The China Story
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Along with records broken and medals celebrated, competing at the Olympics is more often littered with narrow defeats, last-gasp errors and mental meltdowns that build true character and sportsmanship.
French rugby star Antoine Dupont kicks off the action at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday in a move that could not have been better scripted.
Rugby sevens will be held from July 24-30, with three days apiece for the men's and women's tournaments at the Stade de France.
Dupont, the captain of Toulouse and France in the 15-a-side format, has become one of the faces of the Games after his successful switch to the abbreviated game.
His absence from last season's Six Nations did not sit right with many France fans, still in shock at the team's quarterfinal exit from the Rugby World Cup on French soil.
But, for all the criticism, his absence, and Olympic presence, has been two years in the making.
World Rugby boss Alan Gilpin said the inclusion of Dupont in the Olympics was essential to keep growing the sport.
"The Dupont impact is incredible," Gilpin said. "It's provided a profile that we need to keep building."
Dupont's impact as a player in sevens has been striking.
The combative scrum-half helped France to a first tournament win in the world sevens series in 19 years, before steering the team to victory in the season-ending championship finale in Madrid.
"For any sports fan, the Olympics are still mythical, the Holy Grail of sport, and to be in with a chance of winning an Olympic medal is a highly motivating challenge," Dupont said.
Fiji, kings of sevens
While Dupont might grab the headlines, it is Fiji who is the undisputed king of Olympic sevens.
The Fijians come into the tournament as double defending champions after winning gold in Rio in 2016 and at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Games in 2021.
Fiji, drawn in Pool C alongside France, Uruguay and the United States, has a new coach in former player Osea Kolinisau — skipper of the team that won in Rio.
"Our biggest rivals, we talked about this in training, is ourselves," said Kolinisau, who replaced Englishman Ben Gollings as coach in March.
"When we get it right (mentally) people will be catching shadows on the ground."
Gollings was sacked after a poor run of results, and under Kolinisau the team has failed to get to the semifinals in either of the last two series events.
But, captain Jerry Tuwai, a two-time gold medalist, said that "a lot of things have changed since Osea came back", with the team focused on defending its Olympic "legacy".
"How we play the game is one thing. Our style of play has been opened up, and our teamwork and communication. And our decision-making, that is another thing that has been opened up, too."
At the sevens series Grand Final in Madrid, won by France, Fiji reeled off victories over Ireland, South Africa and New Zealand in the style Kolinisau wanted.
"I was asked before, 'what would success look like to you?' And I said, 'I just want the boys to play the Fijian way and play together as a team'," he said.
Argentina was the surprise package of the regular season, topping the standings thanks to three wins in the first four tournaments.
Los Pumas are drawn in Pool B alongside Australia, Samoa and Kenya.
Pool A features Rio 2016 silver medalist New Zealand, world No 2-ranked side Ireland, South Africa and Japan.
There is no British men's team, after South Africa sealed the final spot through a repechage tournament in Monaco.
Pool A: Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, South Africa
Pool B: Argentina, Australia, Kenya, Samoa
Pool C: Fiji, France, Uruguay, United States
AFP
Paris announced that some of the Olympic swimming competitions will be held in the Seine River, but the water quality has long been a concern among the public.
The good news is that the quality has shown significant improvement as the Olympics are approaching, and people are looking forward to the opening ceremony and swimming competitions in the Seine River.
Click on the video to see the river's path to the Olympics and China's wisdom in river management.
How diverse were the recreational activities of ancient emperors? Let's start with a game of polo.
In the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) court painting Zhu Zhanji at Leisure, you can observe a polo player galloping on horseback, striking the ball with a mallet, while onlookers watch in awe.
Feeling eager to try polo yourself but don't know how to start? Don't worry, you can try contemporary hockey instead – it feels quite similar when you're swinging the stick!
With the Paris Olympic Games just around the corner, let's get inspired by Zhu Zhanji at Leisure, up our sports game and welcome the Olympics in style!
Former captain of the Chinese women's national volleyball team and Olympic gold medalist Hui Ruoqi is embracing a vibrant new chapter in her life.
As a volleyball match commentator, recent PhD graduate and charity fund initiator, Hui is seamlessly transitioning into her multifaceted post-retirement roles. Adding to her impressive portfolio, the 33-year-old is set to become a teacher at Nanjing Normal University.
Hui, a key player in the Chinese women's volleyball team's triumphant Rio Olympics journey, holds a deep-seated belief in the team's core values: unwavering patriotism, steadfast teamwork, relentless perseverance and an indomitable spirit.
These principles have become the beacon guiding her career, influencing every venture she undertakes — be it commentating, teaching or spearheading charitable initiatives. Hui said her journey continues to inspire her, reflecting the enduring spirit of excellence she championed on the volleyball court.
Last month, Hui celebrated a significant milestone at Nanjing Normal University's 2024 graduate commencement ceremony, earning her PhD in sports humanities and sociology from the School of Sports Science.
As a student-athlete, Hui has always believed that playing sports and academic studies complement each other — both can be improved through rigorous training and practice. She emphasized the importance of moving forward with curiosity.
"For many questions I had on the court, I found the answers in books," Hui shared, likening her various post-retirement volleyball endeavors to "job rotation".
She said she is a hands-on person who feels that, by deeply experiencing something, she can better identify issues and then find answers through systematic analysis.
"As a beneficiary of volleyball, I feel responsible for helping the sport develop, and this is my passion," she said.
Hui's doctoral thesis, which explores the professionalization and reform of volleyball, represents more than just a milestone in her academic career. With over 200,000 words, she hopes her work will be a significant contribution to the volleyball industry and inspire scholars, coaches and athletes to delve into the sport's deeper issues.
During the FIVB Volleyball Nations League tournament in Hong Kong, Hui took on a new challenge, serving for the first time as an assistant technical delegate. She described this role as being "a pair of eyes" for the FIVB, overseeing every detail of the competition venue's management.
Hui explained that the job involves a lot of responsibility. "We conduct pre-event research at the host site, inspect its preparations, and complete match reports afterward. If any emergencies arise, we also assist in resolving them," she said.
"During my career, I thought volleyball was just what I saw every day. After retiring, I've come to see its far-reaching impact. It's a force that transcends time and space, inspiring generation after generation," Hui remarked.
