Paris Confidential: Seven things you didn’t know about the Paris Olympics
The 2024 Olympics have offered picturesque views and stunning athletic performances, but what might fans back home be missing? David Riccio answers the burning questions from Paris.
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Matty Johns appeared on his own show last Sunday night and from the Fox Sports studios in Sydney he was asked by stand-in host Bryan Fletcher what was the most famous landmark he’d seen in Paris.
“Um, probably the Irish pub around the corner from our hotel,’’ Johns grinned.
Jokes aside, maybe it’s because Australia are bagging medals by the day?
Maybe it’s because of fairytale stories like BMX champion Saya Sakakabira or the pure class in the pool of golden girl Kaylee McKeown or simply the drama at the boxing?
Or perhaps, it’s because every sporting venue is like they’ve plonked seats inside a postcard?
Whatever it is, not a day goes by, here working for News Corp’s wall-to-wall coverage, that our team isn’t being inundated by questions from home.
These are the seven things you’re dying to know about the games.
1. ARE THE ATHLETES SERIOUSLY SLEEPING ON CARDBOARD BEDS?
You bet they are. And what about this? They also have to share a room with other members of the Australian Olympic team and not necessarily from their own sport.
For example, BMX freestyle bronze medallist Natalia Diehm is rooming with beach volleyball athlete Mariafe Artacho.
As for the beds, the athletes can extend them to accommodate their size and can choose the firmness of the mattress,
The sustainable beds, which are 100% made in France, will be fully recycled after the games.
2. WHY IS SNOOP DOGG HAVING THE TIME OF HIS LIFE IN PARIS?
Best known for his rap hits rather than his sporting prowess, Snoop Dogg has become an Olympic attraction of his own.
He’s in the pool with Michael Phelps. He’s in the stands cheering on the U.S. women’s gymnastics team. He’s carrying the Olympic torch. He’s even rolling into the dressage in full equestrian outfit.
The rapper is commentating on the Olympics for NBC and is giving millions of fans an inside view across his social media channels.
3. IT’S SUMMER IN PARIS, IT DOESN’T GET DARK UNTIL 10PM, IS EVERYONE WALKING AROUND DRUNK?
Um, that depends on where you’re looking.
If you’re inside any of the sporting venues you won’t find a drop of alcohol. No beer, wine or spirits are being sold at any of the food or beverage outlets throughout the Paris Games.
4. WHAT’S THE BEST VENUE?
The most popular question of all and most difficult to answer.
Le Grand Palais, where fencing and taekwondo is held, takes the breath away. So too does the spectacular grounds of the Palace of Versailles, where equestrian and modern pentathlon is staged. But for the most surreal sporting venue in the world, it has to be Eiffel Tower Stadium where spikes, blocks and digs have been unfolding at beach volleyball.
5. DO YOU FEEL SAFE?
It’s a fair question given France’s national terrorist alert warning is at the highest level.
But here’s the thing. On almost every street corner, at every major venue, train station or bus stop, there are no less than six heavily-armed police officers patrolling. It feels like every police officer in France has been posted in Paris for the duration of the games.
6. ARE THE ATHLETES, WELL YOU KNOW … GETTING NAUGHTY AFTER DARK?
It is the city of love, after all.
And with over 200,000 condoms available to those inside the Olympic village, you’d think that pre and post race action is going on.
Or perhaps, it’s not what we may like to think.
American rower Emily Delleman recently gave her followers an inside look into what it is like being an athlete using dating app Tinder inside the Olympic Village.
The 26-year-old took to TikTok to share what she discovered, which wasn’t much at all.
But when she finally began her quest in earnest, the results were immediately underwhelming.
“I start scrolling and scrolling and I don’t see any Olympians,” Delleman said.
“I was like, ‘OK, my settings must be weird.’”
7. WHAT’S THE COFFEE LIKE?
Put it this way, if making a good coffee was a competition, the French wouldn’t get out of the pool stages, like the Matildas.
The greater concern? Los Angeles is hosting next.
Originally published as Paris Confidential: Seven things you didn’t know about the Paris Olympics
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