TEN STANDOUT MOMENTS FROM THE OPENING CEREMONY

It was the biggest show of the year, or perhaps of any year and the four hours of the Olympics Opening Ceremony passed in the blink of an eye.

There were so many individual moments to catch the breath and as the weekend progressed, some rose to the top of the memory filing system.

1. The armour clad horseback rider carrying the flag up the stage under the Eiffel Tower as the flags of the world fell into place behind her.

2. The flame being lit and rising into the Paris nighttime air. How on earth did they keep it a secret.

3. Celine Dion singing Edith Piaf’s Hymne à L’amour from the platform of the Tower

4. The Mechanical horse riding down the Seine.

5. The metro train ‘breaking down’ with Zinedine Zidane, art imitating life after the chaos of the train disruption on Friday morning?

6. The joy of the French team on the final boat.

7. The scaffolding ballet on the roof of Notre Dame.

8. The flaming piano in the rendition of Imagine, lost somewhat is the rain spattered camera.

9. The rain.

10. Carl Lewis, Rafa Nadal, Nadia Comaneci and Serena Williams, as well as all the other final leg torch bearers causing commentators to scramble to identify them with no script having been provided.

 

THE DARKER SIDE OF THE GAMES

It is hard to even write these words in the midst of celebration but even in the bright lights, there will always be shadows. Perhaps the longest at these games was the presence on the Dutch Beach Volleyball team of Steven van de Velde who ten years ago pleaded guilty to the rape of a 12 year old girl.

How can he walk the streets never mind represent his country at these games? Shame on the Netherlands Volleyball Federation and the Olympic Federation who saw fit to give him a place on this greatest of stages having committed so heinous a crime.

 

BILES SHINES BRIGHT

Simone Biles is perhaps the biggest star of the games and she delivered in the qualification rounds for the Gymnastics over the weekend.

Three years on from withdrawing from the Tokyo Games amid concern over the pressure and the impact on her mental health she has bounced back strong.

The Team USA costumes for the Gymnastics are also among the brightest we will see, coming ain at a reported cost of $3,000 each.

 

Sport for Business will host its inaugural Children and Sport Conference in Dublin on Thursday September 19th, with the support of Allianz Ireland and Sport Ireland. This is one of many events planned for the remainder of 2024.

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