Team India defeated the South Korean duo of Lee Wonho and Oh Ye Jin 16-10 in the bronze medal playoff in the Chateauroux…reports Asian Lite News
Manu Bhaker and Sarabjot Singh on Tuesday scripted history, becoming the first duo to bring home a medal in a team shooting event for India.
Following the historic achievement, Khel Ratna awardee shooter Ronjan Sodhi hailed the duo for their superb display, saying, “It’s amazing, another medal for India from shooting, bronze, and Manu scripted history. She is the only athlete to win two medals in the same edition (post independence) which is not possible other than a few sports like swimming and badminton,” Sodhi told IANS.
Team India defeated the South Korean duo of Lee Wonho and Oh Ye Jin 16-10 in the bronze medal playoff in the Chateauroux. Despite taking an early 8-2 lead, South Korea fought back into the match and were close to completing what could have been a huge upset.
Sodhi went on to praise the Korean side and talked about how fans can expect more medals from the shooting events.
“Korea is a very strong team but they shot really well, both of them. Kudos to them (India) for pulling of such a beautiful win and congratulations to the entire country,” he added.
“It (Olympics) has just started and there is lots to come. Don’t forget the 3P events, pistol, rapid fire, shotgun, and trap (event) is going on. They have all trained hard and focus on what they have done in training,” concluded Sodhi.
Though India looked a bit patchy in this quarter, allowing New Zealand to make interceptions and create counterattacks, the Indian defenders did well to keep the contest alive….reports Asian Lite News
What a breathtaking start to hockey for India as the men’s side registered a stunning 3-2 win over tough opponent New Zealand in a Pool B match at the Paris 2024 Olympics, here on Saturday. Mandeep Singh (24′), Vivek Sagar Prasad (34′), and Harmanpreet Singh (59′-pen) were the goal scorers for India while Sam Lane and Simon Child scored for the Black Sticks.
The never-say-die mentality of the Men in Blue was on full display on Saturday as they bounced back twice in the 60-minute encounter to stay in the hunt for a spot in the quarterfinals.
The start was enthralling, playing in front of a packed audience at the Yves-du-Manoir Stadium. India looked dominant in the opening quarter, controlled the ball possession, and came up with bursts of attack led by Olympic debutant Abhishek creating all sorts of problems for New Zealand early in the game. He even came up with a fantastic shot on goal, but New Zealand goalie Dominic Dixon made a strong save.
India found themselves on the back foot mid-way through the quarter, when they conceded a goal in the 8th minute through Sam Lane’s PC. Picking up from a good injection, Lane kept it low, aiming towards Shreejesh’s right. His successful attempt put New Zealand in a 1-0 lead.
But India managed to bounce back in the second quarter with a sensational goal by Mandeep Singh. He showed brilliant presence of mind to pick up the ball from the New Zealand defender who had almost made a clear save from Harmanpreet’s powerful drag-flick. He nicked it in close range to put India back in the game.
Though India looked a bit patchy in this quarter, allowing New Zealand to make interceptions and create counterattacks, the Indian defenders did well to keep the contest alive.
Following an enthralling first half, Vivek Sagar Prasad put India ahead by a goal in the third quarter. They had begun aggressively after the 10-minute half-time break with a constructive attack led by Mandeep and Abhishek in play but Vivek did well to pick up and finish the job.
Though this shot was referred to the third umpire, India was eventually awarded the goal making it a hard-earned 2-1 lead. The third quarter also saw some incredible saves by experienced India goalkeeper PR Sreejesh that kept India ahead of New Zealand.
The last quarter lived up to the billing of a fighting contest. It was intense, edge-of-the-seat action. Only a couple of minutes into the fourth quarter, India earned a fine PC – thanks to Abhishek. But Amit Rohidas’s flick was blocked by Dickson.
New Zealand kept the pressure on India with their resilience. They won back-to-back PCs, and Simon Child did well to put New Zealand back in the game with his 53rd-minute equaliser.
With three minutes of play left, Sukhjeet managed to win India a much-needed PC. After two takes, India was awarded a stroke. This time, India captain Harmanpreet was on target making it a dramatic 3-2 lead, with the clock ticking away. With a little over 60 seconds remaining on the clock, New Zealand made some valiant attacks but to no avail, as India walked away with the crucial winning points.
On Monday, India will take on Rio Olympics gold medallist Argentina at 1815 hrs IST in their second Pool B match.
Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony, afterward drew attention away from “The Last Supper” references, saying that hadn’t been his intention. Le Filip responded to the criticism of the scene with a touch of humor and sorrow…reports Asian Lite News
In an unprecedented display of inclusivity, drag queens took center stage at the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, showcasing the vibrant and influential role of the French LGBTQ+ community — while also attracting criticism over a tableau reminiscent of “The Last Supper.”
Held along the Seine River, the spectacular four-hour event featured global stars such as Celine Dion and Lady Gaga, both considered queer icons. The ceremony blended historic and modern French culture with a touch of kitsch, culminating in a flotilla of barges carrying thousands of Olympians.
Nicky Doll, known for competing on the 12th season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” and hosting “Drag Race France,” participated in a high-octane fashion runway segment along with “Drag Race France” Season 1 winner Paloma, Season 3’s Piche, and Giselle Palmer. Initially, they stood alongside the runway, gazing fiercely at the strutting models. Later, they joined in, showcasing their own style.
Le Filip, the recent winner of “Drag Race France,” expressed their positive “surprise” and “pride” at the ceremony’s scale and representation.
“I thought it would be a five-minute drag event with queer representation. I was amazed. It started with Lady Gaga, then we had drag queens, a huge rave, and a fire in the sky,” they said. “It felt like a crowning all over again. I am proud to see my friends and queer people on the world stage.”
Among their bold performances was a scene seemed to evoke Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper,” featuring the drag queens and other performers in a configuration reminiscent of Jesus Christ and his apostles. This segment drew significant attention — and mixed reactions.
“The (French) government knows what it’s doing. They want to show themselves in the best way possible. They showed no restraints in expression,” Le Filip told The Associated Press.
On the other hand, prominent far-right politician Marion Maréchal denounced the performance on social media.
“To all the Christians of the world who are watching the Paris 2024 ceremony and felt insulted by this drag queen parody of the Last Supper, know that it is not France that is speaking but a left-wing minority ready for any provocation,” she posted on X, a sentiment that was echoed by religious conservatives internationally.
“… because decapitating Habsburgs and ridiculising central Christian events are really the FIRST two things that spring to mind when you think of #OlympicGames,” Eduard Habsburg, Hungary’s ambassador to the Vatican, posted on X, also referencing a scene depicting the beheading of Marie Antoinette.
Thomas Jolly, the artistic director of the opening ceremony, afterward drew attention away from “The Last Supper” references, saying that hadn’t been his intention. Le Filip responded to the criticism of the scene with a touch of humor and sorrow.
“It feels like the words of somebody who didn’t get on the guest list. We could all be laughing together. It’s sad to me, honestly,” they said. Inter-LGBT President James Leperlier was more circumspect, arguing that France still has significant strides to make in inclusivity.
“We know in the LGBTQ community in France we are far from what the ceremony showed. There’s much progress to do in society regarding transgender people. It’s terrible that to legally change their identity they are forced to be on trial,” Leperlier said.
He also highlighted the disparity in acceptance, saying that the community is not visible in other official ceremonies and “has difficulty being heard.”
“If you saw the opening ceremony last night you’d think it was like that normally, but it’s not. France tried to show what it should be and not what it is,” he said.
The opening ceremony came as drag and the voguing nightclub scene in France has experienced a revival. The cabaret club Madame Arthur, founded in 1946 in the ashes of World War II, is one of the world’s oldest continually running LGBTQ+ theaters. It opened as Europe was only just beginning to understand the extent of the widespread murder of members of the queer community in WWII and is currently experiencing a massive renaissance.
Drag is not just a pastime; for many minority French communities who feel alienated over tensions arising from divisive politics and scars from the anti-gay marriage protests a decade ago, it’s a statement of defiance. Many gay Black and Arab youths — especially those from Paris’ less affluent and religiously conservative suburbs — and others who feel a sense of disconnect with French society find voguing and drag events safe places where their identities can be expressed without fear of reprisal.
Despite the backlash, Le Filip believes the opening ceremony will ultimately transcend controversy. “The message of the show is freedom, and it’s a good postcard for France,” they concluded.
In a first, the opening ceremony will not be conducted inside a stadium. The traditional Parade of Nations will be taking place along the river Seine, flowing through the heart of Paris….reports Asian Lite News
The iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris was seen decorated with the five Olympic rings as the multi-sport extravaganza officially kickstarts today with a glittering opening ceremony.
The Paris Olympics 2024 opening ceremony will kickstart at 1:30 p.m., EDT/7:30 p.m. and IST 11.00 p.m. It is the first time in 100 years that the French capital has hosted the summer Games, with the majority of the events taking place in or around the city’s most iconic areas.
