With five months to go until the opening ceremony of this year's Olympic Games, there are already plenty of interesting facts about the most important sporting event of the year.
- This year's Olympic Games will run from 26 July to 26 August.
- The 2024 Olympics is also a centenary celebration.
- Pieces of the Eiffel Tower have been used for the Olympic medals.
The 33rd Summer Olympics will once again be held in Europe (except for one sport, but more on that below), with the French capital hosting the most important event of the year. Budapest was one of the cities that applied to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), but Hungary withdrew in 2017. In summer 2017, the 2024 and 2028 Summer Olympics were announced to be held simultaneously, with the former in Paris and the latter in Los Angeles.
1. They have the Eiffel Tower in their sights
Those who finish on the podium at the 2024 Olympic Games will receive a very special medal. The medal is made from the iron pieces that were replaced when the tower was renovated. Paris' iconic building is known around the world and the organisers wanted the best Olympians to take a piece of Paris home with them. The precious pieces of iron used to make the medals were hidden in a warehouse whose location was never revealed, and now adorn the medals.
Pieces of the Eiffel Tower were also used for the pendants (Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
2. One of the venues for the Olympics: Tahiti
If you're not already thinking about going competitive, you should know that although Paris is officially hosting the Olympics, qualified surfers will be able to test their skills in Tahiti, a French overseas territory.
3. Instead of a mascot...
In most Olympics, an animal is chosen as the mascot for the world competition, but this year, French cockade red plush hats will be available everywhere. Specifically, a plush cap moulded from a Frisian cap, bearing a tricolour. The cockade is as well-known a French symbol as the Eiffel Tower, so it's no wonder that it's also featured on the little figurines.
The Paris Olympics mascot (Photo: Daniel Karmann/Getty Images)
4. Would you buy a ticket to the Olympics?
Tickets for the 2024 Summer Olympics have been on sale for a long time. But buying tickets is not so easy, there are several steps, first of course you have to register, and the rest of the steps to buy tickets are here.
5. Paris moves with the times
In the spirit of sustainability, this will be the first Summer Olympic venue to be held in 95% of old, existing buildings. Stages, platforms and podiums - temporary structures - will be recycled.
6.Long live grassroots sport!
For the first time in the history of the Olympic Games, there will be a mass run in the marathon. Open to all, this time the route will be open not only to competitive athletes but also to keen amateurs - and if it happens, it will be an emotional race. The organisers wanted the race to be a symbol of freedom, with no strings attached.
7. Focus on history and freedom
And speaking of marathons and freedom, there will be a very special route for this year's marathon at the Summer Olympics. In any world competition, it is important for competitors and spectators alike to get to know the culture, the city and the history of the host country. In Paris, the historic sites overlap, but the organisers are adding to this by taking runners through several points of the Great French Revolution of 1789. A key moment in the revolution was the 'Women's March', during which the women of Paris marched from Paris to Versailles because of hunger and food shortages. The organisers want to pay tribute to the women by including part of the route of the march in the distance of the race.
8. Dancing skills will be appreciated
The 2024 Olympic Games will be the first time the world's top break dancers will be able to test their skills. Dance and sport, which requires serious physical fitness, sparked controversy at the IOC, but was finally accepted by the commission as an Olympic sport in 2020. The spectacular show will take place at the Place de la Concorde in Paris, where thousands of spectators will watch the dancers perform.
Featured image: olympics.com
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