Paris Olympics 2024 (non-cycling) thread

[Rob5091]

July 24, 2024 is the first day of action at the Paris Olympics, but there's so much more then guys and girls running around a track.

For example, Police have searched the headquarters of the Paris 2024 Olympics organising committee, as well as its major infrastructure partner, as part of investigations into alleged embezzlement of public funds and favouritism.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/20/french-police-search-paris-olympics-hq

and, an Odoxa opinion poll showed that nearly one in two Françiliens - inhabitants of the Paris region - now thought the Games were a "bad thing". The 44% negative rating was double what it was in 2021.
The same poll found that 52% of Françiliens were considering leaving Paris for the duration of the Games. "Perceptions about the Games are reaching alert level," Odoxa reported.
"On the morning of June 9 I'm voting in the European elections then I'm out of here till September," says Evelyne, 65, encountered by the Place de la Concorde (scene of several events including break-dancing, or as the French felicitously put it, le breaking).
"Paris will be unbearable," she adds. "Impossible to park; impossible to move around; impossible to do anything. Madame Hidalgo has wrecked Paris, and I want no part of the Games."
"How long is it before the police chief simply asks us Parisians to leave the city?" another inhabitant asked on social media.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67564177

Talking about leaving the city, some go under duress ... or "social cleansing" as it's now known-
https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/202406...l-cleansing-ahead-of-2024-paris-olympic-games
If Olympians want to participate in some out of competition "relaxation" then ...
Areas used by sex workers in northen Paris and in the eastern Vincennes wood had seen "increased police pressure" leading to identity checks, detentions and expulsion orders for dozens of people.

More topics are bound to follow -

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I'd be lying if I said I'm as excited about the Olympics as I was when I was a young'un ages ago - behind the very few Olympic bids that are left there usually seems to be some kind of criminal activity going on, the hosting city usually ends up in massive debt, the hosting city begins temporary cosmetic cleanup of shantytowns or homeless camps so as to make things look more palatable to spectators, and the Olympics themselves have become so bloated that even the Opening Ceremony becomes a 5-hr. slog... why waste so much money on a spectacular Opening Ceremony anyway? Just do the Parade of Nations and light the Olympic cauldron and lets get this show on the road!

I'll still watch the sports of course, but knowing what goes into hosting an Olympic Games definitely puts a damper on my excitement.

 

[Rob5091]

You know though who really hates the Paris Olympics? Putin! Yeah the man wants to bring down the West, starting with the Olympics! Ugh?
To begin with he's sending men with coffins to Paris ...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...t-the-paris-olympics-report-finds/ar-BB1nzaZr
On Saturday, French police discovered five coffins draped in the French flag, with the words “French soldiers in Ukraine,” near the Eiffel Tower. A French military official told CNN they suspect that Russia was involved in the stunt. French police are questioning three men in connection with the incident.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/othe...ological-violence-at-eiffel-tower/ar-BB1nxUjG
On Monday, the three men were questioned by an investigative judge. The prosecutor’s office asked that they be charged with premeditated violence, the officials told the Associated Press. Placing coffins at the foot of the Paris landmark that millions of tourists visit every year “is considered an act of psychological violence," and caused employees of the landmark and others "an inability to work,” the officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of a pending investigation.

Also a fake documentary that will install fear into the hearts of those running dogs of imperialism!
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...t-the-paris-olympics-report-finds/ar-BB1nzaZr
"The Russian operatives used the fake Cruise voice, the Netflix logo and even a fake New York Times review to try to lend the documentary legitimacy, according to analysts at Microsoft, who released a report on the activity on Sunday. The propaganda video, released on social media platform Telegram last year, was “the first glimpse of what would prove to be an extensive campaign” by the same Russian propaganda actor to smear the Paris Olympics, Microsoft said.

Russian propagandists have also been ginning up fake news stories claiming that Parisians are buying property insurance because of fears of terrorism around the Olympics, and fake press releases purporting to come from the CIA and French intelligence warning about terrorism, according to Microsoft."