As per Olympics.com, in a first, the opening ceremony will not be conducted inside a stadium. The traditional Parade of Nations will be taking place along the river Seine, flowing through the heart of Paris.
Over 10,000 Olympic athletes will be cruising through the Seine and passing through some of Paris’ most iconic landmarks, like Notre Dame, Pont des Arts, Pont Neuf and more on around 100 boats.
This floating parade will depart from Austerlitz Bridge beside the Jardin des Plantes and will meet its conclusion at the Trocadero, where the last remaining Olympic-related protocols and shows will be performed.
The ceremony is expected to last more than three hours. The Paris 2024 Games is pledged to be the “greenest in history,” and the French have promised a “Games Wide Open.”
French theatre director and actor Thomas Jolly is overseeing the ceremonies for the 2024 Olympics and Paralympics in the capacity of an artistic director.
IOC hosts eve summit
On the eve of the Opening Ceremony of the XXXIII Olympic Games in Paris, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) organised an unprecedented summit in the interests of sport, youth and sustainable development that brought together more than 60 heads of state and government and heads of international organisations and got five global commitments and promises of big investments from IOC, FIFA, private and public entities.
The first Sport for Sustainable Development Summit, the largest meeting ever organised on this subject, took place on Thursday on the eve of Paris 2024. On this occasion, France and the IOC wanted to kick off an unprecedented movement to accelerate the contribution of sport to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
At the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron and IOC President Thomas Bach, the Summit brought together 500 participants -– heads of state and government, heads of international organisations and public banks, members of the Olympic Movement and socially committed athletes, representatives of civil society and young citizens -– and gave rise to ambitious and measurable political, financial and sporting commitments.
On the political level, the commitments of the Paris Agreement for Sport and Sustainable Development received the support of more than 60 heads of state and government and heads of international organisations, including the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, who issued a call for the participants to join the Summit of the Future in September, the IOC informed in a release on Thursday.
This Agreement, to which the Olympic Movement has signed up, consists of 10 commitments around the five main priorities of the Summit:
Education and employment, Health and nutrition, Equality and inclusion, Financing and impact measurement, Sustainability and legacy.
On the sporting front, the heads of some of the biggest international sports competitions have announced significant commitments:
The IOC, through its President, Thomas Bach, has announced a 10% increase in its budget dedicated to Olympic Solidarity (USD 650 million for 2025-2028). This will support athletes and sports development programmes around the globe, and includes a budget increase to support National Olympic Committees (NOCs) in their endeavours to actively contribute to the IOC’s strategy to strengthen the role of sport as an important enabler for the UN SDGs.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced an ambitious programme to install 1,000 sustainable football pitches in schools in support of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Sindhu is India’s only female athlete who has won multiple Olympic medals…reports Asian Lite News
Indian table tennis veteran Achanta Sharath Kamal and ace shuttler and two-time medallist PV Sindhu share excitement for the ‘one-time opportunity’ of being flagbearers for the Paris Olympics opening ceremony, scheduled on Friday.
Sharath Kamal, who will feature in his record fifth Olympics, was selected as India’s flagbearer in March this year but Sindhu was named as the female flagbearer earlier this month.
“Waiting for July 26 (Friday), when we’ll be leading the Indian contingent at the opening ceremony in Paris (Olympics). It’s been a moment that I’ve been dreaming and visualising about, for the last 3-4 months. I’m pretty excited that I’m going to live that moment and especially that I’m going to do that with PV Sindhu. So, it’s a fantastic moment, I would say,” said Sharath Kamal.
Notably, in 2020, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) updated its protocol, permitting one female and and one male athlete from each NOC to bear the flag jointly during the opening ceremony of the Summer Games.
Sindhu is India’s only female athlete who has won multiple Olympic medals. The ace shuttler won the silver medal in the women’s singles at the 2016 Rio Olympics and followed that with a bronze at the 2020 Tokyo Games.
“Yes, I’m very happy to be the flag bearer with our fellow Indian, Sharath Kamal. It’s a proud moment for both of us and of course, it’s a one time opportunity for anyone to be a flag bearer and representing our country, and it’s at the Olympics, standing there, right in the front, holding an Indian flag, it’s a very proud moment for both of us and of course he’s like a super senior to me. I’ve known him for a very, very long time, so it’s always nice to be holding a flag with the fellow Indians,” said Sindhu.
