Olympics 2024: For Ukrainians, joy mixes with sorrow at Paris

For Ukrainian competitors in Paris for the Olympics, joy goes hand in hand with sorrow. Athletes are striving to enjoy the dream of competing at one of the worlds most prestigious sports events while carrying the burden of the war back home. When we read news, we feel very upset, said Polina Buhrova, a 20-year-old badminton player at her first Games. But its also our power and our possibility to show how strong we are that we are here, that we are going to fight until the end. The living accommodations for athletes from around the world are adorned with flags and slogans at the Olympic village. The Ukrainian house features childrens drawings with messages like: The resilient do not give up and strive for victory and Glory to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. These drawings, a tradition to support Ukrainian soldiers on the frontline, have extended to cheering for their athletes. It warms my heart, said fencer Olga Kharlan, smiling at the drawings. She added, We want to finish this season successfully because we are doing it for our country. Kharlan had a unique route to the Paris Games. She was drawn against Russian fencer Anna Smirnova at last years world championships. Smirnova protested after Kharlan refused to shake her hand, and the Ukrainian was disqualified. The International Olympic Committee awarded Kharlan a spot in Paris anyway. The fencer said preparing for the Games this year was challenging not just the grueling routine typical for an Olympic athlete but because she had to train abroad due to Russias war and had not seen her family in a long time. But she is determined, saying her showing goes far beyond any sports arena. We fight and perform for those who, unfortunately, cannot come here because they were killed by Russia, she said. This year, Ukraine will be represented by the smallest number of athletes in its history of participation in the Summer Games, with 140 competitors in 26 sports. The most are in athletics, at 25, while theres just the one Buhrova in badminton. The war deeply and negatively affected Ukraines sports industry. The International Olympic Committee barred Russians and Belarusians from team sports in Paris, and those who pass a two-step vetting procedure can compete individually as neutrals. They must not have publicly supported Russias invasion of Ukraine or be affiliated with military or state security agencies. In Ukraine, Buhrova said that the war undermined the importance of sports and accessibility for many and that she knows many athletes who stopped practicing after Russias invasion.

Legacies, scandals, records and more: Swimming in Paris 2024

CHENNAI: The Olympics opening week comes with it a variety of storylines and sub-plots in multiple disciplines, each as arresting as the other. In Paris, some of the headline acts will be made in the pool. A look at whats at stake in the swimming events where great feats, a local heros coronation, hot rivalries, and a doping saga for the ages could all come to a boil. Hmmm, sounds interesting. Whos the local hero? In their arsenal, the French have Leon Marchand, the imposing 22-year-old who has been dubbed the closest thing to Michael Phelps in a long time. Marchand may not have an Olympic medal yet but in 2023, he broke Phelps last remaining individual world record (400m IM). Big things are expected from Marchand, whos competing in as many as four individual events, with the 400m medley kicking things off on Sunday. Whats in store for the first day? While a few of the medals will have been decided in some of the other sports, Saturdays piece de resistance comes a little before midnight (IST) when Katie Ledecky, Ariarne Titmus, Erika Fairweather and Summer McIntosh will likely line up for the final of the womens 400m free. Its one of the most hyped up events of the Games, perhaps accurately because this is a rivalry that has already seen a couple of barnstorming installments. Titmus is the current champion and world record holder, but Ledecky is a legend, and McIntosh is already a teen superstar. In normal times, Fairweather, the fifth fastest in this event ever, would be favourite for gold. Now, shes fourth in line. Why does Ledecky sound familiar? Shes the most decorated womens swimmer of all time with 10 Olympic medals (seven gold, three silver). The 27-year-old may not be the favourite in the 40mm free but she is odds on to add more jewellery in the two distance events later in the schedule (800 and 1500). Whats the controversy you are talking about? This could take a while. In April, it came to light that 23 Chinese swimmers had tested positive for a banned substance, trimetadizine (TMZ; a heart drug capable of performance enhancement). The results had come out seven months before the Tokyo Games, with roughly half that number competing there. China, though, held firm as they stated the results were due to a contaminated surface in a hotel. What added to the intrigue was those results were never made public before a few scribes published it earlier this year. Wait, what? The fallout continues with just hours to go until the first swim. It has, in effect, fractured the world of elite swimming into two groups. China and the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) are on one side, while the others, including swimmers from the West, on the other. In a remarkable press conference a few days ago, USAs Caeleb Dressel was unequivocal when he said he had no confidence in the federations ability to police the sport. I dont think they have given us enough evidence to support how this case was handled, he said. It was remarkable because World Aquatics chief sat close to him. A day later, on Friday, China amped up the rhetoric. Qin Haiyang, a breaststroke specialist, called it an European and American plot to destabilise the Chinese team. Haiyang and Adam Peaty, two-time and reigning Olympic champion from GB, will have a direct face-off in the 100m breaststroke. Haiyang was one of the 23 to have returned a positive for TMZ. One Australian swimmer, Zac Stubblety-Cook has gone on record to say he may consider a poolside protest apropos Haiyangs presence.

