Olympic Games Paris 2024 - AH Thread

Yeah It's to allow proper rest between games. Rugby 7s starting early because it's in stade de france which is hosting athletics so needs to be played early

Looking forward to this.

Love the Olympics, irrespective of whether Ireland has any chance of winning anything.

Particular interest in the track cycling, swimming , rowing, canoeing and athletics.

That Kennedy guy is crazy fast.

Amazing it hasn't even taken 1 page for one to come out of the woodwork.

Yeah, I hear what you're saying, but who wouldn't be interested in watching breakdancing at an Olympic level.

Anyway, have to say I love the Olympics. I used to think the WC was the greatest sporting event, but it was Rio in 2016 that made me change my mind.

It was on late at night, which worked out perfectly with my shift work at the time and I watched piles and piles of it most nights - more than any of the Olympics up to that point.

And the variety of it all and the prolonged and abundant excellence of it all... ah, yeah: you have to hand it to the Olympics. Even if, yes, I did watch some of that video posted above and, yes, it makes some entirely fair criticisms of the whole thing.

The completely unexpected surprise of in '16 watching in real time as Thomas Barr won his semi final in the hurdles is one of my personal favourite ever sporting moments witnessed. I vividly remember my stream of thoughts at the time:

"My god there's an Irish lad in this, fair play to him, hope he doesn't finish last... Jesus, he's doing okay, you know... Jesus he's doing well! Fcking hell he's going to win this!..."

Have to say, like the last one, I'll miss the presence of Jerry Kiernan on RTE. One of those faces you only saw at the time of major tournaments, providing analysis. He was a real character.

Seems to be a lot of Irish medal hope this time around.

Yeah, I hear what you're saying, but who wouldn't be interested in watching breakdancing at an Olympic level.

Those people who see it as an Art form, not as a sport? Though in saying that, I understand why it’s at the Paris Olympics this time round (it’s not going to be in the LA 2028 Olympics) - because it’s huge In countries like France as well as the countries previously mentioned. It’s cheap, and it breaks down (oh God I didn’t mean that 😂) all sorts of cultural and social barriers:

https://www.cntraveler.com/story/hip-hop-breakdancing-in-paris-france

That’s why the IOC sees it as appealing to a more youthful audience, because it does, and the fact that it’s been around since the 80s is only testament to its legacy. I still wouldn’t regard it as a sport, but fcuk it, it’s great that it’s getting exposure on a global platform. Reminds me of Americans who refer to Irish dancing as a sport, and I’m just like “Meh, whatever 😒”

In all honesty I wouldn’t be following any particular event, I do like the gymnastics and diving events, equestrian events too even though horses terrify the living shyte out of me 😂

Speaking of which, I’m glad the dirty protest in the Seine didn’t happen after, just very unsportsmanlike; the competitors already have enough to contend with:

Among them is a slightly nervous Daniel Wiffen, a world record holder who is set to compete in the Seine, representing Ireland. Paris will be the 23-year-old’s first “big race” in open waters, and he is worried about the water quality. “It’s a big issue,” he says. Ideally, he’d like to take a trial run in the Seine to better understand the currents, and he’s been asking fellow athletes whether they think it’s worth the gamble. “Do you risk two days before your race, getting in the Seine and getting ill the day before your race?” he says.

https://www.wired.com/story/paris-mayor-defies-poo-threats-to-swim-in-seine-and-prove-a-point/

I thought Football wasn't a FIFA designated event which is why the clubs don't have to release players. They're opening up proceeding against Canada for spying.

Not a hope i'll be watchng any of this on RTE. They showed how useless they were with the EUROS. I'll stick to the BBC.

Big fan of Athletics and watch the Diamond league each events so have some insight as to who to look out for. No doubt RTE will big up Rashida for Gold but she can probably only hope for Bronze at best. The relay teams can forget about any medals. The European Championships although great for the Irish was a sub-par event, obviously missing the big guns from America and with a lot of other countries not having their "A" team involved.

For those in to perving at the ladies, you can keep an eye out for the womens Pole Vault comp. Plenty of cheek on show if that's your fancy

This is your friend for the duration

Absolutely BBC all the way for me. Their commentators and pundits are streets ahead of the poor showing on RTE.

For those wondering about how the Brits will do, well in Athletics they only have less than a handful of real gold hopes. Molly Caudery (Pole Vault) Keely Hodgkinson, Matthew Hudson Smith, Josh Kerr have live chances for Gold. After that they don't have huge amount of depth.

Their relay teams might medal (Bronze at best) Dina Asher Smith their only real hope in the 100/200 should not medal based on who is quicker this year.

They have no real men in the sprints likely to medal also.

Expect the Africans to dominate the long distance as per usual and the Americans to be very strong.

Look out for Valerie Allman from the States in the Discuss, she's an ex-dancer, is a cert to win gold and is an absolutle speciman of a lady