Manu Bhaker becomes the only shooter to qualify for two individual events at the upcoming Olympics. The team consists of eight rifle and seven pistol shooters, with an emphasis on trial results. The squad is currently in France for acclimatization and training before returning for a break. India secured a record 21 out of 24 possible quotas, including eight each in rifle and pistol events. Despite fielding large teams in Tokyo and Rio, India has yet to win a medal in shooting at the Olympics.
A new Assouline book, ‘The Last Heroes: 100 Moments of Olympic Legend,’ captures the unwavering spirit of athletes throughout Olympic history. Through stunning images and captivating narratives, the book celebrates their dedication, joy, pain, and mastery. From Jesse Owens’ triumph in 1936 to Kerri Strug’s unforgettable vault in 1996, these stories showcase the resilience, determination, and transformative power of human potential. The book also reflects on the social and political significance of the Olympics, underscoring its enduring role as a symbol of modernity and a catalyst for progress.
The 2024 Olympics are set to take place from July 26th to August 11th, 2024, and will be held in Paris, Marseille, Versailles, Colombes, and Teahupo’o, Tahiti. This year’s Olympics will feature several new disciplines, including breaking, surfing, skateboarding, and artistic swimming for men. Expect to see renowned athletes such as Katie Ledecky, Novak Djokovic, Naomi Osaka, Simone Biles, Suni Lee, and Allyson Felix competing for their respective countries.
A new Assouline book showcases 100 stunning images from the Olympic Games, capturing the dedication, joy, pain, and mastery of athletes throughout history. Written by noted French sports journalists Olivier Margot and Etienne Bonamy, the book traces the evolution of sports and their impact on society. From Jesse Owens’ triumph in 1936 to Kerri Strug’s heroic vault in 1996, the book highlights the stories of resilience, courage, and perseverance that define the Olympic spirit.
Vogue World: Paris, set to take place on Sunday, June 23rd, 2024, promises to be an unforgettable event honoring a century of fashion and sport in the iconic city of Paris. The event will feature a collaboration with youth athletic academies from throughout France, pairing different Olympic sports with French fashion from the past century. The show will showcase the work of both contemporary and historic French designers, as well as houses that typically show their collections in Paris. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Secours Populaire, a humanitarian organization dedicated to providing access to sporting events for low-income households. The event will be streamed live on Vogue’s website for those unable to attend in person.
India’s medal hopes for the upcoming Paris Games have been dealt a significant blow as World Championships bronze medallist Parveen Hooda faces a potential suspension that could jeopardize her Olympic quota. WADA has provisionally suspended Hooda for 18 months due to three Whereabouts Failures within a year. The Indian Boxing Federation is desperately trying to overturn the suspension or reduce it to one year, but there is no precedent for such a sanction to be completely overturned. Hooda’s absence will likely result in India losing the 57kg berth, with 60kg pugilist Jaismine Lamboria stepping up to compete in the World Olympic Qualifiers.
Indian table tennis legends Sharath Kamal and Manika Batra will lead the country’s historic team debut in the Olympic Games in Paris. The senior selection committee of the Table Tennis Federation of India has selected a six-member squad, including three men and three women, to compete in the team events. Additionally, Sharath and Harmeet Desai will compete in the men’s singles, while Manika and Sreeja Akula will represent India in the women’s singles. The selection was based on the latest world rankings, with Sharath, Manika, and Sreeja earning automatic berths due to their top-50 rankings. Archana Kamath and Harmeet Desai were chosen as the third members of the women’s and men’s teams, respectively, after a careful evaluation of their performances and rankings.
India’s hopes for a strong contingent of men’s freestyle wrestlers at the Paris Olympics suffered a setback as Sujeet Kalkal and Jaideep Ahlawat failed to qualify at the World Olympic Qualifier in Istanbul. Despite the disappointment, India managed to secure a lone spot through Aman Sehrawat (57kg) while women wrestlers continued to excel with five competitors qualifying for the Games. The wrestling federation remains optimistic about Ravi Dahiya’s (65kg) chances, with selection trials set for June 10th.
The upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games face daunting cybersecurity challenges, with experts anticipating a surge in attacks from organized crime, activists, and even nation-states. To mitigate the threats, organizers have collaborated with the French national security agency (ANSSI), Cisco, and Eviden to implement robust security measures. The cybersecurity operation center, operating from a secret location, aims to minimize the impact of cyberattacks on the Games.
French health authorities are warning of the risks of imported cases of dengue fever ahead of the Olympics due to the ongoing surge of the virus in the Americas. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been more than 5.2 million cases of dengue in the Americas, an increase of more than 400 percent compared to the average over the past five years. The virus, which is transmitted to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito, can be severe or fatal in some cases. French health authorities have reported more than 1,649 imported cases of dengue this year, mostly from French overseas territories of Guadeloupe and Martinique. They are calling on health professionals and the public to be vigilant, especially as the tiger mosquito that transmits the dengue virus has established itself in Europe. When traveling to regions with high levels of dengue, people should wear loose clothing that covers the skin and use insect repellent and mosquito nets to prevent bites.