Sindhu, on the other hand, will be playing in her third consecutive Olympics and is excited for the competition to begin, where she will be eyeing her third consecutive medal to become the most decorated Indian athlete at the Olympics.
“I am super proud to be here at Olympic village. This will be my third Olympics, and really excited for the competition to begin. At the same time, I will be the flag bearer for the Indian contingent and I am super proud… I will be holding the bigger flag at the opening ceremony and I hope, with the same excitement, I do well in the competition and get a medal back to India,” Sindhu added.
Paris 2024 will mark the first time in the history of the Olympic Summer Games that the opening ceremony is held outside a stadium. This outdoor concept also makes it the largest opening ceremony in terms of audience and geographical coverage.
Almost 100 boats carrying an estimated 10,500 athletes will float along the Seine during the parade. The larger of the 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) represented in the parade will have boats to themselves, while the smaller ones will share boats.
Bindra Lights Up Paris
Beijing Olympic gold medallist Abhinav Bindra feels honoured to carry the 2024 Paris Olympic flame and said he is humbled to be part of the sporting pinnacle.
Bindra, who made history by simultaneously being the world and Olympic champion for the men’s 10-metre air rifle event, joined the Paris 2024 Torch Relay event on Wednesday and was thrilled to hold the spirit of the Games. The former shooter became the first Indian athlete to win a first-ever individual gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
“Carrying the Olympic flame yesterday in the Paris 2024 Torch Relay was an honour beyond words. The spirit of the Games lives in each of us, and I am humbled to be part of this incredible journey. Let’s continue to inspire, dream, and achieve together! #Paris2024,” Bindra posted on ‘X.’
The Paris Olympics will take place from July 26 to August 11, with 117 athletes from India representing the country in the mega quadrennial event. Some of the biggest names from the Indian contingent include two-time medallist shuttler PV Sindhu, who will be the country’s flag-bearer in the opening ceremony alongside table tennis veteran Sharath Kamal on Friday.
The UAE delegation sets out its journey to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games through two competitions: swimming and judo, two days after the official opening ceremony…reports Asian Lite News
The Opening Ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is scheduled for Friday, 26 July 2024 in Paris. The international sports event will see 10,500 athletes from 200 National Olympic Committees compete in 32 sports across 329 events at 35 venues in the presence of 20,000 media representatives, and 45,000 volunteers.
The UAE National Olympic Committee (NOC) said 14 Emirati athletes will compete in five sports: equestrian, judo, cycling, swimming, and athletics during the Games will conclude on 11th August.
The UAE delegation sets out its journey to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games through two competitions: swimming and judo, two days after the official opening ceremony.
The Paris 2024 Olympics is considered an important stage in the UAE’s future sports journey at the Olympic level, which began in Los Angeles 1984. It is a departure for a new station towards a brighter sporting future, in light of the National Sports Strategy 2031, which represents an umbrella for all initiatives, programs and projects of the sports sector in the UAE, and whose main goal is to increase the number of qualified Emirati athletes to over 30 by the 2023 Olympic Games.
Speaking about the national sporting ambitions and the future of UAE sports in the Olympic Games, Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Director-General of the General Authority of Sports, said: “Since the flag of this dear nation was raised for the first time at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, we have been dreaming of a bright sporting future that carries with it achievements and excellence. There is no doubt that our participation in the Olympics is not just a sporting competition, but rather an embodiment of the visions and directions of our wise leadership and the dreams and aspirations of our people and our rising generations.”
He added: “The 1984 Los Angeles Olympics was the beginning, and since then we have been striving to build a generation of athletes who represent the UAE in the best way. The challenges we faced and the difficulties we surmounted were nothing but additional motivations to achieve more achievements.”
He said: “As we prepare today for the Paris 2024 Olympics in a few days, we have in mind a goal that goes beyond Paris, which is to achieve the largest possible participation and create a new dream for the UAE’s leadership and people, in line with objectives of the National Sports Strategy 2031, which include developing the capabilities of sports talents and achieving success in elite professional sports to consolidate the presence of the UAE on the global sports landscape.’’
Parents proud as Nikhat Zareen braves all odds to attain glory.
Reflecting on her path to success, Zareen attributes much of her success to her father’s unwavering support, despite the challenges posed by societal norms in her community…reports Asian Lite News
Nikhat Zareen is setting her sights on an Olympic medal to add to her impressive collection at Paris 2024. Six Indian pugilists, four women and two men, have qualified for the Paris Olympics and five of them are training in Germany till July 22 before heading to the French capital for the Games.