Last December, Hui played a volleyball game with local children in Chaodeng Mongolian township, Zhaoyuan county, Daqing, Heilongjiang province, braving temperatures as low as — 30 C.
"Our court was nothing more than a small hollow in the ground, a net, and a few volleyballs. But, it held a unique charm unlike any other place I have played before," Hui recalled.
"From the harsh winters to the scorching summers, this humble volleyball court remains the favorite spot for local children to unwind after school."
In 2023, her Hui Foundation charity team launched the "100 Courts in 100 Cities" initiative. Through this program, they have built volleyball courts and organized village volleyball tournaments in places like Hotan prefecture, Xinjiang, and Zhongshan, Guangdong province. According to Hui, this initiative not only provides a stage for students and enthusiasts interested in volleyball, but also promotes the sport's development with follow-up training services.
The Hui Foundation also donated a volleyball court to the children of Chaodeng. Despite the challenging construction, due to the local topography and conditions, the children voluntarily joined the construction team, helping the workers carry sandbags and set up the net.
"I promised them that next time, we would play another game there. I hope that this court, along with others we will build in the future, will carry the volleyball dreams of many more children, fostering their physical health and instilling a spirit of perseverance."
With the Paris Olympics approaching, she wholeheartedly wishes all Olympians and China's women's volleyball team the very best.
"I hope they showcase their talents and savor every moment of competition. I also hope that our stories of perseverance on the court will inspire more people to boldly chase their own dreams."
Tracking Success delivers the inside story for global sports fans, exploring what makes elite performers tick, and providing insight into their biggest and most intriguing moments on and off the field of play.
China's top ace Zheng Qinwen has thrown down the gauntlet to her fellow Olympic competitors after defending her WTA 250 title in Palermo, boosting her medal prospects in Paris in the process.
A proven world-class competitor on clay, Zheng lived up to her pre-event billing as a hot favorite in Palermo, outplaying Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic 2-1 in Sunday's final to successfully defend her title on the Italian island of Sicily — while regaining her winning momentum in time for the Olympic tournament on the same surface.
"It was a really tough match, because I think she's an amazing player," Top-seed Zheng said after beating Muchova, the No 2 seed, 6-4,4-6, 6-2 in nearly three hours on Sunday.
"I think I gave her a lot of opportunities in the second set. I didn't play aggressively enough," said Zheng, who lost to former No 8 Muchova in their only previous encounter at the Madrid Open in 2022.
"It was a really tough match because she's an amazing player. She volleyed very well and had a tough drop shot for me. There were a lot of ups and downs. I was trying to be more aggressive in the third set, and I'm happy that it worked out."
It was Zheng's third career WTA singles title, following her first on home soil in Zhengzhou last year, and secured a career-high ranking of No 7, as she heads into the Olympic tournament at Roland Garros next week as the sixth-seeded ace.
Zheng now has an 11-1 career win-loss record in Palermo. She conceded her only loss at the tournament to Jaqueline Cristian in the second round in 2022, but avenged that defeat to the Romanian in this year's quarterfinals.
"I feel that this place has been really special for me," Zheng said of her winning streak in Palermo. "I've had a lot of great performances here."
Zheng made this week's championship match without losing a set, reaching her first final on the WTA Tour since her maiden Grand Slam final appearance at this year's Australian Open.
With just a week before the all-important Olympic tournament, Zheng's title finish in her final tuneup prior to Paris has proved that she's managed the unusual, sudden surface switch midway through the traditional grass-court portion of the season well enough for a deep run on her Olympic debut.
"I took a couple of days to rest, repair and refresh myself mentally, to recharge my energy, and to get ready to be back on the court," Zheng said of her adjustment, after suffering a consecutive first-round elimination at this year's Wimbledon Championships.
Although starting out on China's hard courts in her junior years, Zheng has developed an aggressive, yet resilient, game by training regularly on clay at her overseas base in Barcelona since turning professional in 2021. She has proved her competitiveness on the surface by reaching the round of 16 at the French Open in 2022.
"Clay is a completely different game from grass. We have done a lot of work on physical (training) to prepare for the Palermo tournament and the Olympic Games," said Zheng, who will represent the Chinese delegation in women's singles and, perhaps, mixed doubles with men's world No 31 Zhang Zhizhen in Paris.
"It means a lot to me to represent China. Of course, there will be a lot of pressure, but I hope I can handle it well," said the 21-year-old Hubei province native.
"Making it to the Olympic Games has been a dream of mine since childhood, and I really hope I can do something great for Chinese tennis."
Mao Yixun contributed to the story.
PARIS -- China's delegation for the Paris Olympic Games arrived in the French capital on Monday evening.
Headed by Gao Zhidan, director of China's General Administration of Sport, a team of Chinese Olympic Committee officials landed at Paris's Charles de Gaulle Airport.
China will be represented by 405 athletes in 236 events across 30 sports at the July 26-August 11 Olympics.
Athletes in table tennis, badminton, swimming and women's volleyball have already arrived in Paris, according to Gao.
China finished second behind the United States in the medals table at Tokyo 2020 with 38 golds, 32 silvers and 19 bronzes.
Can you imagine how much ancient Chinese people have cherished sports-related moments?
On a lavishly carved lacquer plate, the essence of a dragon boat race is depicted. In the center of the plate, two pages joyfully row a dragon boat across a lotus-filled waterway. Doesn't this remind you of modern Olympic rowing events?
With just four days until the opening of the Olympic Games Paris 2024, let's use the artifact as a bridge to connect the past and present, and together, look forward to athletes from the globe achieving great results!
KAPTAGAT, Kenya — When he started out running in the early 2000s, a young Eliud Kipchoge simply wanted to get on a plane and go to Europe.
Two decades later, the Kenyan marathon legend is heading to Paris for what could be his final challenge at the 2024 Olympics.
At 39, he says he is hoping to make history on Aug 11 by becoming the "first human being" to win the Olympic marathon three times in succession, overtaking Ethiopia's Abebe Bikila (1960, 1964) and Waldemar Cierpinski of Germany (1976, 1980).
It was in Paris in 2003 that the then 18-year-old made a thunderous international debut, snatching the 5,000 meters world championship gold ahead of favorites Hicham El Guerrouj and Kenenisa Bekele.
