The best athletes on the planet will congregate in France this summer to take part in the biggest carnival of sports in the world – the Olympic Games.
And just like the previous Games, this year's Olympics, which take place in July-August, will feel the impact of elements beyond the sporting arena.
The Tokyo Olympics was held in the shadows of a global pandemic. This time, it is the unrest due to heightened terrorism threats and ongoing wars in Ukraine and Gaza that is having an impact on Europe and the Games in particular.
The hope is that it will be an incident-free Paris Olympics, remembered for the right reasons, especially when it comes to planning and efficiency.
The cost of hosting any Olympic Games is regularly questioned, given that it routinely spirals out of control. But this time, only two new permanent venues have been built for Paris 2024 to make the event cost-effective.
Almost all events are set to take place at existing venues or in front of temporary stands. For example, beach volleyball will be played in front of the Eiffel Tower, archery at the Invalides monument, skateboarding is set to place at Place de la Concorde, and the Chateau de Versailles will host the equestrian events.
In all, around 200,000 seats are being installed at the temporary venues.
There are other significant moves afoot. Athletics is set to become the first sport to offer prize money to Olympic champions. The 48 gold medallists in Paris this year will earn $50,000 each, ending a 128-year tradition.
World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said there had been no discussion with the International Olympic Committee, but stated that his organisation had informed the IOC about the $2.4 million prize pot.
As we count down to the start of the Paris Games – on July 24 with the opening ceremony two days later – here is what you can expect.
Paris Olympics 2024 venues
Aquatics Centre
Events: Water polo, diving, artistic swimming; Capacity: 5,000
Bercy Arena
Events: Artistic gymnastics, basketball, trampoline; Capacity: 15,000
Champ de Mars Arena
Events: Judo, wrestling; Capacity: 9,000
Chateau de Versailles
Events: Equestrian, pentathlon; Capacity: 80,000
Chateauroux Shooting Centre
Events: Shooting; Capacity: 3,000
Eiffel Tower Stadium
Events: Beach volleyball; Capacity: 12,000
Elancourt Hill
Events: Cycling mountain bike; Capacity: 25,000
Bordeaux Stadium
Events: Football; Capacity: 42,000
La Beaujoire Stadium (Nantes)
Events: Football; Capacity: 35,000
Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium (St Etienne)
Events: Football; Capacity: 42,000
Parc des Princes
Events: Football; Capacity: 50,000
Lyon Stadium
Events: Football; Capacity: 60,000
Marseille Stadium (Stade Velodrome)
Events: Football; Capacity: 68,000
Nice Stadium (Stade de Nice)
Events: Football; Capacity: 35,000
Grand Palais
Events: Fencing, taekwondo; Capacity: 8,000
Hotel de Ville
Events: Marathon
Invalides
Events: Archery, marathon, cycling; Capacity: 8,000
Parc Urbain La Concorde
Events: 3x3 basketball, breakdancing, BMX, skateboarding; Capacity: 30,000
Le Bourget
Events: Sport Climbing; Capacity: 5,000
Le Golf National
Events: Golf; Capacity: 35,000
Marseille Marina
Events: Sailing; Capacity: 5,000
North Paris Arena
Events: Boxing, pentathlon; Capacity: 6,000
Paris La Defense Arena
Events: Swimming, water polo; Capacity: 15,000
Pierre Mauroy Stadium
Events: Basketball, handball; Capacity: 26,000
Pont Alexandre III
Events: Cycling, marathon swimming, triathlon; Capacity: 1,000
Porte de la Chapelle Arena
Events: Badminton, rhythmic gymnastics; Capacity: 8,000
Roland Garros
Events: Tennis, boxing; Capacity: 36,000
Saint-Quentin Velodrome
Events: Cycling, BMX; Capacity: 5,000
South Paris Arena
Events: Handball, weightlifting, table tennis, volleyball; Capacity: 6,000
Stade de France
Events: Athletics, rugby sevens, closing ceremony; Capacity: 77,000
Tahiti
Events: Surfing; Capacity: 5,000
Trocadero
Events: Athletics, road cycling; Capacity: 13,000
Vaires-sur-Marne Nautical Stadium
Events: Canoe, rowing; Capacity: 22,000
Yves-du-Manoir Stadium
Events: Hockey; Capacity: 15,000
Events
The 2024 Olympics will feature 329 events in 33 sports, including the 28 "core" Olympic events. Breakdancing is set to make its Olympic debut as an optional sport, while skateboarding, sport climbing, and surfing return from the 2020 Tokyo roster.
