If the first day at Paris 2024 is anything to go by, sports fans are in for quite a thrilling ride over the next couple of weeks, with both on- and off-field events proving as interesting as they were contoversial in many respects – and the Olympics aren’t even officially underway yet.
Day “minus two” saw the rugby sevens and men’s football get underway, with the latter seeing a pitch invasion, the stadium cleared, an injury-time equaliser ruled out and the final minutes played behind closed doors, culminating in Argentina losing to Morroco – and all that was after the Canada Women’s team had sent home two staff members for spying on a rival’s training session.
Away from the football, more reaction from Charlotte Dujardin’s fall from grace continued and now Paula Radcliffe has raised eyebrows by suggesting she wishes “the best of luck” to a convicted child rapist who is competing at the Games this month.
It’s quite the collection of incidents before the official opening ceremony even takes place – and on Thursday we’re bringing you the start of women’s football, more rugby sevens plus two sessions of archery and women’s handball getting underway. Follow the live blog below for all the latest news and updates from Paris:
10 players to define Olympic football at Paris 2024: Marta, Michael Olise and more
While the women have full international squads on show, men’s teams are generally an U23 event with up to three overage exceptions per squad – meaning a blend of some of the world’s best and the most exciting up-and-coming youngsters across the entirety of Olympic football this summer.
Here we’ve picked out ten players whose performances and selections could define the football memories and medals at Paris 2024.
Mike Jones26 July 2024 04:00
What does AIN mean at the Paris Olympics?
Russian and Belarusian entrants will instead compete under the AIN banner. Here is what it stands for and what you can expect to see if one of the individuals becomes an Olympic champion:
Mike Jones26 July 2024 03:00
Why are Russia and Belarus banned from the Paris Olympics?
You will note the absence of Russia and Belarus from the medal table over the next couple of weeks, even though there are athletes from both nations competing in Paris. Here’s why:
Mike Jones26 July 2024 02:00
Olympics pundits and commentators for BBC and Discovery+
Viewers in the United Kingdom will enjoy the insight of plenty of past Olympic greats with both Discovery+ and the BBC unveiling strong line-ups of presenters, commentators and pundits for Paris 2024.
Just like at the last Olympic Games in Tokyo, every moment from the French capital will be shown live on Warner Bros. Discovery’s streaming service with extensive television coverage on Eurosport’s television channels.
The BBC has also struck a deal with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) to continue to provide free-to-air coverage of the Games up to and including 2032.
Mike Jones26 July 2024 01:00
Katarina Johnson-Thompson: ‘France will always have a special place in my heart’
Mike Jones26 July 2024 00:00
Emma Hayes details Olympic-sized task for USA to regain standing as women’s football elite
Emma Hayes has grit and guile; the question remains will that be enough for gold. The former Chelsea coach was in combative mood as she put the final touches to the USA’s preparations for the Olympic women’s football tournament.
Expectation management is often the name of the game in these seemingly endless days before the Olympic flame actually ignites. Some like to beat their chest and talk themselves up, others – from the ‘no-one puts more pressure on me than me’ school of sports psychology – prefer to fly under the radar.
Hayes – as we’ve come to learn from her seven Women’s Super League titles – doesn’t overthink this stuff, she just tells it like is it.
Mike Jones25 July 2024 23:30
Eiffel Tower stadium wows Olympic beach volleyball players: ‘I got goosebumps’
One of the features of these Olympics will be the stunning city scenery on show, with a number of events taking place in the shadow of some of the most famous landmarks in Paris.
Mike Jones25 July 2024 23:00
Paris 2024 Olympics | Latest events and news
FIFA’s disciplinary committee has opened proceedings against Canada Soccer and several individuals, including head coach Bev Priestman, amid claims a drone was used to spy on Olympic rivals New Zealand.
Assistant coach Jasmine Mander and Joseph Lombardi, an unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer, have been sent home in connection with what the Canadian Olympic Committee has said it believes to be two separate instances of a drone being used to record Football Ferns training sessions.
Priestman, once the assistant to former Lionesses boss Phil Neville, has announced she will not take charge of the defending Olympic champions for Thursday’s New Zealand clash, their tournament opener, with ex-Everton manager Andy Spence filling in.
Mike Jones25 July 2024 22:45
Team GB announce flagbearers for Olympics opening ceremony
Tom Daley claims he couldn’t have a better partner as he prepares to take a primetime cruise down the River Seine in Friday night’s Olympic opening ceremony.
Daley and rower Helen Glover will carry the British flag as the Games get under way under the shadow of Paris’ world-famous postcard landmarks.
Mike Jones25 July 2024 22:30
Paula Radcliffe ‘mortified’ and issues apology for wishing child rapist luck at Olympic Games
Radcliffe was asked by Andrew Marr’s LBC programme about the decision to allow Van de Velde to compete. “I think that it is a very dangerous line to go down given that we allow people who cheat in sport and take drugs in sport to then come back and compete,” Radcliffe said in the interview.
Mike Jones25 July 2024 22:15