But Kipchoge's first major prize ended up being his only one on the track.
It was on the road, which he turned to after failing to qualify for the 2012 London Olympics, that he would achieve glory.
With his long, metronomic stride, he has twice broken the marathon world record — streaking to 2:01:39 in 2018 and 2:01:09 in 2022.
He is the only man to have covered the 42.195-kilometer marathon distance in under two hours, albeit during a specially organized, unofficial race in Vienna in 2019.
He has won 16 of the 20 official marathons he has run since 2013, including 11 victories in the majors (five in Berlin, four in London, one each in Tokyo and Chicago), alongside Olympic golds in 2016 and 2021.
'Really determined'
The youngest of four children, Kipchoge was raised by his mother, a kindergarten teacher, in the village of Kapsisiywa in the foothills of Kenya's Rift Valley.
His father died when he was a baby.
Young Eliud loved running, but didn't dream of glory.
"Running is normal in our village, in our community, you run up and down to school, to the shopping center," he told reporters.
He decided to take a chance in athletics, "but it was not about aiming to become a big runner. I just wanted to get into a plane and fly to Europe," he said.
"I didn't know that being an athlete can put more food on my table for my family and my siblings."
As a teenager, he often spotted a neighbor during his training sessions, someone he had watched on television winning silver at the 1992 Olympics: 3000m steeplechaser Patrick Sang.
In 2001, Kipchoge approached him to ask for a training program and Sang scribbled one on his arm.
"Then he kept coming for more," said Sang.
"At that moment, I could not say that there was something special about this guy, but, in retrospect, I can say that this was somebody who knew where he wanted to go. He was really determined."
Since then, the two men have barely left each other's side, developing a quasi-filial relationship.
Spartan lifestyle
Kipchoge devotes his life to running, carefully recording each of his training sessions in notebooks.
Since 2002, he has lived nine months a year at an elite camp run by management agency Global Sports Communications in Kaptagat, a village in western Kenya at an altitude of 2,500 meters.
He rises early, with eating, shopping and rest punctuating his monastic existence. He meets his wife and three children on weekends at the family home in the neighboring town of Eldoret.
His Spartan lifestyle contrasts with his income, estimated at several million dollars, the fruit of not just his victories and world records, but also sponsorship deals with companies such as Nike, Ineos and Isuzu.
True to his origins, Kipchoge also owns a dairy and maize farm, and a tea plantation.
His taste for reading (favorites include Paulo Coelho and Stephen Covey) and love of mottos, as well his cool composure, earned him the nickname "the philosopher".
He is an enthusiastic sports fan, supporting Tottenham Hotspur soccer club, as well as being keen on motor sports, boxing and ultimate fighting — two sports in which he sees a parallel with the marathon.
"These people train for six months and fight for 15 minutes. And you can be knocked out in a few seconds."
Death threats
As a marathon runner, Kipchoge has known little failure, but in Boston in 2023 he came sixth and was 10th in Tokyo in March this year — his worst ever finish.
"In Tokyo, I spent three days without sleeping," he told the BBC in May after experiencing months of online harassment and even death threats.
Trolls accused him of being involved in the death of Kenyan marathon prodigy Kelvin Kiptum, who was killed in a car crash in Kaptagat in February, just months after beating Kipchoge's world record.
"I received a lot of bad threats: that they will burn my investments in town, they will burn my house, they will burn my family," Kipchoge said, adding that he lost "about 90 percent" of his friends.
Kipchoge was deeply affected by the ordeal, but said he had to bounce back.
"A marathon is like life, you find ups and downs, you become tired, you hit the wall, you come back," he said.
Of his protege's hopes in Paris, Sang said: "That's his dream, to make history, to win a third Olympic title.
"Look at the number of years he has been at the top. More than 20.That is history in itself."
Paris is about to host the 2024 Summer Olympics. Starting from July 26, Paris will witness the value of every drop of sweat, and every athlete will see the reward in their persistence in pursuing their dreams.
It's not just the athletes who are looking forward to it. Every sports enthusiast is eagerly anticipating it. They are excited to feel the charm of sports, witness new legends, and join the world in cheering and feeling the excitement this summer.
Click on the video to see their expectations for Paris Olympics.
Though it's not quite a top contender yet, China's up-and-coming fencing squad is striking out with courage and pride to break the Western stranglehold on the Olympic piste in Paris.
With improving strength collectively in the team events, such as women's epee and foil, Team China is gearing up to grab the world's attention in Paris, with its target set on podium finishes in both team and individual disciplines.
Sun Yiwen, reigning Olympic champion in women's individual epee, remains Team China's sharpest competitor and its biggest medal hope, three years after she got the whole delegation off to a golden start by winning the country's first Olympic title in the discipline on the first day of competition in Tokyo.
With her narrow 11-10 victory over Romanian veteran Ana Maria Popescu in the Tokyo final hailed as an instant classic, Sun has reset her focus on achieving another feat — to become the first woman in the world to defend her Olympic gold in the event since Hungarian great Timea Nagy did so in 2004.
Shaping up for her third Olympics at the age of 32, Sun believes she's as lethal and motivated as all her younger opponents, and is pushing ahead with her Olympic ambition.
"The goal for the Paris Olympics is, naturally, the gold medal. I want to rewrite the history in which no woman has defended the epee Olympic title in nearly 20 years," Sun told Beijing Youth Daily before she left for Paris on July 14.
"The athlete's desire to win is instinctual, because it is not only a personal achievement, but also the glory of bringing honor to her country. At the same time, I am also keen to transcend my own limitations."
To outperform all opponents, and particularly herself, Sun has adopted a radical change in her attacking technique since the beginning of this year, becoming more aggressive in scoring, which proved successful as she led young teammates Yu Sihan and Tang Junyao to a runner-up finish at the FIE World Cup's Nanjing leg in March, losing only to top team Italy in the final, after beating world No 2 South Korea in the quarterfinals.
Sun's individual pursuit of a golden repeat in Paris will start on the second day of the Games, after the July 26 opening ceremony, with host favorite and reigning world champion Marie-Florence Candassamy and six-time World Cup medalist Alberta Santuccio of Italy posing the biggest threats to Sun's ambition.
