Paris, France: The Paris Olympics 2024 officially began on Friday with a dazzling and unprecedented opening ceremony. The event, which broke tradition by being held along the Seine River rather than in a stadium, was marked by an impressive display of French culture and athletic spirit. Thierry Mathou, the French Ambassador to India, extended his warmest wishes to the Indian athletes, emphasizing the games' potential to strengthen sports cooperation between France and India.
A Historic Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024 was unlike any other. For the first time in Olympic history, the ceremony took place on the Seine River, with athletes being celebrated from boats along a six-kilometer route. This innovative approach set the stage for a memorable games, blending tradition with a new sense of grandeur.
The ceremony featured a special moment with French football legend Zinedine Zidane appearing in a pre-recorded video. Zidane carried the Olympic flame from Stade de France, adding a touch of sports history to the event's grand opening.
Ambassador Thierry Mathou's Message
In his address to the media, Ambassador Thierry Mathou expressed enthusiasm for the games and optimism about the future of sports collaboration between France and India. "We are thrilled to host the games and wish the best of luck to the Indian team and athletes. These Olympics offer a fantastic opportunity to enhance our sports ties with India," said Mathou. He highlighted a recent Letter of Intent signed with India's Ministry of Youth and Sports to deepen bilateral sports cooperation.
India's Exciting Line-Up
As the games commence, India’s athletes are set to showcase their talents across various sports. The action begins on Saturday with several key events:
Rowing: Balraj Panwar competed in the single sculls heats at 12:30 PM, marking the start of India's participation.
Shooting: The day’s shooting events include the 10m air rifle mixed team qualification, featuring Sandeep Singh/Elavenil Valarivan and Arjun Babuta/Ramita Jindal. Following this, the 10m air pistol qualifiers for men and women will take place at 2 PM and 4 PM, respectively, with Indian stars like Sarabjot Singh, Arjun Cheema, Manu Bhaker, and Rhythm Sangwan aiming for top positions.
Tennis: The men's doubles event will see Rohan Bopanna and N. Sriram Balaji in action from 3:30 PM. Bopanna, a Grand Slam winner, will be looking to capitalize on his recent success and past experience to secure an Olympic medal.
Badminton: Starting at 11:00 AM, India’s badminton stars will compete in men's singles, doubles, and women's doubles events until 5:30 PM. Notable competitors include Lakshya Sen, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy, Chirag Shetty, Tanisha Crasto, and Ashwini Ponnappa.
Table Tennis: Indian paddler Harmeet Desai will take to the courts for the men’s singles preliminary round at 7:15 PM.
Hockey: The Indian men's hockey team will begin their campaign at 9:00 PM against New Zealand. Following a bronze medal at Tokyo 2020, the team is eager to chase gold this year.
Boxing: At 12:02 AM, India's boxing contingent will kick off with Preeti competing in the women’s 54 kg category round of 32.
Looking Ahead
With a mix of new traditions and exciting competitions, the Paris Olympics 2024 promises to be a landmark event for both athletes and spectators. As the games progress, the world will watch eagerly to see how athletes from around the globe, including India, perform on this grand stage.
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