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It’s hard to imagine that the 2024 Summer Olympics are just over one week away. Dozens of countries will head to Paris, France beginning on Friday, July 26 as they prepare to compete for worldwide bragging rights.
With an event as big as the Olympics, it isn’t shocking that there’s a lot to take in from the history to the pageantry and all the storylines in between. Such an information overload can be overwhelming to some people, which is why Betting News is here to make life easier.
Take a glimpse into the intriguing storylines and notable facts taking shape as we approach the 2024 Paris Games.
Summer Olympics 2024: 5 Interesting Storylines & Facts Before Paris Games
1. How Will Team USA Basketball Perform?
When it comes to the Summer Olympics, the United States excels at various sports — especially basketball. Since 1936, the American men have won a world-leading 16 gold medals in basketball — including the last four in a row. Meanwhile, the women have won nine of a possible 12 gold medals and have emerged as the No. 1 country in each of the last seven Summer Games.
It comes as no surprise that the American men and women are expected to win it all once again this year, given their impressive track record. The odds heavily favor Team USA, with -450 for the men’s basketball team and -1250 for the women’s team in their respective brackets.
It is probable that this will be the final Olympics where we witness the convergence of talents like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Kevin Durant. These superstar individuals have already achieved considerable international acclaim. Only time will reveal if they can secure a gold medal collectively before retiring from the game.
However, there are doubts and uncertainties surrounding both teams. The men’s team has only managed to secure narrow victories against weaker opponents in their exhibition matches. Conversely, the women’s team suffered a 117-109 defeat against the WNBA All-Stars during the weekend. It is unclear whether these struggles will persist during the tournament.
It would be astonishing if both of Team USA’s basketball teams depart from Paris without winning any gold medals by the end of the day.
2. Is Caeleb Dressel Still Among the World’s Best?
Iconic American swimmer Caeleb Dressel shocked a lot of people when he stepped away from the sport in 2022 to focus on his health. The Green Cove Springs, FL native is one of the greatest swimmers that the country has ever produced, racking up 31 gold medals between the Olympic Games, World Championships, and Pan Pacific Championships.
After an eight-month break, Dressel made a comeback to swimming in 2023, but it proved challenging for him to regain his previous form. The extended break had a noticeable impact on his performance, raising doubts about whether he still ranked among the world’s top swimmers, especially after failing to qualify for the previous year’s World Championships. Only time would reveal if he could reclaim his position amongst the elite.
Luckily, Dressel has made a comeback after an impressive performance at the U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials. He is currently expected to compete in the 50m freestyle event, where he has the second-highest chance (+200) of winning according to BetOnline. Additionally, Bovada has him as the favorite (+300) to win the men’s 100m butterfly, making him a significant factor in Team USA’s status as the favored team (-300) in the 4 x 100m freestyle relay.
Dressel has the potential to be one of the United States’ top performers in the upcoming weeks if he can overcome his past struggles.
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3. Fewer Events Than in Tokyo
The annual count of events at each Olympics fluctuates. In the first Summer Games held in Athens in 1896, there were merely 43 events. Subsequently, the number escalated to 306 events in Rio, and further soared to 339 events in Tokyo four years prior.
That being said, the 2024 Paris Games will feature a reduced number of Olympic events, totaling 329. While this count is more than seven times the original count, it is inevitable that the exclusion of certain sports will disappoint fans worldwide.
While breakdancing will be debuting in Paris this year, events such as karate, softball, and baseball were shown the door. It’ll be interesting to see if those sports’ absence is noticeable by the time we get to the closing ceremonies.
Only time will tell if those events will make a comeback in the Summer Games when they come to Los Angeles in 2028.
4. New & Returning Events
Despite the absence of karate and baseball in the upcoming weeks, the 2024 Summer Olympics will showcase several new and returning events.
Take a glimpse at these events and discover the reasons why you should feel enthusiastic about them:
- Breaking news: As previously stated, breakdancing will be showcased at the Olympics for the first time this summer. A total of 16 male and 16 female participants will engage in intense one-on-one battles, culminating in the crowning of a champion.
- Introducing Kayak Cross: Among the highly favored elements of the Olympics, water-based sports hold a prominent position, and now, kayak cross joins the lineup. In this exhilarating event, athletes will navigate through both upstream and downstream waters, battling against each other instead of racing against the clock, marking a thrilling first.
- Kiteboarding is a new addition to the Olympics, although sailing has been a long-standing sport. This exhilarating water sport is reminiscent of wakeboarding, as competitors engage in a race rather than a judged competition.
- For the very first time, a mixed walk race will take place, featuring 25 teams consisting of one man and one woman. These teams will compete in a thrilling 40km relay race.
- Men will now compete against women in artistic swimming for the first time in the history of the Summer Games, despite its 40-year presence in the event.
Despite the absence of some beloved classics this year, the upcoming new events seem promising enough to temporarily fill the void. Additionally, it’s worth noting that the Tokyo debutants from four years ago, such as 3×3 basketball, skateboarding, and surfing, are making a comeback.
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5. Olympic Medals Features Eiffel Tower Iron
Every four years, one of the most fascinating aspects of the Olympics is observing the diversity in medals. Not only do the designs differ for each Summer Games, but the composition of the gold also undergoes alteration.
For example, the 2024 Tokyo Olympics featured recycled electronic waste in their medal designs. The 2016 Rio Games also used recycled metals for the medals while the ribbon stemmed from recycled water bottles. It’s pretty interesting to see how the medals are both good for the environment while looking stellar in the process.
The Paris Games will embrace the trend of uniqueness on a grand scale. To make this year’s Olympic medals truly special, fragments of the city’s iconic Eiffel Tower were incorporated. These iron pieces were collected over the years during renovation projects. To transform them into medals, Chaumet, a renowned French luxury jewelry maker, skillfully combined the iron with gold, silver, and bronze.
It’s a unique experience to possess a fragment of the Eiffel Tower as a necklace, highlighting the incredible significance it holds for the athletes who will be awarded something similar this summer.
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Still Here? Other 2024 Summer Olympics Reads
- Team USA Men’s Basketball Preview
- Team USA Women’s Basketball Preview
- How to Bet on 2024 Paris Games