The Chinese women's foil team, bolstered by a series of impressive international results over the past year, has emerged as another promising medal hope in the team event, with its young core of Chen Qingyuan and Huang Qianqian "en garde" to achieve personal breakthroughs.
Led by Chen, winner of the Paris leg of the World Cup in January, and Huang, an individual winner at last year's Asian Games, the squad, also including Wang Yuting, beat tough rivals Japan and South Korea to claim its second Asiad team gold in women's foil in 29 years in Hangzhou.
Speaking about the reasons for the team's resurgence, coach Lei Sheng attributed the progress to the growing inner strength of his young fencers.
"The Chinese women's foil team has long been in a disadvantaged position, mainly because the athletes felt that the world championship was unattainable. I first helped them to break this psychological barrier, set ambitious goals and then work together to approach these goals step by step," said Lei, who delivered a first individual fencing gold for China's men in foil at London 2012.
"Once technical ability and tactical understanding reach a certain level, breakthroughs become an expected result," he said.
Taking advantage from foreign coaching, men's foil fencers Mo Ziwei, Chen Haiwei and Xu Jie have also been making consistent progress up the world rankings, with their unexpected silver-medal finish in the team event at last year's world championships in Milan, beating traditional powerhouses France and the United States on the way, serving up a major confidence boost.
"The performance at the worlds has significantly lifted the morale of the men's foil team for the Olympics. Yet we still have some catching up to do in the final preparations," said Wang Haibin, a formidable member of China's gold medal-winning men's foil team at Sydney 2000, and president of Chinese Fencing Association.
In the men's saber, Shen Chenpeng will be the delegation's sole representative, while Yang Hengyu will carry the women's hopes. Completing the lineup, Wang Zijie will compete in the men's epee.
The fencing competition at the 2024 Paris Games will take place in the heart of the city, at the Grand Palais on the iconic Avenue des Champs Elysees.
The competitions, both individual and team, will adopt a single-elimination, bracket-style format, where fencers win head-to-head bouts in individual disciplines to advance to the next round. Each bout is contested over nine minutes, evenly separated into three periods, with the first fencer to score 15 points, or the leading fencer at the end of the bout, declared the winner.
If fencers are tied at the end of the nine minutes, a one-minute, sudden-death tiebreaker is contested, in which the first fencer to score wins.
Mao Yixun contributed to the story
Editor's note: With the Olympic stage set, and golden glory beckoning, Chinese athletes have been going all-out to ensure it will be a medal-laden campaign at Paris 2024.
The Chinese shooting team is loaded with confidence to get the delegation off to a flying start at the Olympics again by claiming the first gold medal up for grabs in Paris.
The team is preparing for an intense competition at the Chateauroux Shooting Centre, located 270 kilometers outside the French metropolis.
With the 10m air rifle mixed team event kicking off on the morning of July 27, the shooters will miss the grand opening ceremony on the Seine. However, this youthful and dynamic squad is primed and ready to continue the nation's winning streak on the Olympic stage.
Winning the first gold medal at the Olympics has always been a top priority for Chinese athletes. In Paris, the first gold is expected to be awarded in either the 10m air rifle mixed team shooting event or the women's synchronized 3m springboard diving event, with the shooting event the most likely candidate.
The Chinese shooting team, with a full quota for the mixed team air rifle event, will field the duo of Huang Yuting and Sheng Lihao alongside that of Han Jiayu and Du Linshu as a "double insurance "strategy to clinch Team China's first gold and continue the proud tradition of the Chinese shooting team.
Historically, it's awarded in the women's 10m air rifle event, a traditional stronghold for China. Du Li at the 2004 Athens Olympics, Yi Siling at the 2012 London Olympics, and Yang Qian at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics all secured the first gold medal for the Chinese delegation.
The 10m mixed team air rifle event, introduced in Tokyo, saw China's Yang Qian and Yang Haoran win gold. This year, the duo did not make the roster, with Huang and Sheng now the nation's top sharpshooters.
Huang and Sheng have excelled throughout the current Olympic cycle, winning at the World Cup, the World Championships and the Hangzhou Asian Games. In 2021, in the men's 10m air rifle final at the Tokyo Olympics, Sheng won the silver medal with a score of 250.9 points, becoming the youngest medalist in Olympic shooting history at the age of 16 years old.
His experiences during the Paris cycle have honed his psychological and technical skills to a mature and stable level. Meanwhile, 17-year-old Huang has shown rapid growth and consistent performance. Their partnership has become highly coordinated, making them a formidable team.
The other Chinese pair, Han and Du Linshu, are also young talents. Throughout the current Olympic cycle, they have excelled on the tournament circuit and both athletes are versatile shooters, competing in the mixed team event, as well as each respectively competing in men's and women's 10m air rifle, and men's and women's 50m rifle three positions.
Xu Haifeng, China's first Olympic gold medalist, told Lightning Sports: "As with previous Olympics, the responsibility for the first gold medal in Paris falls on the shooting events. I feel that there should be a gold medal for China on the first day, and I hope the Chinese delegation will achieve good results."
Youthful powerhouse
Shooting remains a cornerstone of China's Olympic prowess, with an impressive tally of 26 gold medals across nine previous Games appearances. At the Beijing Olympics, the Chinese shooting squad captured five golds, two silvers and one bronze. In Tokyo, it excelled, with four golds, one silver and six bronzes, marking its best international performance, and the best performance of any nation at that year's Games.
As it prepares for Paris, Team China continues to showcase formidable strength. It has topped the medal tables at the last two world championships. At the same time, it has undergone a generational shift, with a wave of talented young athletes poised to make their mark on the global stage.
Featuring a blend of experience and youth, with veterans like Li Yuehong, competing in his third Olympics, and Tokyo champion Jiang Ranxin being joined by rising stars such as Huang, Han, Du Linshu and Li Xue, many of whom were born after 2000.
The youngest, 17-year-old Liang Xiaoya, earned her spot with an impressive performance in the Olympic trials and will compete alongside Zhao Nan in the women's 25m pistol event.
Tokyo veterans Jiang and Zhang Bowen will lead the charge for China with the air pistol, competing in both the individual and mixed team 10m events. They will be joined by rising stars Li Xue and Xie Yu, both born in 2000 and making their Olympic debuts in Paris.
