July 25th 2024.
Have you seen the recent clip from Paris featuring Team GB athletes? They were asked to choose between the World Cup and the Olympics, and their answers were quite passionate. One athlete, Sunni Brummitt, stood out as he sheepishly admitted to being a World Cup enthusiast. Despite his slight embarrassment, he couldn't help but express his love for the event. It was quite endearing to witness his unwavering devotion, even as he questioned whether it was the socially acceptable choice.
Personally, I couldn't pick one over the other. I love both the World Cup and the Olympics equally, just like I would love my future kids or my future pet whippets. But the athletes who were pro-Olympics had a point. The range of sports and the diversity of athletes all coming together in one event is what makes the Olympics so special.
Paris 2024 is officially starting tomorrow, but some competitions have already begun, such as rugby sevens, archery, handball, and football. We've even had the first proposal between athletes in the Olympic Village, and there have been some truly eye-opening scenes featuring creative uses of cardboard beds. The amount of cute, funny, and wacky videos circulating from Paris is overwhelming, and the opening ceremony hasn't even taken place yet.
Being here on the ground, I've realized that it's impossible to capture all the incredible stories that are a part of every minute of the Olympic Games. For the first couple of days, I was completely overwhelmed. My focus for the next three weeks is presenting the rowing and canoeing coverage, but even with that, I know I will miss some amazing moments.
As a newbie to the Olympics, I may be feeling this way, but it's also a testament to how much these athletes have put into their training and preparation for this slim window of time. I want to make sure that all of them get their moment to shine. I want everyone to know about the 36 members of the Refugee Team, the struggles of judoka Clarisse Agbegnenou to compete, and the special significance of badminton for El Salvador. And of course, I want to give the best possible send-off to athletes like Andy Murray.
But then, I remembered that this is what the Olympics is all about. You never know what you might discover in the midst of all the chaos. You might find a new favorite sport, like Greco-Roman wrestling or kayak cross, or you might find yourself streaming world championships on your birthday every year, trying to get your friends to join in on the excitement.
One athlete I am particularly rooting for is Helen Glover, the two-time Olympic champion and Team GB's flagbearer. In Paris, there is finally equal representation of men and women competing, and this also means that mothers are getting more support than ever before. This gives them a better chance to continue their careers in elite sports and show the world what is possible.
Helen has three kids now and returned to compete in Tokyo after giving birth to twins. She finished fourth, declared that she would never go near a boat again, and yet here she is, three years later, in a position to win her third gold medal exactly 12 years after her first. And the reason? Because she loves it! And with the support and flexibility from her team, she is able to continue doing what she loves. That, my friends, is what sports is all about.
I will be with Eurosport throughout the Games, starting with the Opening Ceremony tonight. You can watch live via the discovery+ app. And while we cheer on our favorite athletes, let's not forget the true spirit of the Olympics - coming together to celebrate the love of sports and the incredible stories that come with it.
On a side note, Olympic legend Sir Steve Redgrave expressed his shock over the recent scandal involving Charlotte Dujardin and horse-whipping. And Paula Radcliffe has issued an apology after wishing a convicted rapist luck at the Paris Olympics. Let's hope that the focus can remain on the athletes and their achievements during this exciting event.
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