Paris Olympics 2024: Surreal ceremony to open the Games

PARIS: THE Eiffel Tower stood attentive, as if trying to capture the moment that will forever be embossed in the annals of Olympic history, adorned with a bouquet of adjectives: outrageous, bold, innovative and wild, yet beautiful and sublime. The Seine flowed majestically as ever beside it. The Trocadero stood on the other side where all the dignitaries sat in the immersive settings of the Opening Ceremony. Then it all began sharp at 7.30pm Paris time, with football legend Zinedine Zidane starting off things with a humorous skit. On a wet evening, Paris did not need an invocation of the spirits or intervention from divinity. For once, the city that had been an inspiration for many poets, artists, writers and composers was its own muse. From the depths of its heart, it sang melodious tunes and ushered in a new-age world of sport an apt reflection of the central theme of unity and brotherhood the Opening Ceremony tried to showcase. The Seine turned into a goddess. Like the director Thomas Jolly said, the river has two gifts the power to heal and the power to grant wishes. On Friday, the city wished for a dry evening. The day started on a damp note. The biggest wish on Friday would have been to keep the rains away. There was some rain but not heavy enough to send the joyous crowd home. The gigantic screens on the course of the river captured every movement of the 85 boats ferrying about 6800 athletes over 6km cheered by over 300,000 spectators congregating on the banks on various stages to watch their favourite athletes float by; like how dreams float in the air. The Games are an opportunity to celebrate Paris in its essence. Us is the underlying theme and the Ceremony was an amalgamation of history and innovation, heritage and creativity. It celebrated a city that has always been imbued with thought, art, festivity and daring, a world-city where the plurality of living together first emerged, birthing along with it, the possibility of an Us'. The challenge was keeping the audience engaged while the athletes sailed on their boats. Parkour, another reflection of modern urban sport, was like an interlude fusing the 12 tableau and while each composer presented their story. Lady Gaga did her gig too. The parade of boats along the Seine continued into the evening as athletes danced, waved their flags and wore their smiles easily. From Saturday, though, the festivities will be replaced by the world's best athletes going against each other for global glory. Let the games begin.

