Where do German gold hopes slumber?
*Approximately 11,000 Athletes and Athletes from 206 countries, including the Refugee Team, are competing in 32 sports for Gold, Silver, and Bronze. A total of 329 decisions will be made. Some team sports, such as archery, footballers and footballers, and rugby players, started competing two days before the official start on this Friday. The last competition day is August 11.
What's at stake?
Fewer than ten gold medals in 2019 resulted in a disappointing ninth place in the medal standings - the worst result since reunification. For comparison, there were still 17 Olympic victories in 2016. The hope is that with a similar sized squad (470 German athletes and athletes) as in Atlanta 1996 (465), it will go uphill again. The prospects are particularly bright in team sports, such as basketball and handball, or hockey and volleyball, due to the many qualified German teams.
Leo Neugebauer, who holds the German record in the decathlon, is considered a promising gold candidate, while Malaika Mihambo would like to defend her Olympic title in the long jump, and Spear thrower Julian Weber also has chances among the track and field athletes. Medals are also expected from the riders around Dressage double Olympic champion Jessica von Bredow-Werndl and three-time Olympic champion in eventing, Michael Jung, as well as from the rowers with Oliver Zeidler and the canoeists. In team sports, besides the two hockey teams, basketball is also dreaming of a coup - just like the women's football team. Alexander Zverev would like to take home his second gold medal, as would swimmer Florian Wellbrock. Lukas Mertens, Angelina Koeler, and Leonie Beck also have a good chance of swimming medals.
Who are the biggest stars of the Games?
The US basketball team is traveling with an impressive lineup of international stars. LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant are aiming for gold. The tennis stars Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are determined to prevent Alexander Zverev from repeating his triumph from the Tokyo Olympics. Exceptional gymnast Simone Biles from the USA, marathon icon Eliud Kipchoge from Kenya, US sprint star Noah Lyles, or American swimmer Katie Ledecky also have great star potential. Football legend Marta is still participating with the Brazilian women, and German table tennis veteran Timo Boll is particularly popular in China.
Which sports are new?
Medals will be awarded for the first time in breakdance, where so-called B-Boys and B-Girls face off in dance battles. New are also the disciplines of kitesurfing in sailing and the marathon relay in race walking. In sport climbing, the combination competition now consists only of bouldering and lead, while speed becomes a separate discipline. A new weight class for women's boxing, extreme kayak, and a mixed event in shooting are also being introduced. Baseball, 50 km race walking, or karate are no longer part of the program. In weightlifting, there will be fewer events.
Where are the competitions taking place?*
In the vast majority of competition venues, the events take place in the Paris region, some in picturesque settings. Beach volleyball is played in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, while horse riding and modern pentathlon athletes are required in the gardens of Château de Versailles. Handball and basketball players complete parts of their competitions in a converted stadium in Lille, while the Olympic football tournament takes place throughout the country, from Nice to Nantes. And surfing is contested "on the other end of the world" in French Polynesia, 16,000 kilometers away from Paris.
Are Russians allowed to participate?
Russians and Belarusians are allowed to compete under a neutral flag due to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine. Their national anthem will not be played, and national symbols and flags are forbidden for them. Teams remain banned. However, Ukrainians and Russians may face each other in competitions, which would undoubtedly politicize the Games. For approval, Russian athletes must have no connection to the military and security services and have not actively supported the war in Ukraine. The International Olympic Committee has established a three-member commission to review the eligibility conditions. Few athletes from both countries have received the Paris start permit.
However, just before the start of the Games, the human rights organization Global Rights Compliance reported that 10 of the 15 athletes declared as "neutral" from Russia had violated the IOC regulations: They had supported the attack on Ukraine or were connected to the military. Despite "clear evidence of violations," the IOC did not act in accordance with its own rules and invited tennis players, cyclists, canoeists, trampoline gymnasts, and swimmers, according to the lawyers of Global Rights Compliance.
What is the security situation like?
The terrorist threat in France remains "extremely high," as confirmed by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. France raised the highest terror alert level in March. At the end of May, investigators thwarted plans for an Islamic terrorist attack on a football match during the Olympics. Arrests related to possible terrorist plans had occurred as early as the beginning of July. Approximately 70,000 security forces will be deployed around Olympia, including around 35,000 police officers and 15,000 soldiers. Other countries, such as Germany, are also sending personnel to France.
The opening ceremony poses particular challenges for the authorities this time. The Games will not be opened in a stadium but in the city center along the Seine. In general, the Games mean significant restrictions for the residents, as many streets can only be passed with permits. With the victory of the new Left Alliance in the elections, at least the fear of persistent riots and unrest in France during the Olympic Games has subsided.
Which TV broadcasters and livestreams will show the competitions?
The French broadcaster France Télévisions and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) will broadcast the majority of the competitions. In addition, various other international broadcasters, such as the BBC, NBC, and Eurosport, will cover the events. Many competitions can also be followed via livestream on the respective sports federations' websites or the Eurosport Player platform. The IOC's broadcasting partner, Discovery, will also offer a comprehensive livestream package for the Games on its Eurosport and Discovery+ platforms.
The Summer Games will be aired on ARD, ZDF, and Eurosport. The Second Channel starts on July 25th with the first broadcast day of the Women's Football Tournament. The ARD will be broadcasting the Opening Ceremony on a Friday and the first Competition Day on a Saturday. The two channels will then alternate daily and together offer 240 hours of their main programs, with broadcasts starting at 7.30 am and ending at midnight. In the media libraries of the broadcasters, the program is even greater: They show nearly 1500 hours of Olympics on up to ten parallel live streams. Eurosport promises a 24-hour program. The cost-effective streaming platform Discovery+ shows over 3800 hours of live sports with all 329 medal decision moments.
Is there still tickets available for the Games?
Consumer protection warns impulsive buyers cautiously against buying tickets directly from individuals, as fraudsters would try to make money. Tickets should only be purchased exclusively on the official Olympic sales website or on the official resale website. On this platform, tickets that have already been bought can be resold to interested parties since mid-May. For many competitions, the tickets are already largely or completely sold out. Therefore, in addition to the necessary money, those who still want to be in France need luck. The cheapest entry tickets for qualifying competitions were originally priced at 24 Euros, while the most expensive tickets were estimated at 980 Euros per person.
The Olympic Games 2024 in Paris are a source of concern due to the ongoing high terrorist threat in France, as stated by Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin. Despite this, LeBron James and the US basketball team are looking forward to competing, aiming for gold in Paris. The Russia-Ukraine conflict has led to Russian and Belarusian athletes participating under a neutral flag, as they are not allowed to represent their countries due to Russia's military aggression against Ukraine.
