Key events
A few things you may wish to bookmark in preparation: the full schedule of Olympic events, starting with football and rugby sevens tomorrow afternoon. Plus our very own results page and medal table.
Meanwhile, in shameless self-promotion, last week’s The Spin was about Great Britain winning Olympic Gold in Paris in 1900. Cricket will be back at the Olympics in LA in 2028:
It was all pretty village, in truth: the British team was a cobbled-together touring side otherwise known as the Devon & Somerset Wanderers … and many of those participating in sporting events at the 1900 Paris Exposition were unaware they had taken part in Olympic events. It wasn’t until 1912 that the event was upgraded to Olympic status. It’s a good tale.
Would anyone like to email me with an ode to Andy Murray? Please crack on.
Formula One’s Oscar Piastri went for one word:
We mentioned the incredibly talented France scrum-half, Antoine Dupont, earlier today. Dupont hopes to lead the hosts to glory in the rugby sevens in the coming days. Here is a story from Reuters on what Alan Gilpin, World Rugby CEO, says is sevens’ “coming of age moment”:
Rugby sevens is hoping to seize the spotlight in Paris after making its Olympic debut in Rio in 2016 and having its sophomore showing at the Tokyo Games, World Rugby CEO Alan Gilpin said on Tuesday.
The Olympic rugby sevens competition will take place at the Stade de France, venue of last year’s men’s Rugby World Cup final and France’s largest stadium.
“This is the coming of age moment really for Sevens and we’ve always known the Olympic platform can be incredible,” Gilpin said. “We know that sevens is a form of the game that excites new audiences, it’s easier to understand, it brings people into the game and this next week is going to shine a light on it that we’ve never had before.
“It’s a huge opportunity for us … We’ve seen it in previous Games. In places where rugby is not watched traditionally, we’ll get some great audiences and we’ve got to work hard then as a sport to keep those people excited.”
The sevens is among a handful of events beginning on July 24, before Friday’s opening ceremony, and IOC associate director, David Luckes, urged the sport to make the most of its early start.
“Tomorrow is the most important day, because competition begins,” Luckes said.
“It’s a very, very important moment, for the organising committee to switch from the planning mode to the delivery mode. That’s where we create the excitement and the buzz for the spectators.”
France’s Antoine Dupont has been in the headlines ahead of the Games, displaying versatility by moving between the 15-a-side game and sevens in recent months.
The scrum-half helped his club Toulouse win the European Champions Cup final in May, then drove France to victory in the season-ending grand final in Sevens a week later.
The former France wing, Vincent Clerc, said the game owed much to his compatriot: “Sevens rugby will take advantage of Antoine’s image,” Clerc said. “He has a desire to promote sevens rugby and to show that an Olympic medal in rugby is as important as a World Cup or a European Cup. Antoine carries this message well.”
Thanks Michael and hello everyone.
Luke McLaughlin will take over the blog now. Enjoy the rest of your day.
Second Australian water polo player tests positive for Covid
A second Australia water polo player, who was a close contact of the first athlete to get Covid, later tested positive as well, the Australian Olympic Committee said, but no other athletes in the country’s team have been diagnosed with Covid.
The first athlete to have tested positive for Covid chose not to train with her teammates on Tuesday afternoon but the second player was well enough to take part, the Australian committee said. Neither were named.
Kanak Jha is no stranger to the Olympics, having represented the United States in table tennis at both the Rio and Tokyo Games, but the path to Paris has been his most challenging.
The 24-year-old, the only male table tennis player representing the U.S. in Paris, was banned for a year by the US Anti-Doping Agency (Usada) and used a GoFundMe campaign to help support his journey to the Paris Games.
Jha did not play until March after Usada banned him last year for accumulating three whereabouts failures within a 12-month period, but with the ban now behind him, he wants to focus on winning a medal and promoting table tennis in the U.S.