The squad includes Nikhat Zareen (women’s 50kg), Preeti Pawar (women’s 54kg), Tokyo Olympics bronze medallist Lovlina Borgohain (women’s 75kg), Nishant Dev (men’s 71kg) and Amit Panghal (men’s 51kg).
Since the conclusion of India’s campaign at Tokyo 2020, Zareen has been laser-focused on Paris 2024, confident that this is her moment to shine. “When India’s campaign in the Tokyo Olympics ended, that day I decided to channel my focus into preparing for the Paris Olympics. I also posted a picture on social media about the countdown to Paris,” said Zareen. “I think everyone has their moment, and this is my moment. Whoever said I wouldn’t make it to Paris, I finally made it. I’ll take all the negativity and positivity around me positively, try to get better, and come as a different fighter inside the ring in Paris,” Nikhat Zareen told JioCinema.
Reflecting on her path to success, Zareen attributes much of her success to her father’s unwavering support, despite the challenges posed by societal norms in her community. “My journey has been a roller coaster ride, coming from a community where women lack support. But my father, an athlete himself, knew what it takes to become a champion. He always supported me in my journey. He told me to focus on boxing and said, ‘When you fulfill your dream of winning a medal for the country, that day these people will come to congratulate you and take selfies.’
Zareen emphasises the sacrifices necessary to reach the pinnacle of her sport, underscoring the unique challenge of becoming an Olympic Champion. “I have sacrificed many things to become a World Champion, but becoming an Olympic Champion is different. Whenever I am preparing for competitions, I stay away from social media. I don’t talk much with my family or friends. I spend time with myself, and I try to use it the right way. I read a lot of books also,” she shared. “This time, in preparation for Paris 2024, I’ll try to stay away from all these distractions, and I’ll try to stay as positive as possible and work harder to leave no stone unturned for Paris.”
Providing a glimpse into her pre-fight mindset, Zareen emphasised the importance of giving her all in every bout. “I go in with the motive to give my best so that whatever happens inside the ring, whatever the result might be, I shouldn’t have the regret that I could have won the bout if I had given 10% more. I don’t want that regret, so I go in with the mindset to always give my 100%.”
Nikhat Zareen’s illustrious career includes two World Championships Gold medals, a gold at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, and a bronze at the 2022 Asian Games. She is among six Indian boxers who have qualified for Paris 2024, competing in the women’s 50kg category.
With the Paris Games golf competition a few months off, Aditi has eight events lined up before the Olympics. Maintaining her 2023 consistency is her main goal…reports Asian Lite News
As the Indian golfer Aditi Ashok prepars herself for the Paris Olympics, every tournament will count for the 26-year-old athlete in quest of her first medal in her third Summer Games after debuting for India at Rio 2016.
It’s been a mixed 2024 for Aditi, whose best finish — tied 35th with a score of 2-under par — was at the Cognizant Founders Cup in April-May this year. She did not make the cut in her last event, the Mizuho Americas Open at Liberty National, but that’s part of the business at the highest level and no reflection on what to expect at the Paris Games or even in your next professional tournament.
“I feel I’ve gotten better with all aspects of my game. Year 2023 especially was a great year performance wise and that’s because I managed to pick up some distance in the off season last year. I would say winning a medal is pretty high up there in terms of career achievements,” Aditi told SAI Media.
“My results have been average, I would say. Have played good in streaks but not for all four days. I do feel I’m playing well so I’m looking forward to the summer events leading up to the Olympics. No special plans I would say,” added Aditi, who is receiving rS 57 lakhs assistance from TOPS for the Paris Olympics 2024 cycle.
Aditi, who made the cut this week at the US Women’s Open in Lancaster Country Club, missed a medal at Tokyo 2020 by a whisker in the final round. It could well have been a gold for the Bangalorean, but then in golf, a game of fine margins, it boils down to nerves and consistency.
“I think I played some of my best golf in Tokyo. And I was hitting the ball so short that week that I don’t think I could’ve done anything more to play any better. I think I was the most efficient with my game that week. So with Tokyo I gained a lot of confidence I would say and not much learning.
“With the Asian Games I played one of my worst rounds of the year on the final day. Which was after the best round of my life on the third day. So sometimes you fail and there’s no reason as to why,” said Aditi.
“In 2023, I finished in the top 10 eight different times apart from winning twice. I think I could’ve won any of those eight tournaments too but people seem to remember only the Asian Games performance and not the others whether good or bad,” she added.
