***Official 2024 Paris Olympics Thread***

[alpha_omega]

Watching the Olympics? Post about it here.
A quick intro....

2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony: Start time, TV channel, date, live stream, key athletes and events

The 2024 Olympic Games begin July 26 and will be televised on NBC through Aug. 11

It's the time once again. It's time for the best athletes in the world to come together and crown champions in their various sports. The 2024 Olympic Games are set to begin this week in Paris as the world descends upon France. While there will be some qualifying events taking place earlier in the week, things officially kick off on Friday with the Opening Ceremony.

The Opening Ceremony is scheduled for Friday and feature several firsts, including being the first ceremony to be held outside of a stadium, as well as a parade of athletes held on the Seine River with boats for each national delegation. The boats will travel along a 3.7-mile stretch, passing by many iconic Parisian landmarks along the way. The ceremony will conclude with remarks from French President Emmanuel Macron.

Expect another gold-filled summer for the Americans as Team USA will be represented in just about every event over the course of the Games. Some of the biggest stars are back, including gymnast Simone Biles, decorated swimmers Katie Ledecky and Caleb Dressel, as well as track athletes Noah Lyles and Sha'carri Richardson. Plus, the men's and women's basketball teams look to extend their dominant runs at the games with more gold.

There will be two flag bearers for the United States when the team takes the boat down the Seine River -- LeBron James and tennis star Coco Gauff. The 2023 US Open champion was stunned by the news when it was revealed to her on Wednesday.

"I never thought in a million years I would have the honour of carrying the American flag for Team USA in the opening ceremony," Gauff said in a statement.

"I could not be more proud to lead my teammates with LeBron as we showcase our dedication and passion on the biggest stage there is."

Here's how to watch the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony and highlights from the first week of competition.

How to watch the 2024 Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony
Time: Noon ET | Date: Friday, July 26
Location: The Seine River and Trocadero -- Paris
TV channel: NBC | Streaming: Peacock, NBCOlympics.com

Week 1 Highlights
All times Eastern. A full schedule of events can be found here.

Saturday, July 27
5x5 Basketball -- Men's Group Phase
Group A: Spain vs. Australia -- 5 a.m.
Group B: Germany vs. Japan -- 7 a.m.
Swimming Heats, 5 a.m.
Women's 100m Butterfly
Women's 400m Freestyle
Men's 100m Breaststroke
Men's 400m Freestyle
Women's 4x100m Freestyle Relay
Men's 4x100m Freestyle Relay
Volleyball: United States vs. Argentina (Prelim. Round, Pool C) -- 3 p.m.

Sunday, July 28
Gymnastics: Women's Qualification (Subdivision 1) -- 3:30 a.m.
5x5 Basketball: United States vs. Serbia (Men's Group Phase, Group C) -- 11:15 a.m.
Beach Volleyball: United States vs. Czech Republic (Women's Prelim. Phase) -- 4 p.m.
Football: United States vs. Germany (Women's Group B, #9) -- 3 p.m.

Monday, July 29
Beach Volleyball: United States vs. France (Men's Prelim. Phase, Pool F) -- 10 a.m.
Swimming Finals:
Women's 400m Individual Medley -- 2:30 p.m.
Men's 200m Freestyle -- 2:40 p.m.
5x5 Basketball: United States vs. Japan (Women's Group Phase, Group C) -- 3 p.m.

Tuesday, July 30
5x5 Basketball: Spain vs. Greece (Men's Group Phase, Group A) -- 5 a.m.
Swimming Heats -- 5 a.m.
Men's 200m Butterfly
Men's 100m Freestyle
Women's 1500m Freestyle
Women's 100m Freestyle
Men's 200m Breaststroke
Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay
3x3 Basketball: United States vs. Germany (Women's Pool Round) -- 11:30 a.m.
Swimming: Men's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final -- 4:01 p.m.

Wednesday, July 31
Swimming Heats -- 5 a.m.
Women's 200m Backstroke
Men's 200m Backstroke
Women's 200m Butterfly
Beach Volleyball: United States vs. France (Women's Prelim. Phase, Pool C) -- 9 a.m.
Football: United States vs. Australia (Women's Group B, #15) -- 1 p.m.
Swimming Finals
Women's 100m Freestyle Final -- 2:30 p.m.
Men's 200m Butterfly Final -- 2:36 p.m.

Thursday, Aug. 1
3x3 Basketball: United States vs. Australia (Women's Pool Round) -- 7 a.m.
Swimming Finals:
Women's 200m Butterfly Final -- 2:30 p.m.
200m Backstroke Final -- 2:37 p.m.
Women's 4x200m Freestyle Relay Final -- 3:49 p.m.
Beach Volleyball: United States vs. China (Women's Prelim. Phase, Pool B) -- 4 p.m.

Friday, Aug. 2
Swimming Heats -- 5 a.m.
Men's 100m Butterfly
Women's 200m Individual Medley
Women's 800m Freestyle
Mixed 4x100m Medley Relay
Track and Field:
Men's 1500m Round 1 -- 5:05 a.m.
Women's 100m Round 1 -- 5:50 a.m.
Women's 5000m Round 1 -- 12:10 p.m.
Women's 800m Round 1 -- 1:45 p.m
Volleyball: United States vs. Japan (Men's Prelim. Round, Group C), 3 p.m.

