truly be one of the most watched and awaited sporting events to see this summer.