Sports Mole rounds up all of the must-see events from the 2024 Olympics in Paris on July 24 as the football and rugby tournaments commence.
Over 10,000 of the world’s most celebrated sports stars have now checked into the athletes’ village for the latest quadrennial extravaganza, as nations gun for gold, strive for silver and battle for bronze at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
A total of 206 countries have entered their finest Olympic hopefuls for the global gathering, which runs from July 24 to August 11, although the action begins before the opening ceremony takes place on July 26.
Indeed, the men’s football and men’s rugby sevens tournaments commence on Wednesday, where teams will endeavour to get off to the perfect start to their group/pool stage while basking in the honour of representing their country at the Games.
Here, Sports Mole looks ahead to the must-see events in Paris on July 24.
SPORT – FOOTBALL
© Imago
KEY EVENTS
Two of the four teams who have the honour of taking part in the first Paris matches, Argentina and Morocco clash in Group B as the South American giants – spearheaded by Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez and with the wise old head of Nicolas Otamendi at the back – seek to replicate the seniors’ run to Copa America glory.
Another continental champion will coincidentally kick off proceedings in Group C at the same time when Spain take on Uzbekistan. Beaten finalists in 2021, La Roja are among the favourites to go all the way in Paris – look out for 17-year-old Barcelona phenom Pau Cubarsi at the back.
Speaking of men’s football favourites, host nation France round off the footballing action against the USA in Group A this evening. Overseen by Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, expect a deadly front three of Michael Olise, Alexandre Lacazette and Jean-Philippe Mateta to terrorise the Yanks’ defence.
SPORT – RUGBY SEVENS
© Imago
KEY EVENTS
Thirty minutes after the first two football matches kick off, Group B foes Australia and Samoa lock horns in the opening rugby sevens Olympic contest, just a few hours before both teams go again in the evening.
The Olympic hosts will take to the Stade de France field this afternoon for an opening Group C date with the USA, where all eyes will be on Antoine Dupont, the 2021 World Rugby Men’s 15s Player of the Year and three-time Six Nations Player of the Championship.
Locked in Group C alongside France and the USA are two-time defending gold medallists Fiji, who conquered the Games in Rio and Tokyo and aim to give Olympic debutants Uruguay a baptism of fire.