“I was out of the sport for 16 months, which was tough in a few ways. I’m a professional table tennis player, so financially being one of them,” Jha, who helped the US win team gold at the 2019 Pan Am Games, told a press conference on Tuesday.
His GoFundMe campaign has raised over $12,000, well short of his fundraising goal of $100,000 but still crucial financially in helping him get to Paris.
“Everything given from the GoFundMe was used to prepare as best as I can for the Paris Games,” he added. “And now hopefully I can represent all those who helped me out to the best of my ability here in Paris, and make history for us and win a medal.”
Jha mostly trains in Germany, where professional table tennis leagues are more established than back home. He hopes to raise awareness of the sport in the U.S. with his performances in Paris.
“The sport isn’t that mainstream in the States,” he said. “So I hope in the Olympic Games, and also other events, I can continue to influence some kids. Hopefully some kids watch the games here are inspired by it to pick up a racket.” Reuters
The latest in our Midas Touch series: how to snatch like weightlifter Emily Campbell.
Three key takeaways
Work on your flexibility and strength by practising other lifts.
Prioritise technique over a heavy load. “You need a good stance, good body positioning and good technique,” says Sawyer. “There is no point trying to lift heavy weights if you haven’t got the technical side first.”
Don’t underestimate the power of your mind. As well as having a terrifically strong body, the best weightlifters have formidable strength of character. “You have to have a positive mental attitude,” says Sawyer. “Because at the end of the day, your coach can prepare you, but when you get out there with the barbell – you’re on your own.”
An email from Clive Rodgers, responding to my request yesterday of what would be the most British-scented scratch-and-sniff stamp.
While working within central government in the 90s I once commissioned scratch and sniff posters for use overseas on behalf of the FCO [Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office]. They included cups of tea, English Roses, tarred rope and fish and chips!
Tarred rope?!
For context, the French post office have launched a baguette-fragranced scratch-and-sniff stamp.
Dave Haggerty, International Tennis Federation chief, on Murray’s announcement:
Sir Andy has lived and breathed the values of tennis throughout his long career, championing equality and helping to send the message that our sport is for everyone. We will of course remember his two Olympic golds; his grand slam wins and his never-say-die attitude on the court. We will also remember his Davis Cup victory with Great Britain in 2015, helping his team to the title for the first time since 1936.
While this wonderful chapter of his career is now drawing to a close, we know that Sir Andy’s love of tennis will see him continue to be involved in helping to grow and develop our sport globally.
Are you familiar with Pass notes, the Guardian’s daily irreverent explainer on all subjects, weird and wonderful?
Then you might enjoy this, by Alexandra Topping.
WHO statement on Covid in France: ‘an uptick in recent weeks’
A reminder that this has come to the fore today because an unnamed Australian water polo player has been isolated at the Paris Games after testing positive for Covid.
Close contacts of the athlete were being monitored and tested, but the whole team would train as planned. There was no obligation to wear a mask because the number of cases was still low.
WHO spokesperson Margaret Harris has told reporters in Geneva: “France has seen an uptick in recent weeks and they are seeing a moderate impact on their health care system.”
The advice, she said, was: “Be responsible, especially when you have these athletes who are working. It’s just a very big moment in their career, and it would be a horrible thing if you gave that to an athlete. So anybody with symptoms is asked to stay at home or stay in their hotel.”
Regarding Murray’s announcement, Elsie Grover-Jones has been in touch:
Murray truly is a national treasure – not only did he become Britain’s first men’s Wimbledon champion in 77 years in 2013, but has become a figurehead for British tennis and an inspiration to many. Tim Henman said ahead of this year’s Wimbledon: “Andy has been an absolutely phenomenal role model in British tennis and raised the bar”.
Interesting that Emma Raducanu highlighted his Olympic triumph as his career highlight earlier this month: “The biggest stand-out for me was when he lost in the final here of Wimbledon then came back a month later and won the Olympics”.
After unfortunate injury struggles, Murray will look to add another Olympic medal to his collection in Paris. Regardless, he will be remembered as one of the best British tennis players.
