PARIS, July 26 (Bernama) -- The 33rd edition of the Olympic Games will commence in Paris tonight, marking the city's return as host after a century. The Games, running until Aug 11, aim to create a lasting legacy as the world's largest multi-sport event.
Paris is hosting the Olympics for the third time, having previously done so in 1900 and 1924, thus matching London’s record of hosting the Games in 1908, 1948, and 2012.
When the Games were last held in Paris, many countries were still recovering from the devastating impacts of World War I which broke out from 1914 to 1918.
The organisers have implemented several strategies to ensure sustainability and reduce carbon emissions while hosting approximately 10,500 elite athletes competing in 329 events across 32 sports.
Ninety-five percent of the 35 venues are existing or temporary structures, with the Aquatic Centre in Saint-Denis being the only new venue built for the Games. Additionally, several of Paris's iconic landmarks have been transformed into competition venues, providing spectacular views for spectators and viewers alike.
The main highlight of the Paris Games is the opening ceremony, scheduled for 7.30 pm tonight (1:30 am Saturday Malaysian time), which will be held outdoors for the first time, on the famous River Seine, with 300,000 spectators watching from bridges and riverbanks, deviating from the traditional stadium setting.
According to the organisers, thousands of athletes from over 200 contingents, including the Refugee Olympic Team, will participate in the 6km Parade of Nations, in a 100-boat flotilla, passing iconic landmarks such as Notre Dame and the Louvre.
The Malaysian contingent includes six athletes and four officials. Flag bearers Bertrand Rhodict Lises (diving) and Nur Shazrin Mohamad Latif (sailing) will lead the group, which also includes Nur Dhabitah Sabri (diving), Khairulnizam Mohd Afendy (sailing), Ashley Lau (golf), and Tan Rouxin (swimming), to the Trocadero, the esplanade near the Eiffel Tower.
The French government has successfully cleaned up the River Seine to host marathon swimming and triathlon events, however, some remain skeptical that heavy rains could cause sewage overflow into the river. Swimming has been illegal in the river for over 100 years due to pollution.
To demonstrate the success of the €1.5 billion (about RM7.5 billion) cleanup effort, Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo and Paris 2024 Organising Committee president Tony Estanguet recently took a dip in the river. They aim to create designated swimming areas for the public by next year.
The inclusion of breaking (commonly known as breakdancing) is expected to add excitement to the Games and attract a younger audience, while the surfing event will be held 15,000 km away in the French territory of Tahiti.
Malaysia, which made its Olympic debut at the 1956 Melbourne Games, has won a total of eight silver and five bronze medals, with badminton contributing six silver and three bronze medals.
-- BERNAMA