Li Yuehong, at 35 years old, has previously secured two bronze medals in his two previous attempts. At the 2023 World Shooting Championships in Baku, Azerbaijan, he set a new world record in the men's 25m rapid fire pistol final. In Paris, he will team up with Wang Xinjie, aiming to secure China's first Olympic gold in the discipline.
The shooting competitions will take place from July 27 to Aug 5, and will see 170 male and female shooters, respectively, competing across 15 events.
It won't be an easy task, as China will face tough competition. India poses a formidable challenge in several events, while the United States, South Korea, Germany and host France each has its own strengths across multiple disciplines.
During the team's departure ceremony, Huang Wenhong, coach of the national pistol shooting team, promised: "Our coaching team will approach the Paris Olympics with calm minds, a pursuit of excellence, and meticulous preparation to help our athletes display their best competitive form and spirit on the field."
PARIS - With just no more than a week to go until the opening ceremony of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, organizers have said they are "ready" for the Games and have promised a clean Seine River.
"We are ready as we head into the final phase," Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 organizing committee told a press conference on Sunday. "Today we are exactly where we would have dreamed of being a few years ago."
Final adjustments are being made across various venues in Paris, with thousands of athletes and officials arriving in the city, and the weather improving significantly. Notably, the water quality of the Seine, which will be used for the opening ceremony, marathon swimming and triathlons, has seen a significant improvement since early July, according to Estanguet.
"All the indicators for the Seine are positive at this stage," Estanguet said.
The Paris 2024 head also highlighted the lasting legacy of environmental improvements through the water quality upgrades. "We have spent a lot of energy on this over the last few months, and recent tests show that everything is in the green. We are monitoring everything several times daily," he said.
"As of 2025, we will leave a clean River Seine that people will be able to swim in various parts of. That will be a legacy," Estanguet added.
Playing a crucial role in the opening ceremony, the Seine will host 6,000 to 7,000 athletes aboard 85 barges and boats, marking the first time a Summer Olympics opening ceremony will take place outside the main athletics stadium. Up to 300,000 ticketed spectators are expected to watch from stands and riverbanks, with an additional 200,000 viewing from nearby apartments.
Chinese athletes heading to the Paris Olympics will be carrying a piece of history with them. A newly unveiled suitcase, inspired by the iconic Terracotta Warriors, has captured the nation's attention.
The luggage, a blend of tradition and modernity, features a striking red and black color scheme reminiscent of the warriors' armor. Its design incorporates elements such as the warriors' distinctive neckties and the golden wheels of ancient chariots. Even the zipper pull is a nod to the past, shaped like an ancient Chinese shield.
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the suitcase is built for the rigors of international travel. Constructed from a durable composite material, it's designed to withstand the bumps and bruises of air travel. The interior features compartments for separating wet and dry items, ensuring athletes' belongings stay organized and fresh.
The suitcase, named "Ying Yong", is a combination of the Chinese words for "hero" and "Terracotta Warriors", reflecting the spirit and heritage it embodies. The design has been met with widespread enthusiasm on social media, with many expressing pride in the unique blend of culture and practicality.
The Chinese Olympic delegation, officially formed on July 13, comprises 405 athletes and 311 support staff.
Imagine if the Olympics existed in ancient times!
These green-glazed pottery figurines perfectly capture the essence of Song Dynasty (960-1279) wrestling. Two children, naked and barefooted, with their hair tied in topknots and waistbands fastened, are locked in a fierce stance. Beads of sweat are seen on their backs as they refuse to give in, each determined to win the "gold medal".
Doesn't it remind you of modern Olympic judo?
As the Paris 2024 Summer Olympic Games approach, let's use this artifact as a bridge to countdown together and celebrate this grand sporting event!
BEIJING - Travel data indicates a surge in enthusiasm for travel between China and France, fueled by the Olympic fever and travel facilitation measures.
The number of flights and travel bookings between the two countries has evidently increased, as the 2024 Paris Olympic Games coincide with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-French diplomatic ties.
From April 18 to July 17, a total of 1,245 direct flights were operated between the Chinese mainland and France, a 127 percent year-on-year increase, and the daily peak reached 18 flights to date this year, according to VariFlight, a China-based global aviation data intelligence service provider.
Paris is undoubtedly topping the destination list in France, with 1,231 direct flights shuttling between the Chinese mainland and Paris from April 18 to July 17. The figure marks a 124-percent rise compared to the previous year, showed the VariFlight data.
Wang Zhichao, a young teacher at a university in Beijing, is now exploring France on a month-long journey that starts in Paris and includes iconic destinations such as Brittany, Bordeaux, Toulouse and Provence.
"A special journey down memory lane," Wang said, "I used to be an international student in France. Now, it is a good timing, as this year marks the 60th anniversary of the diplomatic ties between the two countries."
Similar to Wang, more and more Chinese tourists are drawn to immersive travel in France. Olympic Games will offer a great chance for them to delve into city-walk tours, festival and cultural activities, cuisines, and other aspects of daily life.
As of July 11, air ticket orders to Paris during the July 20-August 20 period were 2.3 times higher than the same period last year, according to data from the online travel service provider Qunar.
According to data from the travel platform Ctrip, during the Paris Olympics period, the number of independent travelers to France will quintuple from a year ago.
"Enthusiasm of Chinese tourists to travel to France and other European countries has been ignited by various activities of the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism, as well as the European Cup, the Paris Olympic Games and other sports events," said Wang Yalei, researcher of the Ctrip Research Institute.
According to Wang, European tours encompassing France and neighboring countries are particularly popular, such as itineraries that combine visits to France, Italy, Germany and Switzerland.
"Finer travel facilitation measures are of importance to boost communication, especially for the increasing economic and trade exchanges between China, France and other European countries," said Gong Yiting, branding and public relations director of VariFlight.
The year of 2024 also marks the China-France Year of Culture and Tourism.
In France, the Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is establishing itself into a friendly airport for Chinese tourists.
The airport is committed to continuously promoting the travel experience of Chinese tourists by using signs in Chinese, introducing more friendly services for Chinese travelers, and upgrading terminals, and more.