Paris Olympics 2024: Hunt for Seven begins in earnest

PARIS: Seven. Thats the magical number India would be chasing at the Paris Games. In Tokyo three years ago, they had the best ever medal-haul. This time, the contingent of 117 athletes in 16 disciplines would be working towards at least reaching the target. As the euphoria of the Opening Ceremony settles down, as the excitement of sailing on the Seine slowly fades, and as the fireworks die in staccato, athletes would embrace the reality of the Games. India started off well, with the archery teams both men and women finishing the qualification in the top four. The mood in the India camp inside the Games Village too was positive. The Indian athletes have been given some of the best assistance in terms of training, exposure and support staff in the lead-up to the Games and going beyond. Seven does not seem unreal. Acclimatisation is over. There is more hope and optimism. The medals can start flowing from July 27. All eyes again would be on Olympic and world champion Neeraj Chopra, double Olympic medalist PV Sindhu, last Games silver medalist Mirabai Chanu and mens hockey team, who would be the star cast. But there could be potential first-time medalists in archery, shooting, wrestling and boxing. Miles away, in the salubrious township of Chateauroux, the shooters would be ensconced in their own ephemeral world, unaffected by the hype and hoopla surrounding the first-ever opening ceremony held outside a stadium. Twenty-one gun-wielding athletes, the biggest ever to qualify for the Games, would be carrying a billion hopes. Paris Olympics 2024: Rain fails to dampen magical show The sport that has given India four medals at the Olympics since Rajyavardhan Singh Rathores silver at Athens, including one gold by the inimitable Abhinav Bindra, has fired blank since London, where India won two medals (Vijay Kumars silver and Gagan Narangs bronze). Since then, whenever a shooter stands on the stations and firing points, more than two billion eyes look at the targets with hope. Yet, medals have eluded India at the Rio and Tokyo Games. Understandably, the sport needs medals more than ever. India would be concentrating on the mixed team event in the 10m air rifle on Saturday. India have fielded two teams: Ramita Jindal/Arjun Babuta and Elavenil Valarivan/Sandeep Singh. Though the qualifying world record is India's, the field is tough. While signs are positive, one has to be mindful about the Chinese and the German presence. Going by the last couple of years, India have not done as expected but the preparation leading up to the Paris Games has been one of the best. Elavenil, mentored by Gagan, did not have the best of times in the last couple of years, but she excelled during the trials in Bhopal. The happy space is what she has alluded to while speaking about her recent form. The learning curve has moved north and the Olympics could be the zenith of her performance. Her partner, Sandeep, had been an outsider who wriggled his way into the team. Ramita and Babuta too are primed for a good show. Manu Bhaker too would be in action in the qualification round in the 10m air pistol. However, boxing seems to be a tough ask. World champion Nikhat Zareen and 2021 bronze medalist Lovlina Borgohain have been handed a tough draw. Nikhat, who has not been seeded, will face Germans Maxi Carina Kloetzer in the round of 32. If she does emerge from that, China's World champion, Wu Yu, could be next. Next up would be Thailands Chuthamat Raksat or Sabina Bobokulova of Uzbekistan. Nikhat lost to Raksat in the semifinal at the Asian Games. Lovlina will be facing Chinas Li Qian in the quarterfinal if she wins her first round match. Double Olympic medalist Qian has beaten Lovlina in the Asian Games final. Yet, the team is hopeful. They know that the best qualify for the games, and they are ready for whatever is thrown at them. Moving from the confines of the ring to the slightly bigger badminton courts, of course, beside Sindhu, Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty, who have been in fine form in the lead up to the Games, would be chasing a historic medal in mens doubles in La Chapelle. Wrestling is where India would be hoping to wrest a couple of medals. Considered the face of the wrestlers protest last year, Vinesh Phogat, in 50 kg, would be chasing that elusive Olympic medal. Asian Games medallist Antim Panghal is considered the best hope in her 53 kg weight category. There is also Aman Sehrawat and the promising Anshu Malik, who can beat any opponent on any given day. That would be towards the business end of the Olympics. As of now, though, the focus would be on the shooting ranges 250 km away and the archery venue at Les Invalides on Sunday. For India, the countdown for double figures could well start from Saturday. Olympics: A Paris for all

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Paris Olympics: Check out India's schedule on July 27

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When P T Usha Met Nadal!