 

[BullsFan22]

You know though who really hates the Paris Olympics? Putin! Yeah the man wants to bring down the West, starting with the Olympics! Ugh?
To begin with he's sending men with coffins to Paris ...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...t-the-paris-olympics-report-finds/ar-BB1nzaZr
On Saturday, French police discovered five coffins draped in the French flag, with the words “French soldiers in Ukraine,” near the Eiffel Tower. A French military official told CNN they suspect that Russia was involved in the stunt. French police are questioning three men in connection with the incident.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/othe...ological-violence-at-eiffel-tower/ar-BB1nxUjG
On Monday, the three men were questioned by an investigative judge. The prosecutor’s office asked that they be charged with premeditated violence, the officials told the Associated Press. Placing coffins at the foot of the Paris landmark that millions of tourists visit every year “is considered an act of psychological violence," and caused employees of the landmark and others "an inability to work,” the officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity because of a pending investigation.

Also a fake documentary that will install fear into the hearts of those running dogs of imperialism!
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/worl...t-the-paris-olympics-report-finds/ar-BB1nzaZr
"The Russian operatives used the fake Cruise voice, the Netflix logo and even a fake New York Times review to try to lend the documentary legitimacy, according to analysts at Microsoft, who released a report on the activity on Sunday. The propaganda video, released on social media platform Telegram last year, was “the first glimpse of what would prove to be an extensive campaign” by the same Russian propaganda actor to smear the Paris Olympics, Microsoft said.

Russian propagandists have also been ginning up fake news stories claiming that Parisians are buying property insurance because of fears of terrorism around the Olympics, and fake press releases purporting to come from the CIA and French intelligence warning about terrorism, according to Microsoft."

Speaking of propaganda…Paranoid much? LOL

 

[Rob5091]

I expect the private "security" companies will rubbing their hands with glee too at all the extra funding coming their way.

 

[Rob5091]

Man sets himself on fire in hotel room .... not so much a bomb expert ...
https://www.theguardian.com/world/a...ne-russia-national-with-explosives-near-paris
A source at the French anti-terrorism prosecutors office (PNAT) said that on Monday night the 26-year-old man was given medical treatment by fire officers in a hotel in the Val-d’Oise, north of Paris, for “significant burns after an explosion”.

An initial search of his hotel room led to the discovery of “products and materials intended for the manufacture of explosive devices”, the source said. The man, of Ukrainian and Russian nationality, was still being questioned by police on Wednesday.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Will you be watching and commenting on any of the sport competitions, Rob?

 

[Rob5091]

Will you be watching and commenting on any of the sport competitions, Rob?

It'll be on TV around the clock as there's so many events so I mght catch more then the road race & TT, but have not planned anything in particular.

 

[Rob5091]

Islamic State hate the Olympics too it seems ...but one 18 year old? Who tipped the Police off too? Was the chump posting stuff online?
https://www.nbcnews.com/sports/olympics/chechnyan-teen-attack-soccer-paris-olympics-rcna154902

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said in a statement that members of the General Directorate of Internal Security arrested an 18-year-old man from Chechnya on May 22 on suspicion of being behind a plan to attack soccer events that will be held in the southern city of Saint-Etienne. ... The man is accused of planning a ‘’violent action’’ on behalf of the Islamic State group’s jihadist ideology, the national counterterrorism prosecutor’s office said in a statement Friday. The man, who was not identified, is behind held in custody pending further investigation.

 

[frenchfry]

France is a country that is on the edge of bankrupcy, but is spending 10s of billions on a 2 week sporting event that not many care about. Most intelligent countries now reject the idea of hosting the Olympics. Even outside Paris the Olympics are being shoved down our throats constantly, as if it's some kind of nationalistic duty to jump on the bandwagon. I like sports, but it's been a while since I find the Olympics a big waste of taxpayer funds.

 

[BullsFan22]

France is a country that is on the edge of bankrupcy, but is spending 10s of billions on a 2 week sporting event that not many care about. Most intelligent countries now reject the idea of hosting the Olympics. Even outside Paris the Olympics are being shoved down our throats constantly, as if it's some kind of nationalistic duty to jump on the bandwagon. I like sports, but it's been a while since I find the Olympics a big waste of taxpayer funds.

Plus this…

Thousands of homeless people removed from Paris region in pre-Olympics ‘social cleansing’ | Paris Olympic Games 2024 | The Guardian

Campaigners say operation to bus ‘undesirable’ people out of city and wider Île-de-France region has intensified

amp.theguardian.com

 

[Nick2413]

It’s crazy because nobody cares about new stadiums or a few homeless people, but they put it on themselves to make every effort to waste as many billions of $$$ as possible.

With all the sustainability/environmental focus these days, they should host a minimalist games. Just the sports, all in currently existing stadiums, no bloated ceremonies, no political posturing, just focus on the competition and sportsmanship between nations.