On July 2, China Eastern Airlines launched a new air route linking China's Shanghai with France's Marseille, marking the inauguration of the first regular direct passenger flight between China and southern France.
Previously, travelers from China to Marseille had to make a transfer via a third country. The opening of the new air route is expected to further boost tourism and economic and cultural exchanges between the two countries and cities.
"More and more travel facilitation measures are serving as the impetus to ignite more travel, communication and exchanges," Gong said.
Nino Salukvadze will become just the second athlete to compete at 10 Olympic Games when she steps up to the mark in Paris, and the Georgian shooting great says that by reaching the milestone, she will have fulfilled her father's last request.
Salukvadze's dream Olympic debut came as a 19-year-old at the 1988 Games in Seoul, where she won gold in the 25-meter pistol and silver in the 10-meter event for the former Soviet Union.
Barcelona, Atlanta, Sydney, Athens, Beijing, London, Rio and Tokyo — she has not missed an Olympics since.
Salukvadze completed the set by winning 10m bronze in Beijing, competing under the Georgian flag by then, and the 55-year-old will match Canadian equestrian Ian Millar's record of 10 Olympic appearances when she fires her first shot in Paris.
"Ten Olympiads — it's my whole life," Salukvadze told Reporters from Baku, where she is in the final stages of her Olympic preparations.
"After the first Olympics, I couldn't even imagine I'd compete in 10 Games.
"I will have to write a whole book (to explain my longevity), but the euphoria I experienced after winning forced me to train hard every day."
That book will surely have a chapter devoted to her father Vakhtang, who coached her right from the start.
Her Rio experience, where she and Tsotne Machavariani became the first mother-son duo to compete at the same Olympics, would also feature prominently in it.
But, there were times when it seemed the Tokyo Olympics would be the end of her story.
"After Tokyo, I'd decided to give up," she said. "But my father, who was 93, told me, 'There are only three years before Paris, and maybe you can try to win the quota.'
"I thought, 'my father has never asked for anything and this might be his last request'. So, I gathered all my strength and agreed.
"Today, despite the fact that my father passed away, I am happy that I fulfilled this request."
Her son put the pressure on, too.
"Also, my son threatened me: 'If you surrender, I will also surrender'."
Salukvadze has vivid memories of competing at the Games.
She remembers being showered with gifts by fans in Seoul, competing alongside her son in Rio, and witnessing how Tokyo defied a pandemic to salvage an Olympics.
But, the 2008 Olympics stood out for a different reason.
On the opening day of the Games, war broke out between Georgia and Russia.
Despite the conflict between their two countries, Salukvadze embraced Russian rival Natalia Paderina on the podium.
"Every Olympics is memorable in its own way, but I'd single out Beijing," said Salukvadze.
"The Olympic Games were created to establish peace between warring city states, that's why we were shocked when, on the opening day of the Games, a war broke out in my country. I could not imagine this."
For the Paris Games, the shooting events will be held 270 kilometers to the north, in Chateauroux, and Salukvadze says moving them away from the main venue cluster goes against that spirit of togetherness.
"I feel a little sad that we will not be in the Olympic Village in Paris. These Olympic Games are held more like a championship," she said.
"The essence of the Olympics is that everyone should live together during that one month."
REUTERS
PARIS - The Paris Olympic Village officially opened its doors on Thursday, welcoming athletes from around the world who are ready to embark on their Olympic journey.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach visited the village on the opening day.
Around 10,500 athletes from 206 National Olympic Committees and the Refugee Olympic Team will compete at the upcoming Olympic Games, which will start on July 26. Most athletes will be housed in the Paris Olympic Village, a 54-hectare site located by the Seine River.
Additionally, athletes will stay in satellite villages in Chateauroux (shooting), Lille (basketball preliminaries and handball), Marseille (sailing), and Tahiti (surfing).
Accompanied by Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 Olympics and Paralympics Organizing Committee, and Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant, chair of the Paris 2024 Coordination Commission, Bach welcomed athletes as they moved into the village.
"Finally, we are here," he praised the facilities available to athletes during the Games. "It has been a long journey these seven years, but it has been a hugely rewarding one thanks to our friends at the Organizing Committee under the leadership of Tony Estanguet and his team, who have worked closely with our IOC Coordination Commission under the leadership of Pierre-Olivier Beckers-Vieujant. We have a wonderful Olympic Village, and all the ingredients for a great Olympic Games are here."
The Olympic Village will serve as home for athletes during the Games, featuring a 3,200-seat dining hall, a 24-hour gym, a 3,500-square-meter polyclinic, and a small supermarket.
To ensure the facilities meet athletes' needs, the Paris 2024 Athletes' Commission invited representatives from five continents to provide feedback during the planning and construction phases, aiming to create an environment where athletes can focus on their competitions.
Athletes can relax and communicate with each other at the Village Club while watching Olympic broadcasts. The "Athlete 365 Space" offers information on IOC support programs, enhancing awareness on issues such as anti-doping and match-fixing. Elections for the Athlete Commission members will also be held here.
After the Games, the Village will become part of the surrounding region of Seine-Saint-Denis, with the site's housing, shops, public facilities, workplaces, and green spaces set to meet the long-term living needs of 6,000 residents and provide jobs for 6,000 people.
The new neighborhood will feature 2,500 new homes, a hotel, student residences, approximately seven hectares of gardens and parks, 120,000 square meters of offices and city services, and 3,200 square meters of neighborhood shops.
The Village has also been designed to adapt to climatic conditions, with plants and water in public areas aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change in the future.
The 2024 Paris Olympic Games will take place from July 26 to August 11. The Paralympic Games will then run from August 28 until September 8.
This is how the US Olympic men's basketball team took the floor for warmups before an exhibition game in Abu Dhabi: Stephen Curry opened with a layup, followed by more of the same from Tyrese Haliburton, Anthony Edwards and Derrick White, and then a short jumper from Devin Booker.
All were met with some cheers. And then LeBron James got the ball in his hands. The crowd got louder immediately, the volume rising until his dunk was met with the loudest roar the arena could muster.
"He's still LeBron," US assistant coach Erik Spoelstra said.
