Culture & Travel
7 June 2024As the 2024 Summer Olympics approach, all eyes are on France. For the 2024 Summer Olympics, Hamburg, Budapest, Rome, Los Angeles, and Paris had all submitted bids, with Paris ultimately being selected. Approximately 10,500 athletes will compete in the games, which will be held in 35 venues across 32 sports. There are 28 core sports, with additional events including sport climbing, skateboarding, surfing, and breakdancing. As the excitement for the 2024 Olympics builds, let’s delve into the history of this grand event, held every four years, and trace its origins to the present day.
When Did the Summer Olympics First Begin?
The origins of the Olympic Games in ancient times are subject to various interpretations. Thus, pinpointing the exact start is challenging. Some sources claim the Summer Olympics were a festival dedicated to Pelops, the hero who lent his name to Peloponnese and the king of Olympia. Others suggest that Heracles’ victory in a similar event in Olympia led to the tradition of the games. Another legend states that King Iphitos of Elis, seeking to save his people from war, consulted an oracle who advised him to organize these games to gain the gods' favor. These ancient games were believed to have taken place on Mount Olympus, home of the gods. Regardless of which legend holds true, it is clear that these extensive games were one of the two major religious festivals in Ancient Greece. The Olympics have been held every four years without interruption until 1916, when World War I caused their cancellation. The games were also not held in 1940 and 1944 due to World War II.
Paris 2024 Logo and Its Meaning
The Paris 2024 Summer Olympics logo features three simple yet meaningful symbols. One is Marianne, a national symbol of France. The second is a gold medal, representing sports. The third symbol is the flame, emblematic of the Olympic and Paralympic Movement. Paris previously hosted the Olympics in 1900 and 1924. France also hosted the Winter Olympics in 1992, 1968, and 1924.
The Largest Event Yet
The Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be the largest event ever held in France. The Olympic Games will take place from July 26 to August 11, 2024, followed by the Paralympic Games from August 28 to September 8, 2024. For the first time in Olympic history, there will be a marathon open to the public, where amateur runners can compete on the same course as professional athletes.
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics will be held at 7:30 PM along the Seine River at sunset, with a festive crowd in attendance. Tourists can witness the ceremony for a fee. About 10,500 athletes will participate in a parade on boats along a 6-kilometer route. Besides 41 main sports, four new sports closely related to the main ones will also be included.
Paralympic Games
The 2024 Olympics will also feature the Paralympic Games, with 549 events across 22 sports. Approximately 4,400 Paralympic athletes from around the world will compete. These games will include athletes with intellectual, hearing, sensory, and motor disabilities. Over three million people are expected to watch this major event. The sports at the 2024 Paris Paralympic Games will include football for the visually impaired, goalball, boccia, para athletics, para archery, para track cycling, para road cycling, para canoe, para badminton, para rowing, para powerlifting, para judo, para equestrian, para triathlon, para taekwondo, para table tennis, wheelchair basketball, para shooting, sitting volleyball, wheelchair fencing, wheelchair tennis, and wheelchair rugby.
How Many Athletes Will Türkiye Send to the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics?
There is considerable interest in how many athletes from Türkiye will compete in the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics and in which events. The list of participants was finalized last April. According to the list, a delegation of 55 athletes across 13 sports will represent Türkiye in Paris. In addition to individual events, Turkey's national women's volleyball team, known as the Sultans of the Net, will compete as a team. Notably, the Turkish Women's National Volleyball Team reached the quarterfinals for the first time in Tokyo 2020. At the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics, Turkish athletes will compete in both individual and team categories in archery and artistic gymnastics.