Saturday, Aug. 3
Track and Field:
Men's 100m Preliminary Round -- 4:35 a.m.
Men's 100m Round 1 -- 5:45 a.m.
Women's 4x400m Relay Mixed Final -- 2:55 p.m.
Women's 100m Final -- 3:20 p.m.
Artistic Gymnastics: Men's Pommel Horse Final -- 11:16 a.m.
Swimming: Men's 100m Butterfly Final -- 2:30 p.m.

https://www.cbssports.com/olympics/n...es-and-events/

[Gary Cooper]

Originally Posted by alpha_omega

Saw it was on, but no time to sit and watch.

I don't recall it from the last Olympics, but at a quick glance it looks like a fun sport to watch.

I'd hate to be a goalie in that sport. Seems like a constant onslaught and tons of goals scored.

[George Liquor]

Rugby is pretty sweet actually

[alpha_omega]

Wait, what??? Breaking???

[AndChiefs]

Originally Posted by dlphg9

I can't wait to watch Simone Biles dominate. It's amazing how long she's been doing this.

She lives in my neighborhood. Haven’t run into her personally but those who have say she’s always been very nice.

[dlphg9]

Anyone been keeping up with the water debacle?

****ing French idiots. Gotta feel bad for the open water swimmers.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...e/74274068007/

"Swimming in the Seine has largely been banned since 1923, but Paris Olympics organizers vowed to clean the water and bring it to safe swimming standards, including investing $1.5 billion toward the effort, the Associated Press reported last year."

"However, as of mid-June, the Seine still contained high amounts of fecal bacteria, including E. coli, making it unsafe to swim in, according to a June 21 report published by the Paris region and Mayor Anne Hidalgo’s office."

Seine water still isn't safe for swimmers, frustrating U.S. Olympians
Michelle R. Martinelli
USA TODAY






First-time Olympian Ivan Puskovitch is asked some version of the same question all the time: Are you concerned about swimming in the Seine River given all the bacteria in the water?

The 23-year-old American open-water swimmer is one of many marathon swimmers and triathletes preparing to swim in the Paris river during the 2024 Olympics. That is, if it’s clean enough, as doubts about the water quality continue less than a month before the Games.

“My biggest concern, honestly, is just whether the race is going to be held or not,” Puskovitch said at U.S. Olympic swimming trials (in the pool) last month.

“Obviously, health and safety has to come first. It's pretty disappointing that the Olympic organizers have really not locked in cleaning this venue up as far in advance as they should have, to the point where now the whole world is questioning whether it's going to happen in time.”

This is a more recent article.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sport...e/74444140007/

"But as of July 12, the water quality met safety standards for at least 10 of the previous 12 days, Agence France-Presse reported, leaving hope for the triathlon beginning July 30 and marathon swimming starting Aug. 8."

[Pepe Silvia]

I haven't enjoyed an Olympics since London, hopefully this is better than the last two.

[POND_OF_RED]

Looks like the Canadian women’s soccer team got caught up in a spy-gate scandal using a drone to record practices. Coach was sent home, but a lot of people are calling for them to be disqualified now that they’re finding this is repeat behavior that both their men’s and women’s team have been using for years now. Report showed the men’s team tried to record the USA team before a 4-1 defeat in 2019. Imagine recording a closed practice session and still getting your ass kicked. Canada is such an embarrassment to North America

[ping2000]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

Looks like the Canadian women’s soccer team got caught up in a spy-gate scandal using a drone to record practices. Coach was sent home, but a lot of people are calling for them to be disqualified now that they’re finding this is repeat behavior that both their men’s and women’s team have been using for years now. Report showed the men’s team tried to record the USA team before a 4-1 defeat in 2019. Imagine recording a closed practice session and still getting your ass kicked. Canada is such an embarrassment to North America

We should just annex Canada and rename it "North Lumber Depot""

Sent from my SM-S901U using Tapatalk

[KC_Connection]

Feeling Regal. ��@TeamUSA x #OpeningCeremony pic.twitter.com/txhqpXx9t6

— USA Basketball (@usabasketball) July 26, 2024

[KC_Connection]

Originally Posted by POND_OF_RED

Looks like the Canadian women’s soccer team got caught up in a spy-gate scandal using a drone to record practices. Coach was sent home, but a lot of people are calling for them to be disqualified now that they’re finding this is repeat behavior that both their men’s and women’s team have been using for years now. Report showed the men’s team tried to record the USA team before a 4-1 defeat in 2019. Imagine recording a closed practice session and still getting your ass kicked. Canada is such an embarrassment to North America

I honestly have even more respect for Canada Soccer now that I know they're looking for ways to cheat like the rest of the soccer powers do. Another sign of our growth as a soccer nation.

[alpha_omega]

Boats? Strangest opening ceremony I've seen.

[alpha_omega]

Each country doesn't even get it's own boat? WTH?

[arrowheadnation]

This opening ceremony is odd to say the least.

[WhawhaWhat]

Has Gojira played yet?

[WhawhaWhat]

There they are. Badass.