Fabulous post Sam! One tiny clarification - it’s England Women that did the potential qualifying for these Olympics, but the team for the actual Games can be drawn from across the four nations, as it was in London and Tokyo.
Simone Biles is indeed amazing, but uneven bars is her worst event. You can never count her out on anything but Kaylia Nemour from Algeria and Suni Lee from USA are prominent medal contenders on that event.
An invaluable catalogue of all the various events! The ancient Olympics featured just six different kinds of competitions. Our contemporary games feature all but one of the ancient competitions: pankration. I discuss the significance of this omission from our Games in my latest piece, "Taking Games Seriously: Pankration, the Olympics, and Our Sports Imagination" https://jeffreynall.substack.com/p/taking-games-seriously-pankration
I would have a much worse Olympic experience without your previews and insights. Thank you again and will eagerly await your daily previews to direct my viewing attention.
Thank you thank you thank you. This is marvellous and I’ll be returning to it throughout. You deserve the gold yourself just for putting this together!
Thank you thank you thank you. This is fabulous and I’ll be returning to it regularly throughout. You deserve a gold yourself for putting this together!
I have two Handball stories. Firstly, while working at LOCOG and being part of the team working on staffing numbers for what is now The Copper Box, we were treated to playing a game of handball on the court (it is exhausting as there is no long stop after scoring). I must have been among the first people to score at the east-facing stand, but no one took my kind offer to waive a fee for naming rights to the stand.
I was also lucky enough to be upgraded from our quarter-final men's tickets for Denmark v Sweden into courtside, halfway seats. I spent the game with my now wife, flanked by the King and Queen of Sweden in front of us, Queen Margarite II, and the now Frederick X, his wife, and their children Isabella and Vincent. Encounters with David Beckham, John Major, and Prince Harry were just the norm for a surreal but rewarding couple of weeks twelve years ago.
One fact to point out through is that Russia are the dominant team in artistic swimming. China have never won a gold medal. But because Russia are banned China will most likely win both this time.
This is insane and a ridiculous effort - and I am very much here for it! Off to Paris for 5 days of events and very excited to be there.
Fabulous post Sam! One tiny clarification - it’s England Women that did the potential qualifying for these Olympics, but the team for the actual Games can be drawn from across the four nations, as it was in London and Tokyo.
(this is for Football - missed that crucial bit!)
Absolutely wonderful piece! I’m also a huge sport nerd so this was like manna from heaven. Some great new names to follow as well.
What can I say - I am now synchronised swimming curious! A really passionate piece.
Simone Biles is indeed amazing, but uneven bars is her worst event. You can never count her out on anything but Kaylia Nemour from Algeria and Suni Lee from USA are prominent medal contenders on that event.
We're on our way to France via Eurotunnel . All the family and we have lots of tickets, will enjoy your superb commentary .
An invaluable catalogue of all the various events! The ancient Olympics featured just six different kinds of competitions. Our contemporary games feature all but one of the ancient competitions: pankration. I discuss the significance of this omission from our Games in my latest piece, "Taking Games Seriously: Pankration, the Olympics, and Our Sports Imagination" https://jeffreynall.substack.com/p/taking-games-seriously-pankration
I would have a much worse Olympic experience without your previews and insights. Thank you again and will eagerly await your daily previews to direct my viewing attention.
Thank you thank you thank you. This is marvellous and I’ll be returning to it throughout. You deserve the gold yourself just for putting this together!
Thank you thank you thank you. This is fabulous and I’ll be returning to it regularly throughout. You deserve a gold yourself for putting this together!
Superb piece - speaking as a politics and gymnastics/ tennis nerd.
Great article ! Check out my Olympics trivia question >>> https://jaybortnik.substack.com/p/play-olympics-trivia-1
I have two Handball stories. Firstly, while working at LOCOG and being part of the team working on staffing numbers for what is now The Copper Box, we were treated to playing a game of handball on the court (it is exhausting as there is no long stop after scoring). I must have been among the first people to score at the east-facing stand, but no one took my kind offer to waive a fee for naming rights to the stand.
I was also lucky enough to be upgraded from our quarter-final men's tickets for Denmark v Sweden into courtside, halfway seats. I spent the game with my now wife, flanked by the King and Queen of Sweden in front of us, Queen Margarite II, and the now Frederick X, his wife, and their children Isabella and Vincent. Encounters with David Beckham, John Major, and Prince Harry were just the norm for a surreal but rewarding couple of weeks twelve years ago.
This is just superb 👌👌👌🍻
Kelly Holmes smile of joy eternally memorable.
The formula for amount of lottery money GB should invest is the minimum to achieve:-
1.5 times more Gold medals than Australia including 1 top field athletics event Silver/Gold and same in swimming.
Best of luck to all and hope Parisians enjoy the wonderful event as much as I loved 2012
Excellent summary.
One fact to point out through is that Russia are the dominant team in artistic swimming. China have never won a gold medal. But because Russia are banned China will most likely win both this time.