The golf competition at the Paris Games is still a couple of months away and Aditi is scheduled to play at least another eight events leading up to the Olympics. Cracking consistent form, as she did in 2023, will be her biggest aim.
“I think if you have a solid foundation with your overall game, those (good) days will get more consistent. For me personally, game wise, I know hitting the ball further will help with proximity to the hole which will make me more consistent everyday so that’s what I’m usually focusing on,” said Aditi, currently the highest ranked Indian at 51 on the Official World Golf Rankings and 25th (out of 60) in Olympic Golf Ranking.
Course knowledge plays a big role in doing well in any event and Aditi wants to get a feel of the Le Golf National, the competition venue at the Paris Games. She is planning to train there ahead of the Games but till then it will be the events that will grab her immediate attention.
“I’m looking at each event with the same importance and trying to do my best for all four days each week. That should get me in a good frame of mind and routine before the games and hopefully that will be enough at Paris,” Aditi concluded.
The carbon-zero turf being used in Paris is made from 80% sugarcane and manufactured using green electricity…reports Asian Lite News
The hockey competition at the upcoming Paris Olympic Games will have something unique about it — the matches will be played on the world’s first carbon-zero hockey turf which is setting new standards for sustainability in sports surfaces.
The carbon-zero turf being used in Paris is made from 80% sugarcane and manufactured using green electricity, thus having a lesser impact on the environment. It also requires less water to irrigate it before every match.
Besides being a thrilling showcase of skill, strategy, and athleticism, with the best teams from around the globe competing at the highest level, the hockey competition at the XXXIII Olympiad aims to leave a lasting legacy not just in sporting achievements but also in advancing environmental consciousness within the realm of global sporting events.
The International Hockey Federation (FIH) has made a strict commitment to make hockey a globally sustainable sport and Paris 2024 will represent another step taken towards achieving that goal. The initial steps were taken with a steady reduction in water usage, showcased by the turf used at the Olympic Games in Tokyo requiring 39% less water for optimal performance than the turf used in Rio only four years earlier.
At the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the boundaries will be pushed further, as hockey will be played on the innovative ‘Poligras Paris GT zero’ hockey turf, which is setting new standards for sustainability in sports surfaces.
Developed by Sport Group and installed in Paris by Polytan, this advanced turf is the world’s first carbon-zero hockey turf, aligning with the Paris 2024 Games’ commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility, the FIH informed in a release on Wednesday.
Carbon-zero Poligras Paris GT zero is made from 80% sugarcane and manufactured using green electricity. The production process emphasizes low emissions and energy efficiency, ensuring that the turf’s lifecycle—from creation to disposal—adheres to the highest environmental standards, the FIH release said.
This eco-friendly turf doesn’t compromise on performance. Athletes can expect the same high-quality playability, ball speed, and consistency that Poligras surfaces are known for, which have been trusted at 8 Olympic Games and many World Cups. The Paris 2024 Olympics Hockey will aim to showcase that sustainability and top-tier athletic performance can go hand-in-hand.
Moreover, ‘Poligras Paris GT zero’ is designed to conserve water. It requires significantly less irrigation than traditional synthetic turfs, aligning with global efforts to preserve water resources, particularly relevant as the world grapples with water scarcity issues.
The introduction of Polytan’s ‘Poligras Paris GT zero’ at the Olympic Games Paris 2024 marks a significant advancement in sustainable hockey technology. By utilising renewable resources and focusing on environmental impact, this new turf not only supports elite athletic performance but also sets a precedent for future hockey events to prioritise sustainability, which has long been an aim for the FIH.
Breaking, the high-profile new sport, will make its Olympic debut on August 9 in Place de la Concord…reports Asian Lite News
The International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) executive board has approved the competition schedule of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
There will be 32 sports contested across 19 days of competition from July 24, two days before the opening ceremony, to August 11, with 329 medal events and 762 sessions.
The first gold medal will be presented on July 27, the day after the opening ceremony, with cycling, judo, fencing, diving, rugby, shooting, swimming, and skateboarding medals all set to be awarded.
All swimming and athletic finals will be held in the evening. The first swimming gold medal will be awarded on July 27, and the first athletic gold on August 2.
Breaking, the high-profile new sport, will make its Olympic debut on August 9 in Place de la Concord.
From August 8 to 11, finals of the women’s and men’s hockey, handball, football, beach volleyball, volleyball, basketball, and water polo will be held, to provide an exciting finale before the closing ceremony on the evening of August 11.
