Beyond the rings #10 - July 17th
Welcome to this week's Beyond The Rings! Amidst intense political news, France is abuzz with excitement for the summer games. The Olympic flame has reached the Eiffel Tower, symbolizing the nation's embrace. Torchbearers, from anonymous individuals to athletes and personalities, highlight the games' commitment to diversity and inclusion. Learn more about this in our 10th edition!?
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WHAT’S FLAMING THIS WEEK? By STEPHANIE COCQUET
Paris (Finally) Embraces the Summer Games?
?Despite the ongoing intensity of political news in France and around the world, France is now buzzing with excitement for sports. Finally, it’s about time! Following a splendid tour through overseas territories, the Olympic flame has reached Paris, ascending to the highest platform of the Eiffel Tower.?
Among the 11,000 torchbearers, organizers are committed to ensuring gender parity and including individuals with disabilities, while the paralympic games will also feature their own torch relay at the end of August. This highlights the importance of championing diversity and inclusion every single day.?
Kudos to those actively working on these themes now, ensuring that diversity and disability are not just concerns of the paralympic games but of everyone.?
Let's celebrate the numerous initiatives making a significant effort this week in the tenth edition of Beyond The Rings. Enjoy the read!?
Don't Drop the Ball on Diversity?
Certainly, and unfortunately, there is always a gap in attention between the olympic and paralympic games, just as there has always been between men's and women's sports. But the relationship aspect is crucial: the audience that follows the latter is more engaged, and therefore their attention is more qualitative.?
?So, make no mistake: public and media attention on diversity and inclusion is at its peak. Those who will gear down in September, instead of continuing key actions to promote values of inclusion, may come to regret it.?
?Failing to be inclusive and diverse during the summer games means alienating significant parts of one’s global audience, and the media. This exclusion can lead to public backlash, harm the organization's reputation, and result in losing trust and support from fans and sponsors. Moreover, it goes against the games’ spirit of unity and equality. Let alone missing the chance to set a positive example and promote respect and inclusivity, which are essential for a harmonious global community.??
On the occasion of the flame's passage through the Luxembourg Palace, French Senate’s home in Paris, Senat’s president Gérard Larcher , called for a "political truce" during this summer's sporting events for the duration of the summer, until early September. "It should be a true moment of gathering, of celebration", refusing France to present a negative image.?
His proposal is unlikely to be followed, as the National Assembly is set to reconvene on Thursday, July 18, with the election of its president and key positions.?
She did it! Pulling the rug out from under the Paris Mayor, Minister of Sports Amélie Oudéa-Castéra , swam in the Seine on the morning of Saturday, July 13. Less than two weeks before the opening ceremony of the sport event, the minister, wearing a wetsuit, took a swim in the heart of Paris, accompanied by the flag bearer of the French Paralympic team, Alexis Hanquinquant. Thus, she preempted Anne Hidalgo , with whom she is known to have a contentious relationship, and who plans to swim on July 17 as local authorities announced, at last, good water quality results.?
????♂? Football Legend #ThierryHenry kicks Off the Olympic Flame Relay in Paris?
On July 14, 2024, French football legend Thierry Henry had the honor of being the first torchbearer for the Olympic flame in Paris.??
?The route included landmarks like the Assembly National, Senate, and Louvre Pyramid. Notable athletes, including Blaise Matuidi and Laura Georges, participated, with Nicolas Batum as the penultimate torchbearer.?
Yannick Noah concluded the ceremony by lighting the Olympic cauldron, symbolizing the unity and spirit of the Games.??
??You can follow their journey on Instagram:??
Blaise Matuidi?
Laura Georges?
Nicolas Batum?
领英推荐
??????? Candidates for France's paralympics Flag Bearers at Paris 2024?
As the paralympic games approach, four standout athletes are in the running to be France's flag bearers. Alexis Hanquinquant (Para triathlon), David Smétanine (Para swimming), Nantenin Ke?ta (Para athletics), and Nélia Barbosa (Para canoe) are the contenders. These athletes exemplify excellence and determination in their respective sports, embodying the spirit of the games. The selected flag bearers will have the prestigious role of leading the French delegation during the opening ceremony on August 28, 2024?
??You can follow their journey on Instagram:??
Alexis Hanquinquant?
David Smétanine?
Nantenin Ke?ta?
Nélia Barbosa?
?Ticket Sales Record: A Spectator’s Dream?
Despite controversies, this summer event has already sold 8.6 million tickets, surpassing the previous record set by Atlanta in 1996. To reach 10 million tickets, organizers are continuously releasing new batches for various events, get yours!??
"Only you are missing”: Going further for the paralympics?
?Following this record-breaking sales trend (not including paralympic games), the head of the organizing committee, Tony Estanguet, stated his intention to continue this momentum as the campaign to promote the paralympic games featuring a magnificent film, airs on public channels. "We are proud to have already broken the record, but we can aim even higher," he said.?
Security Sweep: Thousands Barred from this summer event.??
Over 3,500 individuals have been banned for security reasons, including those flagged for radicalization or extremist ties. This extensive security measure follows 770,000 background checks to ensure safety.??
Paris this summer: Navigating the Special Lanes?
Starting July 15, 185 km of "Olympic and Paralympic lanes" will open in and around Paris to ease the movement of accredited vehicles during the summer games, aiming to ensure swift transit for athletes and officials. This is sure to delight Parisian motorists who are already not very patient under normal circumstances!?
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