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Archers secure quarterfinal berths in team events

CHENNAI: Debutants Ankita Bhakat and Dhiraj Bommadevara led from the front as Indian mens and womens archery teams secured quarterfinal spots in their respective team events at the Paris Olympics on Thursday. Bhakat cruised past Deepika Kumari, the four-time Olympian, to come out on top at 11th ranking in the womens individual recurve qualifications, while Bommadevara finished fourth in the mens individual event behind two archers from South Korea and one from Germany. With that debutants also confirmed themselves as a pair for the mixed team event as they finished at the fifth position with a combined 1347 points. Earlier in the day, the 26-year-old Bhakat was the top-ranked Indian woman with 666 points, followed by Bhajan Kaur (22nd with 559 points) and Deepika (23rd with 658 points). In the team event, India grabbed the fourth spot by scoring 1983 points. South Korea topped the standings with 2046 points. China finished runners-up while Mexico grabbed the third spot. India will face the winner of the contest between France and Netherlands in the quarterfinals. The top four in the team standings directly advance to the quarterfinals, while those ending between 5th to 12th play the Round of 16 fixtures. In the individual sections first round, Bhakat will face Polands Wioleta Myszor, while Kaur and Kumari will face opponents from Indonesia and Estonia respectively. Later, the Indian mens team - Bommadevara, Tarundeep Rai and Pravin Jadhav finished third behind powerhouse Korea and hosts France. The 22-year-old Bommadevara booked the top spot amongst Indians with 681 points. Bommadevara is set to face Adam Li. Rai will lock horns with Tom Hall, while Jadhavs opponent is Kao Wenchao of China. Indias mixed team pair is scheduled to take on the Indonesian duo of Diananda Choirunisa and Arif Pangestu.

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21-year-old Si-hyeon sets World, Olympic archery mark

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India get sleep doctor on board to assist Olympians

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Veterans, newcomers chase Olympic pin glory in Paris

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Terror threat in Paris: Police arrest teenager

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Paris Olympics: Djokovic-Nadal could meet in 2nd round

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Olympics Archery: India women advance to team quarters

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'The trend started in Tokyo will continue in Paris'

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India target best-ever medal haul at Paris Olympics

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Finnish Olympic Team Enhances Health Protocols for Paris 2024

The Finnish Olympic delegation is set to implement stringent health measures for the upcoming Paris 2024 Games, including the mandatory use of face masks during flights to France and while traveling locally in Paris, according to Maarit Valtonen, the chief doctor for the Finnish team. In a recent interview with USU, a prominent Finnish regional news agency, Valtonen shared insights into these new protocols. She explained that although mask-wearing was considered during the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, it was not adopted at the time due to limited practice and potential concerns it might raise among others. Valtonen pointed out that many Finnish athletes contracted infections in PyeongChang, either from Finland or while traveling. We could have minimized these risks with proper mask use, she stated. In contrast, during the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, the Finnish delegation experienced some flu cases, but effective isolation measures and mask usage prevented any spread of these infections. Highlighting the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health practices, Valtonen emphasized a shift in how national medical teams cooperate. COVID-19 has changed the landscape of medical collaboration among countries. Our primary focus is on athlete health, which transcends competition, she said. Valtonen, a veteran in sports medicine, stressed the importance of diagnosing viruses accurately for athletes. Unlike for the general public, viruses can have significant implications for athletes, including potential heart infections. Therefore, in some cases, we must determine whether an athlete is fit to compete, she added. Latest Updates: #Esports World Cup 2024: A Game-Changer for the Future of Competitive Gaming French MP's Controversial Comments on Israeli Athletes at Paris Olympics Spark Outrage How to Watch Team USA Live at the Paris 2024 Olympics

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#Esports World Cup 2024: A Game-Changer for the Future of Competitive Gaming

