Paris 2024 Kicks Off, Here Are Some Events To Look Out For

 

Paris 2024 Olympics Games has officially begun. It was such an interesting the opening ceremony to watch and such a star-studded event that had sports icons like Zinedine Zidane, Rafael Nadal, and Serena Williams amongst touch-bearers. The memorable event also witnessed icon signer Celine Dion on the Eiffiel Tower where she performed the closing song for the opening ceremony. 

It has been100 years since Paris last hosted the Olympic Games, and this time, they are hosting the Games again and all athletes - about 10,500 of them - from all around the world are in Paris to fight for medals. There are loads of medal for grab for participants and it will interest you to know that the dominant countries have been United States, China, Japan and the Great Britain. Are dynamics of that going to change in Paris? Well, let's have a look at some of the events and athletes and their chances to win medal in their respective sports. 

As athletes prepare to get on to compete for medals with 329 gold medals up for grab amongst 205 team from their respective countries, it is yet another moment of their career to break and set new records. 

Athletics (Track and field)

This event is one of the most known and watched in Olympics, and since the era of athletes like Usain Bolt and Mo Farah is gone, countries like Jamaica, United States, Great Britain and reigning 100m champion, Italy are one of the favourites in the 100-meter. 

Amongst interesting sprinters to look out for is Jeremiah Azu and Dina Asher Smith for Great Britain, Noah Lyles and Sha'Carri Richardson, for Jamaican women's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. Nigeria is not left behind at the event with Tobi Amusan in 100-meter hurdles. She is currently the world record holder for 100-meter hurdles. 

Marcell Jacobs, the Tokyo 2020 100-meter gold medalist will be participating for Italy. As two-time gold medalist for later winning the 4x100 meter race for Italy at the Tokyo, Marcell is the man -to-beat. He will face other contenders like Britain's Jeremiah Azu and United States' Kenneth Bednarek

Swimming

Men and women will compete in 16 events that comprise four different strokes and span across a range of distances. The United States have dominated this to date this since 1992 and leading the country's team to the event is Katie Ledecky. She holds the women's 800-meter and 1500-meter records and on top of that, she holds the most medals in women's swimmer Olympic history. 

In the men's category, British swimmer Adam Peaty might be one to look out for in 50-meter and , Japan's Daia100-meter breaststroke. At the Tokyo 2020, the Briton lived up to his imppressive performance from the European Championship two-year before to win his first ever Olympic gold medal. Likewise, in this event are strong contenders like China's Jiajun Sun and Haiyang Qin, South Korea's D. Choi and Turkiye's Berkay Omer Ogretir. 

High Jump

Until the last summer Olympics in Tokyo, Qatar was an unfamiliar country making the podium for a medal but that changed with Mutaz Barshim who won the gold medal on points tied with Italian ace Gianmarco Tamberi. Both athletes shared the podium for the medal. In Paris, Barshim and Tamberi will be yet again at what they do best. 

Both men will be defending their medals in Paris and bear in mind that Barshim won his medal after Fares Elbakh won the first Olympic gold medal for Qatar. The 33-year-old will be participating in Paris for his fourth Olympic Games. 

Football

Like anyone would anticipate to go through the rounds, Argentina obliously would be on anyone's like. Unfortunately, that might have not been true to their opening game which they lost 2-1 to Morocco. In this tournament, you also have former champions or gold medal winners like Brazil, Mexico, and France. 

Diving

The flag bearer for Great Britain, Tom Daley will be returning to defend his medal at the event in Paris. He won the gold medal for 10m synchronized diving with Matty Lee at the Tokyo 2020. This event will be is fifth Olympics and that is the longest ever for any British diver. Another strong contender for diving is Daley's countryman, William Noah. 

Gymnastic

This is where the countries like China, Japan and the United States build up their medal-stock. In the men's category, Daiki Hashimoto is the man to beat in all the event. Currently, Daiki, then at age 19, became the youngest men's artistic gymnastics individual all-round champion in history. He will be returning to defend his medals alongside teammates like Shinnosuke Oka and Takaaki Sugino.