🤺 Paris Olympics - Day #1 🤺

Day 2 | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 | Day 8 | Day 9 | Day 10 |Day 11 | Day 12 | Day 13 | Day 14 

The 33rd Olympiad has arrived!

I thought day #1, well, the first day after the opening ceremonies hit it off the ground. It would be nice if I could attend the games in-person, but watching everything on PeacockTV has not disappointed. On Saturday, July 27, 2024, I watched multiple sports and some sports like fencing and table tennis provided four games at one time - spot screen on the app. 

Perfect.

Surfing, swimming, canoeing, water polo, badminton, and Equestrian rounded out day #1. Whoo! I know some individuals say that they love the Olympics, but I truly love the Olympics. Let's face it...I took a history of the Olympics and Sport class in college. To this day, I still keep in touch with the professor. Prior to taking the class, I already knew most, if not all, of the previous locations that each Olympiad took place. I took this course in 2002 or 2003. So, everything leading up to Salt Lake City 2002.

What attracted me to the O-Games? The 1988 Olympics in Seoul, Korea. Watching athletes like Carl Lewis, Florence Griffith Joyner, and others. The competition and different smaller sports like team handball, fencing, table tennis, archery, and everything else. Barcelona in 1992 had me glued to three channels (Red, White, and Blue package) that my mom bought because she thought it was important for me to watch the Olympic Games.

She wasn't wrong because I absolutely loved it!

If you have not watched any of the above games from yesterday, here is a brief recap:

Table Tennis - four game split screen, so the energy was high in the arena. Having no commentary worked. Just pure play. Xia Lian Ni of Luxembourg 🇱🇺 (61yy)...she's good.

Fencing - Most exhilarating matches. Split screen in order to watch four games at the same time. Underrated spectator sport. We need more in high schools.

Surfing - Interesting. Tedious and patient sport.  minutes to gain as many points as possible. Every surfer waits patiently to hit the right wave, which they only surf about four or five times. Ideal Tahiti waves steadily arrived.

Water Polo - Jenna Flynn for the USA 🇺🇸 took it to Greece 🇬🇷 yesterday. 

Badminton - My parents used to have a set when I was younger. So, playing that in the backyard exposed me to the sport. I love how the Olympians actually play fast, the appropriate speed.

Canoeing - Change your thoughts about canoeing. The Olympians make it look exhausting and fun.

Swimming - Always a favorite. The rivalry between Australia 🇦🇺 and the USA 🇺🇸 continues.

Rugby 7's - Wish they started later. Rugby begins prior to the opening ceremonies as does soccer. The men have ended, but the women are just getting started. 

Equestrian - I saw Dressage, the haughty-taughty of Equestrian lol. They have excellent control of the horses.

Well, that was day #1. My goal is to see every sport at least once in the next two weeks. The Olympics should energize you, inspire you to try a new sport or continue one you play. It should teach you new countries and languages and show tight competition.

Have at it!

Five Rings,

Derek 

#Paris2024 | #Olympics |