At 39 years old, starting the 22nd season of his pro career, the all-time leader in NBA points, soon to become the first men's player to represent the US at the Olympic Games in three different decades, he's still LeBron. And that's why USA Basketball so badly wanted him on this team that's headed to the Paris Olympics later this month, because there is no question that he makes the team even more of a favorite for what would be a fifth consecutive gold medal.
"Listen, once I got the clearance from Savannah James, that's the one I had to get the clearance from to give up my summer, pretty much, to play basketball at 39 years old," James said, referring to his wife. "Once I got the clearance from her, I didn't need much convincing."
Not after last summer, that is.
James watched the US World Cup team — another team with 12 NBA players, but not 12 players with the pedigree of those on this Olympic roster — struggle last summer in the Philippines and end up with a fourth-place finish.
He didn't like it. So, he started calling around, seeing if players like Curry would be willing to play in Paris with the hope of reminding the world that the US is still pretty good at basketball. He didn't have to twist a lot of arms.
"He was the first person I talked to in the fall about whether this would be something I would want to do," said Curry, who'll be making his Olympic debut. "And from there it was like, 'let's get it.'"
James made his Olympic debut in 2004, fresh off his rookie season, on the team that finished third in the Athens Games. The "Redeem Team "followed in 2008 and won gold, then the team at the London Games in 2012 won it again. James hasn't played in the Olympics since. It was reasonable to ask if he ever would again.
The US won Olympic gold at Rio de Janeiro in 2016, and in Tokyo three years ago, without him, and is now trying for a fifth in a row with him back in the fold for, presumably, the final time.
"He's just meant so much to the game of basketball, especially in my career, and since I was in high school following him, and he's almost 40 years old now," said US forward Kevin Durant, who is seeking a fourth Olympic gold. "He's still playing at an elite level, which is inspiring to me as well. And so, every chance I get to be around LeBron, even if it's just having a quick bite to eat, or just seeing him just randomly for a couple of minutes, his energy is just contagious."
It's still there in bunches, too.
When the US team opened camp in Las Vegas, coach Steve Kerr asked two of his assistants — Spoelstra and Tyronn Lue, both of whom have coached James in the NBA — if the intensity that he was practicing with was normal. They nodded.
He goes all out, all the time, even with four NBA titles, even with a Basketball Hall of Fame spot, a perpetual place in the never-to-be-solved Greatest Of All Time conversation locked up and a net worth exceeding $1 billion. He has nothing to prove, yet still runs himself through defensive slide drills like they're going to decide Game 7 of the NBA Finals.
Kerr sees plenty of similarities between James and Curry, who went head-to-head in four consecutive NBA Finals — when Golden State and Cleveland ran the league from 2015 through 2018 — and now gets to watch them team up for real for the first time. Curry sees them as well.
"I know exactly what he's about," Curry said. "I get to see a little different side of him in the work that he puts in and how he approaches practice, the way he talks and communicates. I get to see that side of it, which is really, really, really dope. I guess he gets to see that from me as well."
'Game is in great hands'
The team is a perfect blend of everything James would have wanted if he was putting the group together himself. Veteran experience with him, Durant and Curry, even though Curry hasn't played at the Olympics before. Plenty of bigs to protect the rim in Anthony Davis, Bam Adebayo and Joel Embiid. Championship players — with three players from the current NBA champion Boston Celtics on the roster in Jayson Tatum, Jrue Holiday and White. All playing alongside young stars like Haliburton, Booker and Edwards.
James won't have to play huge minutes. The idea is for the Americans to use their depth, use a lot of players, keep everyone as fresh as possible and know that no team has anything close to the top-to-bottom talent as Team USA has on its roster.
And playing one Olympics with many who will be likely looked at for the Los Angeles Games in 2028 — like Haliburton and Edwards — is important for James as well.
"The game is in great hands. I mean, it's just super cool that we can not only show by example, but also just be around them," James said. "They have their thing going as well, so we don't step on their toes, or nothing of that nature, but we just hope that we can continue to set a standard for them of what excellence is all about, because they're already excellent. I hope we're just setting the standards for them."
In Paris, there will be plenty of people wearing James jerseys, mostly Los Angeles Lakers ones, some USA ones, probably some Miami and Cleveland ones, too. Everything he does and says will make news. Even at this point in his career, the fascination with James hasn't changed. Some love him, some don't, but they're all watching him. After all, like Spoelstra said, he's still LeBron.
"I just feel incredibly honored to be coaching LeBron," Kerr said. "And it's definitely way better to coach him than coach against him."
Agencies Via Xinhua
Editor's note: With the Olympic stage set, and golden glory beckoning, Chinese athletes have been going all-out to ensure it will be a medal-laden campaign at Paris 2024.
The internet buzzword "Versailles "has been used online in recent years to describe extravagant displays of wealth, success or superiority.
By the end of this month, China's equestrian athletes will have hopefully given a new meaning to the term, as their events at the upcoming Olympics will be held at the Palace of Versailles, a grand royal residence in the suburbs of Paris. Built in the 17th century by King Louis XIV, the magnificent palace and former royal hunting lodge will provide a spectacular backdrop for the equestrian events, as Team China aims to make history, showcasing its skills and striving for Olympic success.
The Chinese Equestrian Association revealed the qualification list for the Games on July 1. The team comprises just two athletes, Alex Hua Tian and Sun Huadong, along with four horses.
Both Hua and Sun competed in the team eventing at the Tokyo Olympics, finishing ninth. At last year's Hangzhou Asian Games, they won the team eventing gold medal, with Hua also securing an individual gold. This was a historic win, marking China's first equestrian gold since the sport was included in the Asian Games in 1982.
Although the Chinese equestrian team has yet to stand on the Olympic podium, it has been one of the most rapidly improving groups within the Chinese Olympic delegation, consistently delivering impressive performances.
In 2008, Hua became the first Chinese athlete to compete in an Olympic equestrian event. Not only that, but at just 18 years old, he became the youngest eventing rider in Olympic history at the time. Unfortunately, he narrowly missed out on qualification for London in 2012, but, in Rio, he achieved an eighth-place finish in individual eventing, becoming the first Chinese athlete to reach the finals of an Olympic equestrian event. China continued to make history in Tokyo, debuting in team eventing.