The Olympic Games is regarded as the pinnacle of sport in so many fields, but it’s safe to say that for a few events, there are competitions elsewhere which take precedence. That is obviously the case in men’s football, where the Olympics plays second fiddle to other international tournaments, but also the case in golf, tennis, and cycling.
Tadej Pogacar, fresh from his Giro d’Italia and Tour de France double, has announced he will not be competing in Paris, due to fatigue. A real shame, because the winner of the Olympic male road race will always have an asterisk over his gold medal.
It would be interesting to see where Andy Murray ranks his two Olympic gold medals alongside his three grand slam titles. Surely his two Wimbledon triumphs are top of the pile, although it is worth remembering that his 2012 victory took place in SW19, and it is not insignificant that Murray has chosen the Olympics as the final tournament of his career. I wonder if it would have been the case if Murray was able to compete at Wimbledon a few weeks back.
A useful explainer for our readers in the UK …
… and for those in Australia …
… while our full Olympic schedule is here, with previews, standings and filters on medals and sports. Definitely one to bookmark for the next few weeks.
Snoop Dogg to be a torchbearer for the Olympic flame
Don’t drop it. Because it’s hot, etc.
American rapper Snoop Dogg will be among the torchbearers carrying the Olympic flame in the final stretch before the opening ceremony of the Paris Games on Friday.
Snoop Dogg, 52, will carry the torch through the streets of Saint-Denis, the underprivileged northern Paris suburb that is home to the Stade de France Olympic Stadium, the town’s mayor Mathieu Hanotin said on social media platform X.
“Saint Denis: last step before the Eiffel Tower. An international cast @SnoopDogg for the last stretch of the Olympic Flame,” Hanotin wrote.
The rapper, who is also contributing to NBC Primetime’s coverage of Games, is better known in the sports world for his Snoop Youth Football League. The championship game is called the “Snooper Bowl”.
Other carriers of the torch in Saint-Denis on Friday include French actress Laetitia Casta and French rapper MC Solaar. Reuters
While we’re on the rowing, you may have missed this excellent interview last week with Georgie Brayshaw.
Team GB had a bit of a shocker in the rowing last time out at Tokyo, we failed to claim a rowing gold for the first time since 1980, winning just one silver and one bronze to finish 14th on the rowing table in a sport we have previously dominated.
Sir Steve Redgrave has brighter hopes for Team GB in Paris.
“I think we’ll be the top rowing nation in Paris”, said the five-time Olympic rowing champion. “At the World Championships last year we got six gold medals and finished second on the medal table to the Netherlands (who also had six golds but more medals overall).
“We’re quite a predictable sport as the tradition is that 80 per cent of world champions go on to become Olympic champions. I expect that to be a bit less in Paris, but we’ve got to knock the Netherlands off their perch’
Explaining the Tokyo 2020 disappointment, Redgrave added: “Losing Jurgen Grobler, who had been men’s chief coach for a long period of time, and Paul Thompson, the best women’s coach, before the Tokyo Games was huge. As an administration we got ourselves a little bit lost. We got so caught up with the politics of change and bringing that change in, which did need to happen”.
Team GB are sending a 42-strong rowing squad to Paris 2024 with medal prospects littered throughout both male and female categories. Mum of three Helen Glover will grab most of the headlines in her pursuit of a third Olympic title after winning women’s pair gold with Heather Stanning in 2012 and 2016.
Enjoyed this on France’s 7ft4in basketball superstar.
Esteemed! Ha. Thanks Luke. Hello all. We are just one day away from the first events starting (men’s football and rugby sevens) before the opening ceremony on Friday. But Andy Murray’s announcement is the big news this morning. Let’s remind ourselves of his match point against Juan Martín del Potro to clinch the gold medal in 2016, to defend his 2012 triumph in London.
I’ll be back later for more – now handing over to my esteemed colleague Michael Butler for the next bit.