 

[frenchfry]

It’s crazy because nobody cares about new stadiums or a few homeless people, but they put it on themselves to make every effort to waste as many billions of $$$ as possible.

With all the sustainability/environmental focus these days, they should host a minimalist games. Just the sports, all in currently existing stadiums, no bloated ceremonies, no political posturing, just focus on the competition and sportsmanship between nations.

Nothing personal, but you don't appear to understand the French culture - pomp, ceremony and political posturing is the point! And also inclusion - next up tiddlywinks as an olympic "sport" with it's own brand new, special purpose stadium!

 

[Nick2413]

Nothing personal, but you don't appear to understand the French culture - pomp, ceremony and political posturing is the point! And also inclusion - next up tiddlywinks as an olympic "sport" with it's own brand new, special purpose stadium!

This is a global thing, it’s no different in the US or anywhere else. Brazil went bankrupt over it too.

 

[yaco]

This is a global thing, it’s no different in the US or anywhere else. Brazil went bankrupt over it too.

Except, Brazil was stupid thinking you could have an Olympic Games and a World Cup in the space of 6 years.

 

[frenchfry]

This is a global thing, it’s no different in the US or anywhere else. Brazil went bankrupt over it too.

So true. As I recall the 2004 Olympics were supposed to lead to the revival of Greece, the country ended up in a financial mess. Of course this wasn't only due to the Olympics, but there was a real oversell. The list is long.

 

[frenchfry]

Except, Brazil was tupid thinking you could have an Olympic Games and a World Cup in the space of 6 years.

France is also hosting the 2030 winter olympics, there are some pretty stupid people in high places.

 

[Rob5091]

Now this is the sort of Olympic news we want! If you're easily offended or have a weak disposition then be warned!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...uard-arrested-masturbating-water-bottles.html

 

[Tricycle Rider]

Now this is the sort of Olympic news we want! If you're easily offended or have a weak disposition then be warned!
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/ar...uard-arrested-masturbating-water-bottles.html

I can imagine a stupid teenager doing something like this, but a 67yr.old? Dude sounds like a real sicko whether his wife had truly been bullied or not.

 

[ManicJack]

Just wait until LA 2028. Nothing could go sideways with that organization. 🙄

 

[Rob5091]

Poop (and E.coli) warning for those thinking of swimming at the Olympics -
The Cut article

 

[jmdirt]

I agree with many of the things already posted about the massive misuse of money, environmental impacts, etc. of the Olympics.

As I (mistakenly) posted in the Pro Road Olympics thread, a lady who I used to work with qualified in the 3000 Steeplechase which adds an extra kicker of excitment for me.

I will watch:
quite a bit of T&F, swimming, cycling
some boxing, wrestling, martial arts, rowing, gymnastics
basketball and/or volleyball if the USA makes the final
I will also check out flag football.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

I agree with many of the things already posted about the massive misuse of money, environmental impacts, etc. of the Olympics.

As I (mistakenly) posted in the Pro Road Olympics thread, a lady who I used to work with qualified in the 3000 Steeplechase which adds an extra kicker of excitment for me.

I will watch:
quite a bit of T&F, swimming, cycling
some boxing, wrestling, martial arts, rowing, gymnastics
basketball and/or volleyball if the USA makes the final
I will also check out flag football.

All of this, but flag football? Is it really an Olympic sport now? (Sorry, haven't kept up with all the new sports they've been adding to the Games...)

The US ladies' gymnastics team just finished up their Olympic trials, with Simone Biles onboard I think they'll be hard to beat.

 

[Tricycle Rider]

As I (mistakenly) posted in the Pro Road Olympics thread, a lady who I used to work with qualified in the 3000 Steeplechase which adds an extra kicker of excitment for me.

Was your former coworker competing here in Eugene this week? What's her name, what's her name?

The track and field Olympic trials have concluded here at Hayward Field yesterday, I didn't pay too close attention but apparently Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had beaten her own world record in the 400m hurdles. Was it the fast track at Hayward, or is she really that good right now? We'll find out in just a few weeks!

 

[jmdirt]

Was your former coworker competing here in Eugene this week? What's her name, what's her name?

The track and field Olympic trials have concluded here at Hayward Field yesterday, I didn't pay too close attention but apparently Sydney McLaughlin-Levrone had beaten her own world record in the 400m hurdles. Was it the fast track at Hayward, or is she really that good right now? We'll find out in just a few weeks!

Marisa Howard. Yes, she was at Hayward last week.