Last year, however, China's equestrian team faced setbacks in its bid to qualify for Paris. In June, at the 2024 Olympic equestrian qualifiers in Millstreet, Ireland, the team, featuring Hua, Sun, Bao Yingfeng, and Liang Ruiji, secured a second-place finish after fierce competition, earning a coveted spot at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Then, in October, China's qualification for the Paris Olympics team eventing was revoked due to an adverse analytical finding for the controlled, but not banned, substance, Altrenogest (Regumate) in Chicko, the 13-year-old gelding partnered with Hua.
"Following an investigation and scientific evidence, it was proven to be a case of cross-contamination between Chicko and the mare in the competition stables next door that was permitted to compete on the substance," Hua's statement clarified at the time. "Yet, I understand the immense impact this has had on the entire team and the broader Chinese equestrian community."
The International Equestrian Federation confirmed that the incident only resulted in an administrative penalty for the rider, ensuring that Hua's individual Olympic eligibility remains intact, without any suspension or disqualification.
While the Chinese team won't compete as a group in Paris, Hua still has an opportunity to make history by reaching the podium for the first time.
Hua is set to embark on his fourth Olympic journey in Paris, and is set to compete in the eventing competition from July 27-29. The events include dressage, cross-country and show jumping.
Hua is brimming with confidence as he looks ahead to the Games.
"I'm eagerly anticipating the Paris Olympics," he remarked. "France boasts a deep equestrian heritage, and there's strong enthusiasm for eventing among spectators. The ambiance around the Palace of Versailles will be truly historic."
"As a Chinese athlete, representing my country in competition has always been a tremendous honor," he added. "From the Beijing Olympics in 2008 to the upcoming Paris Olympics, our goal has been to continually build and refine my team of horses."
Equestrian sports stand out in the Olympics for being the only discipline where athletes collaborate closely with animals, and it's also the sole event where men and women compete on an equal footing.
For Hua, the meticulous care and welfare of his horses are paramount, and knowing their condition precisely is pivotal to his performance on the Olympic stage.
In preparation for Paris, Hua has been competing across Europe since early 2023 with his four horses: Chocs, Chicko, Stig and Jessie. Chocs, Chicko, and Stig have already secured their spots for the Olympics by the International Equestrian Federation deadline, which falls on July 24.
"Each horse is treated as an individual athlete," Hua emphasized, underscoring his team's focused approach to ensure peak physical condition at the right moment.
"Regardless of the outcome, I am confident we will deliver an exciting performance this year," he said.
With the world's best amateurs fighting for national pride in Paris, and perhaps a shot at future pro success, Chinese boxers are going all out to steal the show and prove their medal credentials.
As a cradle of pro boxing legends, the Olympic stage is set once more for a clash of future stars, as China's top pugilists look to punch their names into history.
After achieving a series of remarkable international results in the buildup to Paris, the Chinese national team, represented by four women and two men across eight weight classes, has entered its final preparations for the Games in Deauville, a coastal city in northern France, and is fully pumped-up for what it hopes will be a golden campaign.
Led by formidable contenders Wu Yu and Li Qian in the 50kg and 75kg classes, respectively, Team China has a full-quota women's squad to box in all six weight categories in Paris, while having to count on a heavy combo in Tuohetaerbieke Tanglatihan (80kg) and Han Xuezhen (92kg) to defend its territory on the men's side.
Only Ireland and Australia are the other delegations to qualify a full women's roster to compete in all six classes at the Games, where Team China is motivated to end its gold-medal drought from the past two editions.
Boasting a recent winning streak on the international stage, women's fighter Wu, the reigning world champion and Asian Games winner, has emerged as the biggest medal hope for China in the 50kg category, with her attempt to dominate at her Olympic debut expected to be challenged by Tokyo 2020 silver medalist Buse Naz Cakiroglu of Turkiye, and rising flyweight star Jennifer Lozano of the United States.
"The Paris Olympics are my dream. I need to take each day step by step, continually strengthening myself. I hope to achieve better results in Paris and fulfill my dream," said Wu.
For women's middleweight veteran Li, Paris will provide her a third, and potentially last, opportunity to complete the medal set in the 75kg class, after the 34-year-old former world champion collected a bronze at Rio 2016 and a silver at Tokyo 2020.
"Olympic gold has always been hung up high in my heart as the ultimate goal of my career. I haven't touched it yet, but I won't stop charging ahead toward that goal," Li said in a recent CCTV interview.
With traditional powers remaining strong, men's boxing in Paris will continue to be dominated by talent from Cuba, Britain, the United States and Ireland. Chinese men, however, will try to make their presence felt in the heavier categories, eschewing the country's tradition of competing in the lighter classes at amateur level.
After an early elimination in his Olympic debut in Tokyo, middleweight contender Tuohetaerbieke, who hails from the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region, has proved he's ready to go much further at his second Games in Paris by winning a silver medal in the 80kg division at last year's worlds, becoming the first Chinese men's world championships finalist since two-time flyweight Olympic champion Zou Shiming in 2011. The 27-year-old heavy puncher backed up his medal credentials by winning the 80kg title at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
He will have to go up against the intimidating two-time Olympic champion Arlen Lopez of Cuba, and perhaps the Tokyo 2020 bronze winner from the Philippines, Eumir Marcial, to realize his Olympic ambition.
"The results that I've accomplished at the world championships and the Asian Games over the past three years have made me more confident. I will fight with my life to finish on top of the podium," he said.
In the brutally competitive 92kg class, up-and-coming fighter Han, a silver medalist at last year's Asiad, is expected to help rebuild the Olympic heavyweight reputation of the Chinese men, after Zhang Zhilei's runner-up finish at Beijing 2008.
Now that the team has settled in France, Chinese boxers are fine-tuning their physical condition, while sparring with other international contenders to get ready for their respective bouts.
"Of course we are confident for a golden haul at the Olympics. We came early so that we could prepare better," Zhao Yong, a coach with Team China, told Phoenix TV upon landing in Paris on July 4.
Boxing competitions at the Paris Olympics will take place from July 27 to Aug 10 at the North Paris Arena and the iconic Roland-Garros Stadium. A total of 248 boxers from around the world will compete in six women's and seven men's categories.
For all weight classes, the competition adopts a knockout format, and will start with preliminary rounds followed by quarterfinal bouts, semifinals and finals.
Li Weixu contributed to the story.
