The 2024 Olympics begins today with the rugby sevens and football competitions ahead of a unique opening ceremony on Friday night along the River Seine.
In total, 16 days of action will take place after the ceremony, with triumphant athletes on the podium to be handed medals made out of fragments of an iconic Paris landmark: the Eiffel Tower.
Team GB are taking more than 300 athletes to the Games but Charlotte Dujardin, a six-time Olympic medallist, has pulled out of all competition while the International Federation for Equestrian Sports (FEI) investigates a video from four years ago showing her making “an error of judgement” during a coaching session.
“What happened was completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils, however there is no excuse,” she said in a statement. “I am deeply ashamed and should have set a better example in that moment.”
Elsewhere, though, there are huge hopes for GB to improve on their 22-gold haul from three years ago in Tokyo, particularly with a rich talent body in athletics. Follow the latest news and build-up to the Paris 2024 Olympics below.
UK Sport sets high Team GB medal target for Paris Olympics
Great Britain stand a strong chance of landing a record post-War Olympic haul in Paris, according to UK Sport’s director of performance, Dr Kate Baker.
The elite sports funding agency has set a target range of between 50 and 70 medals for the impending Games, despite Team GB being set to field its smallest team since 2008.
Mike Jones25 July 2024 01:00
Olympics 2024: How much money do athletes win for gold, silver and bronze?
World Athletics is the first international governing body to award prize money at the Olympic Games as it rewards gold medal winners at Paris 2024.
The governing body has confirmed that it would provide a total prize pot of $2.4m (£1.9m) in the capital of France, with gold medallists receiving $50,000 (£39,400) and relay quartets splitting the reward.
Mike Jones25 July 2024 00:00
French Alps set to host 2030 Winter Olympics
France was conditionally picked as the host of the 2030 Winter Games on Wednesday and must now deliver key financial guarantees in a timeline to be set by the International Olympic Committee, the IOC said.
The French Alps bid was the IOC’s preferred choice since June but due to elections and a current caretaker government had been unable to deliver the necessary state and regional financial guarantees in time.
Bids from Salt Lake City, Switzerland and Stockholm were also in the running, but back-to-back Winter Olympics are now set to be held in Europe with preparations well under way for Milano Cortina 2026.
Mike Jones24 July 2024 23:30
Matt Richards: Swimming is different, it’s a life-saving skill
Team GB’s prospects in the pool look promising, too. Among their many medal contenders is Matt Richards, who has a relay gold in his pocket from Tokyo but now seeks individual success. Jack Rathborn went to meet the freestyler:
Mike Jones24 July 2024 23:00
From civil war to Olympic favourites: Inside Team GB’s remarkable rowing transformation
Now Great Britain look favourites to top the medal table on the water in Vaire-sur-Marne. Tom Harle details how they’ve engineered a remarkable turnaround.
Mike Jones24 July 2024 22:30
Men’s Soccer: Disappointment for Team USA after lengthy hiatus from games
It’s done, and team US will not be pleased.
After 16 years out of the games, the side suffered a resounding 3-0 loss to the host nations on Wednesday night after a late goal in extra-time was ruled offside by VAR.
The USA will next appear against New Zealand on Saturday.
Mike Bedigan24 July 2024 22:01
The Chinese swimming doping scandal casting doubt at the Paris Olympics
The story, reported by the New York Times and German news organization ARD, surrounds 23 Chinese swimmers, 11 of whom will compete at the Paris Olympics, testing positive for the heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) during a training camp seven months out from the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.
Mike Jones24 July 2024 22:00
Men’s Soccer: Bade makes it three for France
French defender Loic Bade makes it three for the Olympic hosts after heading home the ball following a corner kick taken by Joris Chotard.
With 90 mins played, it may well be over for team USA this time, though there are still eight minutes of stoppage time to play…
Mike Bedigan24 July 2024 21:49
Men’s Soccer: Another for France!
Oh dear, not looking good for the USA in their first Olympics Soccer game in 16 years…
Another superb strike, this time from Michael Olise, finds the back fo the net making it 2-0 to the host nation.
Olise’ left-footed shot from outside the box found the bottom left corner after being set up by captain Lacazette.
Mike Bedigan24 July 2024 21:31
Olympics pundits and commentators for BBC and Discovery+
With live action getting underway today, here’s your reminder of the faces you can expect to see on your telly boxes in the United Kingdom over the next three weeks or so.
Mike Jones24 July 2024 21:30
