For the third time in its history, we saw athletes return to the city of Paris at the most prestigious sporting event in the world in the summer. Two months later, we are still riding the post-olympic blues. It was another classic international sporting event jam-packed with record-breaking and breakdancing moments. Let us look back at what happened and what we can learn from it.

With 15,000 athletes competing against each other, food is essential for providing them the nutrition they need to perform at their very best, and trust the French to know a thing or two about food. A centrepiece of the Olympic Village were the six restaurants working round the clock for the athletes. It carried the ethos that “every French village has a bakery”. This was an intentional design. They wanted the first thing you smelt as you walked in to be a baguette!

We started off the series of events with an ambitious opening ceremony, which in my opinion, was somewhat disappointing and underwhelming. After the unfortunate nature of the Tokyo 2020 games (delayed to 2021) due to the pandemic, our hopes of bouncing back with a memorable ceremony were already high. Expectations of Parisian art, culinary flair, historic culture, and fashion of France stood tall, and yet we received an unimpressive result.

The Mayor of Paris ensured everyone, on live television, the day before the ceremony, that it’ll take place outdoors across the Le Grand Seine upon the perfect timing of a beautiful sunset. How wrong she was. Just hours before, it began to heavily rain. Cloudy, grey, and drap. But the Parisians did pull through. The city really made sure that it would not be prone to any risk, not when all eyes were upon it.

France kept a strict no-fly zone over Paris, meaning planes had to divert around the city and the three local airports were closed. Only a limited number of aircrafts, including military and emergency planes were permitted to fly. All things considered,
it was not like any Olympic opening ceremony seen before, never has it been outdoors from a stadium, and of course, none has focused so much on sustainability before.

The Paris Olympics ended much as they began, with a spectacle before a joyous crowd, and a generous provision of smoke, strobe lights, and fireworks.

Breakdancing, the new sport that grabbed a lot of attention this summer, pretty much came and went. It made its debut in Paris, but unfortunately, will not be returning to the next Olympics in Los Angeles (LA) by the decision of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the LA coordinators. The history of the Olympics has seen multiple sports come and go and return again such as rope climbing, cricket, and rugby. So, it is not unusual for a sport to have only lasted one summer.

Despite this decision being made long before any performance by Raygun in Paris, it doesn’t look like it left the greatest of impressions to the millions of watchers from around the world. But who knows, it might return to the global stage stronger than ever.

Snoop Dog constantly featured in and out of the Paris Olympics throughout the month of August, and it was not even in LA yet! The next Summer Olympics are going to be held in the United States in 2028. So, if not already obvious, he will most definitely be a prime ambassador for the games in 2028.

There, they will be introducing new Olympic debuts with the sports: squash, flag football, cricket, baseball, and lacrosse. The end of Paris 2024 led to a teaser for LA 2028 which consisted of actor Tom Cruise “cruising” off the stadium roof to collect the Olympic flag from the gymnast Simone Biles. He then carried it off on his motorcycle to LA which I am sure paid homage to his “Top Gun” and “Mission: Impossible” films.

Not to sidetrack, but quite often during our time here at NYU, if not already, we will be asked the question “where do you call home?”. In a most cosmopolitan university situated in a cosmopolitan world, it is a very curious question. For me? Well, I’ve been raised with both Indian and Malaysian cultures, but as a Brit, I would support Great Britain in sporting events like this. But, when it comes to cricket (do not ask me why), I would support India all the way. Britain has given me so much, more than just a home. But, ironically, my DNA reads '96% Indian' according to a DNA saliva test. At least I can be sure of my allegiance when I support India in cricket now.

Nevertheless, it is strange how the country with the largest population in the world barely kept up with Lithuania on the medal table with a total of 6 medals. Yes, I speak of none other than India. Famously, the swimmer, Michael Phelps, alone, has more medals than the entire subcontinent. But while the country looks to invest more into its athletes and sporting facilities, it does not shy away from epic sporting stories.

Make way for Arshad Nadeem and Neeraj Chopra. Two legendary athletes from two neighbouring nations, both athletes competed for gold in the Javelin category, and for the very first time, Arshad, from Pakistan, is not only a gold medalist, but an Olympic record holder. Neeraj, from India, trailed very close in second place. While there usually is such an intense rivalry between the two countries in the sporting world, these two athletes stood side by side with support, kinship, and respect. This just shows how sport has the power to transcend beyond national boundaries.

The meaning of the Olympics goes far beyond just a sporting event. It is a magnificent union of all countries on the planet, no matter the wealth, location, or history of that nation, to come together for the passion and purity of sport, alone. This is the symbol of sport, the heart of it.

If we think about it, there are very, very few events in the world that permit something like this to occur. This is why it is so important for us to maintain and help keep the Olympic flame alive.

With every new and challenging world disaster and international crisis, perhaps it comes down to something as simple as a sporting event that might unite us against all odds. Something that will help put our woes and worries behind us, and our wit and will in front. What a world that would be if we could do that.

Until then, it is au revoir to Paris, and howdy to LA in 2028.