Daniel Boffey
The spectacle of the Olympic Games opening ceremony could be overshadowed by the human drama in the White House after it was confirmed that Jill Biden will attend the event on the Seine.
It will be a first appearance on the world stage for the president’s wife since her husband withdrew from his re-election campaign over concerns about his deteriorating health.
Attention was focused on the inspirational Antoine Dupont at last year’s Rugby World Cup, when the hosts were knocked out by South Africa in the last eight.
The seemingly supernaturally talented France scrum-half missed this year’s Six Nations to focus on preparing for the Olympic rugby sevens. Can he lead his nation to glory this summer?
Here is Raphaël Jucobin:
“Paris has waited a century for the Olympic Games to return; it may take that long for rugby to witness another player like Antoine Dupont too.
“France’s chief orchestrator has it all: vision, pin-point ambidextrous kicking, speed of execution, evasive runs and a destructive physique, all of which have helped him dictate matches at will for club and country.”
Australian water polo player isolated with Covid
An Australian water polo player has been isolated at the Paris Games after testing positive for Covid, the country’s Olympic team chief Anna Meares has said.
Close contacts of the athlete, who Meares did not name, were being monitored and tested, but the whole team would train as planned, she added.
The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed by a year due to the pandemic and were held largely without spectators.
“We were due to have two players from water polo with us, however, currently we have had one athlete from their team isolating with Covid which was detected last night,” Meares told a news conference. “So as a precaution they’re not joining us this morning.
“I need to emphasise that we are treating Covid no differently to other bugs like the flu. This is not Tokyo. The athlete is not particularly unwell and they are still training but sleeping in a single room.”
Meares said the athlete’s teammates would wear masks and adhere to social distancing measures.
“It was late last night when she presented with symptoms and the good thing is that having our own testing equipment means that we can get that information really, really quickly and intervene both in diagnosis and treatment,” Meares added.
“In terms of competitions, we will wait until she gets the all clear and we get the information from our chief medical officer Carolyn Broderick.”
The French health minister, Frederic Valletoux, said there was no risk of a major Covid cluster in France.
“Of course Covid is here. We’ve seem a small peak” in cases, he said. “But we are far from what we saw in 2020, 2021, 2022.”
He added that there was no obligation to wear a mask because the number of cases was still low. “Some precautions are being taken but, because the level at which Covid is spreading is very low, they depend on the organisers.” (Reuters)
In terms of an absolutely vintage Murray five-set tussle, this was a memorable live blog to write – a match that summed up Murray’s relentless fight, sense of theatre and remarkable skill:
Here’s a gallery of Murray’s two decades-plus competing at Wimbledon:
I can’t remember which year it was now, maybe 2004 when he was in the boys’ singles, but a friend suggested we watch the young British player (who neither of us had ever heard of) on a back court. As it turned out he had a pretty decent career …
It was all the way back in 2019, at the Australian Open, that someone got the wrong end of the stick in a spectacular way, and produced a video in which Murray’s fellow professionals retired him. He was experiencing injury issues at the time, but still, had no intention of walking away from the sport. Awkward.
I’ll probably need another coffee before attempting to write something meaningful about Andy Murray – the impact he’s had on the sport, the way he’s conducted himself, and the entertainment he’s given us all. He’s been magnificent, hasn’t he?
Please send me an email with your thoughts on Murray’s career. (Which, of course, isn’t over quite yet.)
Andy Murray to retire from tennis after Paris Olympics
Andy Murray will retire from professional tennis after this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.
The 37-year-old posted on X: “Arrived in Paris for my last ever tennis tournament. Competing for Great Britain [has] been by far the most memorable weeks of my career and I’m extremely proud to get do it one final time!”
Preamble
Hello and welcome to our 2024 Olympics buildup blog. The opening ceremony falls on Friday, officially beginning the Paris 2024 Games, but there is sporting action on Wednesday and Thursday, and a ton of buildup content to feast our eyes on in the next couple of days.
Here we go then, for starters: any breaking news out there today?
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