Football and Rugby start with an actual kick-off, but Paris 2024 is kicking off in the figurative sense before a boat has even been launched down the Seine. The very first men’s football match, between world champions Argentina and Doha 2022 semi-finalist Morocco, was ‘highlighted’ by a pitch invasion after the Argentines had seemed to score an equalizing goal.
nne Hidalgo, the mayor of Paris, launched herself into the Seine this week. Not in response to a suggestion from an aggrieved citoyen or citoyenne that she should go and do so, but to celebrate the fulfilment of a pledge that the French capital’s iconic waterway would be ready to play its part in the Paris24 opening ceremony and as the venue for the Olympic triathlon swim legs and the marathon swim.
Having seen the last of ticketing stories – who knew there would be more wanting to go to the Games than there are tickets available; of confected uproar over accommodation (again, who knew?) and hospitality (ditto) price gouging; of panic over any number of remote possibilities – we stand just a couple of weeks away from the opening of competition. When what does happen swamps what might have happened in organisers’ worst nightmares.
If McLaughlin-Levrone goes on to retain her Olympic title in Paris and improves her world record in doing so, she will complete a hat-trick of double world record victories in US Trials and global championship races. Who would be game to say she will not? Certainly, I’m not about to.
Zurich’s Weltklasse meeting has sometimes been called “the Olympics in one day.” The characterisation is even been cited in the “A Close-up On . . .” profile of the meeting on the Diamond League website.
Lasse Viren, the fabulous Finn who won consecutive Olympic track 5000/10,000 doubles – once suggested that elastic tapes must be used to measure the last three or four miles of the marathon.
Not a single member of the Athletics Australia selection panel, however, will be breathing a sigh of relief. There is still plenty of work to be done, particularly in the middle-distance events were there are way more contenders for places in Paris than there are places in Paris.
Who kept Lisa Weightman out of the Olympic marathon team?
When it comes to distance running, Oslo’s Bislett Stadium seems to be the gift that keeps on giving for Australians, Georgia Griffith the latest beneficiary with a national record in the 3000 metres on Thursday (30 May).
When Rose Davies shaved just over two seconds off Jess Hull’s Australian record for 5000 metres in running 14:41.65 in Tokyo last weekend (19 May), I was more surprised than I should have been.