How to watch Olympic Games in the UAE
The 2024 Paris Olympics will be shown on beIN Sports in the UAE and Mena region.
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Violence%20
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Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
BULKWHIZ PROFILE
Date started: February 2017
Founders: Amira Rashad (CEO), Yusuf Saber (CTO), Mahmoud Sayedahmed (adviser), Reda Bouraoui (adviser)
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: E-commerce
Size: 50 employees
Funding: approximately $6m
Investors: Beco Capital, Enabling Future and Wain in the UAE; China's MSA Capital; 500 Startups; Faith Capital and Savour Ventures in Kuwait
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Name: Abeer Al Shahi
Emirate: Sharjah – Khor Fakkan
Education: Master’s degree in special education, preparing for a PhD in philosophy.
Favourite activities: Bungee jumping
Favourite quote: “My people and I will not settle for anything less than first place” – Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The biog
Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia
Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins
Favourite dish: Grilled fish
Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.
Global Fungi Facts
• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil
Company%20Profile
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KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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Company%20profile
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Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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United States
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China
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UAE
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Japan
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5
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Norway
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Canada
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Singapore
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Australia
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Saudi Arabia
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South Korea
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UAE'S%20YOUNG%20GUNS
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Chef Nobu's advice for eating sushi
“One mistake people always make is adding extra wasabi. There is no need for this, because it should already be there between the rice and the fish.
“When eating nigiri, you must dip the fish – not the rice – in soy sauce, otherwise the rice will collapse. Also, don’t use too much soy sauce or it will make you thirsty. For sushi rolls, dip a little of the rice-covered roll lightly in soy sauce and eat in one bite.
“Chopsticks are acceptable, but really, I recommend using your fingers for sushi. Do use chopsticks for sashimi, though.
“The ginger should be eaten separately as a palette cleanser and used to clear the mouth when switching between different pieces of fish.”
CONFIRMED%20LINE-UP
%3Cp%3EElena%20Rybakina%20(Kazakhstan)%0D%3Cbr%3EOns%20Jabeur%20(Tunisia)%0D%3Cbr%3EMaria%20Sakkari%20(Greece)%0D%3Cbr%3EBarbora%20Krej%C4%8D%C3%ADkov%C3%A1%20(Czech%20Republic)%0D%3Cbr%3EBeatriz%20Haddad%20Maia%20(Brazil)%0D%3Cbr%3EJe%C4%BCena%20Ostapenko%20(Latvia)%0D%3Cbr%3ELiudmila%20Samsonova%0D%3Cbr%3EDaria%20Kasatkina%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EVeronika%20Kudermetova%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3ECaroline%20Garcia%20(France)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EMagda%20Linette%20(Poland)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3ESorana%20C%C3%AErstea%20(Romania)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EAnastasia%20Potapova%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EAnhelina%20Kalinina%20(Ukraine)%E2%80%AF%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EJasmine%20Paolini%20(Italy)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Navarro%20(USA)%E2%80%AF%0D%3Cbr%3ELesia%20Tsurenko%20(Ukraine)%0D%3Cbr%3ENaomi%20Osaka%20(Japan)%20-%20wildcard%0D%3Cbr%3EEmma%20Raducanu%20(Great%20Britain)%20-%20wildcard%3Cbr%3EAlexandra%20Eala%20(Philippines)%20-%20wildcard%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Phnom Penh via Yangon from Dh2,700 return including taxes. Cambodia Bayon Airlines and Cambodia Angkor Air offer return flights from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap from Dh250 return including taxes. The flight takes about 45 minutes.
The hotels
Rooms at the Raffles Le Royal in Phnom Penh cost from $225 (Dh826) per night including taxes. Rooms at the Grand Hotel d'Angkor cost from $261 (Dh960) per night including taxes.
The tours
A cyclo architecture tour of Phnom Penh costs from $20 (Dh75) per person for about three hours, with Khmer Architecture Tours. Tailor-made tours of all of Cambodia, or sites like Angkor alone, can be arranged by About Asia Travel. Emirates Holidays also offers packages.
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
The biog
Name: Capt Shadia Khasif
Position: Head of the Criminal Registration Department at Hatta police
Family: Five sons and three daughters
The first female investigator in Hatta.
Role Model: Father
She believes that there is a solution to every problem
The bio
Job: Coder, website designer and chief executive, Trinet solutions
School: Year 8 pupil at Elite English School in Abu Hail, Deira
Role Models: Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk
Dream City: San Francisco
Hometown: Dubai
City of birth: Thiruvilla, Kerala
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Arctic Monkeys
Tranquillity Base Hotel Casino (Domino)
