The first post-pandemic Olympics are finally in sight

PARIS – In exactly one month, the planet’s most talented athletes will float down the Seine in Paris to celebrate the first Olympic Games since a global pandemic halted consecutive Games.

The opening ceremonies of the Summer Olympics, scheduled for July 26, will mark Paris’ open door to millions of fans and thousands of athletes’ loved ones after being virtually excluded from Tokyo in the summer of 2021 and Beijing in the winter. 2022.

There were no fans in the stands in Tokyo when the Olympic Games were held, a year after the global economy closed due to Covid-19.

While one handful of spectators were allowed to participate in the Winter Games a year later, the competitions were largely kept in bubbles.

When 14-year-old Canadian Summer McIntosh jumped into the pool three years ago, her family was more than 6,000 miles away.

“Tokyo, at the time we were very grateful for the Games. We still have a lot of fun watching on TV and rooting for the entire Canadian team,” said his mother, a former Canadian Olympic swimmer Jill McIntoshwho will be in Paris supporting in person.

“But then you look back and think, ‘Well, it sucked that I couldn’t be there in person.’ So for Paris, we’re really, really excited about that. It will be a super fun experience to be there in person.”

Paris is already being transformed

Paris’ most iconic locations have been transformed into venues.

Place de la Concorde is closed and a series of stands surround the world-famous obelisk. The historic venue will host modern sports such as smashskateboard and BMX Cycling.

The Champs-Élysées – between Place de la Concorde and the Arc de Triomphe – is partially closed now, and will be fully closed for the Games, allowing tourists to walk without fear of the notorious Parisian traffic.

“I love seeing all the stands, the Seine, the Eiffel Tower — it’s really cool,” said Michelle Los Banos, 45, a civil servant from Washington, D.C., as she passed by Place of Concordia Square on the Champs-Élysées. “You never get the chance to be on the Champs Élysées without cars; it’s incredible.”

The US hopes to have the fastest man in the world

Although pedestrians will be able to navigate the busy streets, American sprinter Noah Lyles will aim for a fast 100-meter track to gold.

Even though he won bronze in the 200 meters in Tokyo, Lyles failed to qualify for the 100 meters at the last Games and has spoken openly about his struggles with mental health. He has high hopes for Paris.

“I would say that in 2021 there was a lot more pressure just because of the depression. Normally, I don’t feel pressure because I’m just having fun,” Lyles said after qualifying for the 100 meters at the Olympic Trials in Eugene, Oregon, over the weekend.

An American did not win gold in the 100 meters, the most prominent event, for the title of “fastest man in the world” since Justin Gatlin won in Athens, Greece, in 2004 in the old pre-Usain Bolt era of the tracks.

“All I have to do is be me. I constantly tell kids, ‘Be yourself,’” Lyles said. “And if people think I’m cheesy, damn, I’m cheesy. But guess what? I’m winning by being cheesy.”

Sha’Carri Richardson’s second chance

Team USA is in good shape, with qualifying events in high-level sports such as swimming, to accompany It is fitness unfolding now or soon to begin.

American sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson will finally get her golden chance after qualifying in the 100m over the weekend with the fastest 100m race in the world this year.

Richardson, one of the biggest stars in US track and field, missed Tokyo after testing positive for THC. She said in NBC’s “TODAY” show that she ingested it to help her deal with her mother’s death.

US seeks to make another impact

In the group, the Americans are expected to be a dominant force, led by Caeleb Dressel (50 meters free, 100 butterfly4×100 free relay) and Katie Ledecky (200 free, 400 free, 800 free and 1,500 free).

The biggest threats to crash the quadrennial US pool party include Léon Marchand, a Frenchman from Arizona State University, Canadian prodigy McIntosh and a group from Australia, led by Ariarne Titmus.

Australians believe this could be your strongest swim team yet.

Olympic officials may be in hot (brown) water

Open water swimming, like triathlonis scheduled to take place in the Seine.

But the waters of one of the world’s most famous rivers are still brown and violent, canceling the Opening Ceremony rehearsal this week.

Paris 2024 spokeswoman Anne Descamps insisted that the river will be fine for the Games.

“We are confident in the work carried out by the city of Paris at this stage,” she said. “We’ve had bad weather in recent weeks, but we know that with summer coming to Paris things will get better.”

USA Gymnastics to be defined soon

America’s gymnastics roster is expected to be announced later in the year. weekend in Minneapolisin what could be the most competitive U.S. test in the history of the sport.

For example, Simone Biles, Suni Lee It is Jade Careywho have won at least one gold medal, will face each other in a two-day all-around competition.

If Biles qualifies for Paris, she will be the first American gymnast since Dominique Dawes to compete in three Olympic Games.

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American women have never gone to three consecutive World Cups or Olympics without winning them all.