Paris Olympics 2024: 5 coolest facts you need to know about the games
As the global sporting event unfolds on Saturday, here are some of the coolest facts you might not know about the 2024 Paris Olympics.
The Paris Olympics 2024 has commenced with grand celebrations, featuring over 6,000 athletes from around 205 countries. Despite heavy rainfall, the opening ceremony on Friday was a breathtaking spectacle as athletes sailed down the Seine River on boats. Expected to be the largest Olympic event in history, it aims to captivate an audience of 1.5 billion viewers worldwide.
As the global sporting event unfolds on Saturday, here are some of the coolest facts you might not know about the 2024 Paris Olympics:
1. Medalists to receive piece of Eiffel Tower
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In a unique tribute to the host city, medalists at the Paris Olympics will receive medals embedded with an original fragment of the Eiffel Tower. These exceptional medals, designed by the French jewellery house Chaumet, incorporate three special French elements: a hexagon, radiance, and the setting.
The hexagon symbolises the shape of France and contains iron fragments from the Eiffel Tower, preserved from renovations in the 20th century. The medals¡¯ outer part sparkles with 3D rays, representing the radiance of France and the athletes.
Inspired by the Eiffel Tower¡¯s rivets, the claw setting connects the hexagon to the medal. Additionally, Paralympic medals feature Braille inscriptions in honour of Louis Braille. A total of 5,084 medals have been created, each containing 18 grams of Eiffel Tower iron.
2. 48 Olympians to compete 10,000 miles from Paris
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In an unprecedented move, the 48 best surfers in the world will compete nearly 10,000 miles from the heart of the 2024 Paris Olympics. The chosen location for the Olympic surfing competition is Teahupo¡¯o in Tahiti, known for its thrilling and formidable surf breaks.
Located in French Polynesia, Teahupo¡¯o was selected over several mainland France locations due to its powerful waves, gaining overwhelming support from the surfing community.
The competition, taking place from July 27 to August 5, will see officials monitor surf conditions to select a four-day period with the best waves. This marks the longest distance in history between an Olympic event and the host city, with 9,765 miles separating Tahiti from Paris.
3. A historic leap to gender parity in Olympic sports
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The 2024 Paris Olympics will make history by achieving full gender parity across all 32 Olympic sports. This milestone signifies a century-long progression towards equal representation of women in the Games. With 5,250 slots allocated to each sex, the Paris Olympics sets a new standard for inclusivity and equality in international sports.
4. History behind official mascots of the Paris 2024 Olympic
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The official mascots of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Phryges, are inspired by the traditional Phrygian hats, a symbol of freedom in French culture.
These bright red caps, adorned with a French tricolour trim, embody the rich history and values of France. The Olympic Phryge mirrors the traditional hat, while the Paralympic Phryge features a jumping blade, representing Paralympic athletes.
Historically, the Phrygian cap has symbolised the French fight for freedom, celebrated on Bastille Day, and it encapsulates the French values of Libert¨¦, Egalit¨¦, Fraternit¨¦. The Phryges continue this legacy as the mascots for the 2024 Games.
5. A new sport that involves dancing
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Breaking, a new sport, will debut at the Paris 2024 Olympics, with events scheduled for 9 and 10 August at La Concorde Urban Park. This dynamic sport features solo battles in two events¡ªone for men and one for women.
Sixteen B-Boys and sixteen B-Girls will compete, showcasing their best moves to the DJ¡¯s tracks.
Also Read: Paris Olympics 2024: Oops! The Olympic flag was raised upside down at opening ceremony
Power moves like windmills, the 6-step, and freezes will be on full display. Judges will determine the winners, crowning the first breaking medallists in Olympic history.
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