The 2024 Olympic Games kick off this Friday 26 July in Paris! After a grandiose opening ceremony on the Seine under very high security and in the presence of numerous international leaders, 11,310 athletes from 206 countries will be chasing medals in 79 sports and disciplines, before their Paralympic counterparts follow at the end of August.

As always, this major sporting event is fraught with controversy. In France, to begin with, the financial and environmental cost of the event, in a particularly tense political and social context, is the subject of fierce criticism. Internationally, with war still raging in Ukraine and Gaza despite the IOC’s call for an Olympic truce, the Games are sometimes seen as a futile, even indecent diversion. While some fifteen Russian athletes are taking part under a neutral banner, the Palestinian Olympic Committee has called in vain for the immediate exclusion of Israel. Against this particularly worrying geopolitical backdrop, the magic of sport and the beauty of the Parisian setting will nevertheless help to provide a breath of fresh air and a little respite during the summer.

To mark the Paris Olympics, take a look at our ‘There’s going to be sport’ teaching tool. It’s your turn to play!

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