The Esports World Cup (EWC) is proving to be a groundbreaking event thats setting new standards for the gaming industry. With its massive $60 million prize pool, the tournament is not only elevating competitive gaming but also ensuring long-term success for the sector. Participants in the 2024 Esports World Cup are benefiting from a unique prize distribution system. Even teams eliminated early in the competition receive a share of the prize pool. For instance, the Counter-Strike 2 team JiJieHao, which was the first to be eliminated, still earned $10,000. This approach provides financial stability for players, especially those who may not have high salaries. A key feature of the EWC is the 'Club Support Program,' which supports 30 different organizations. Of these, 22 were invited, while the remaining 8 were selected based on their achievements, fan engagement strategies, and future plans. This program offers both annual financial support and a one-time grant for clubs looking to expand into other sports, fostering new opportunities across the esports industry. The Esports World Cup is also enhancing viewership by showcasing various games through the Esports World Cup Central show. This show introduces fans to different titles, broadening their gaming horizons. The tournaments promotion has been extensive and innovative: TikTok Partnership: Boosting the shared passion for esports. Advertising on The Sphere in Las Vegas: Creating eye-catching displays. Twitch Ads: Running numerous ads on one of the main EWC platforms. Influencer Involvement: Danny Aarons and loltyler1 are hosting segments, reaching millions of fans. Celebrity Sightings: Public figures like Neymar Jr and Diogo Jota have been seen supporting the event. While the financial backing of the EWC is notable, its the strategic execution thats driving esports into the mainstream. With the Esports Olympics planned for 2025, Riyadh is demonstrating that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is committed to advancing the esports industry. Latest Updates French MP's Controversial Comments on Israeli Athletes at Paris Olympics Spark Outrage How to Watch Team USA Live at the Paris 2024 Olympics Adidas Apologizes Over Bella Hadid's Munich Olympics Sneaker Campaign Controversy

List of Indian athletes qualified for Paris Olympics

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Paris Olympic 2024 Games Schedule

With a jam-packed schedule brimming with both legendary athletes and captivating storylines, Paris 2024 promises unforgettable moments.

Nakamura, Giri added to GCL roster

CHENNAI: Anish Giri and Hikaru Nakamura were announced as Icon players for the second edition of the Global Chess League (GCL). The Super Grandmasters, making their debut in the franchise-style tournament, will represent PBG Alaskan Knights and American Gambits, respectively. The league will also have the now familiar presence of Magnus Carlsen (Alpine SG Pipers), Viswanathan Anand (Ganges Grandmasters), Ian Nepomniachtchi (Triveni Continental Kings) and Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (Mumba Masters). Carlsen, who led the Alpine team in the first season as well, said: The first season in Dubai was a fantastic experience. Chess has been an individual sport but the concept of a team setting is very exciting. Nakamura said: followed the Global Chess League in its first season and was hooked to the format. It is an exciting opportunity not only for the top players. Dutch GM, Giri, also sang from the same hymn sheet. GCL CEO, Sameer Pathak, said they will announce the remaining names in the roster soon. In the following weeks, we will be announcing a host of superstar men, women and prodigy players. The first edition was won by Triveni Kings. The next edition is set to be held in London in the first two weeks of October.

Olympics: A Paris for all

PARIS: Paris. The City of Lights is alight. The crisp summer air smells of festivity, sports and celebration. It turns into a heady mix when it mingles with wafts of freshly-baked croissants and coffees across the rues and boulevards lazily lingering in the cool breeze. No city has earned as many monikers as this city -- romance, art, culture, gastronomy and, of course, revolution -- one just needs to name it. The Seine is draped in all its fineries. So are all its iconic locations. The morning smelled and felt like a freshly-brewed coffee and artistically-baked croissant. It is only apt that one of the grandest sporting spectacle will have a sprinkling of all of the above, even though its hard to shift the attention towards sports in this fashionably remarkable multi-faceted city. Yet, with the Opening Ceremony of the XXXIII Olympic Games just a couple of days away, people are warming up quietly in their own inimitable ways. History is what they believe has morphed into this sporting spectacle. The city where Pierre de Coubertin mooted the idea of the Olympics and hosted the Games in 1924 waited 100 years for this. Just like the city, history cannot be torn away from the Games. Each of the motifs created for the Olympics has history behind it. Marianne, the personification of the French Republic since the French Revolution, is fused with the Olympic flame of hope and liberation. The red Phrygian hat, another symbol of French revolution, has turned into its mascot the red Phryges. The heart definitely beats at Champs-Elysees the avenue that reflects the city. The avenue lined with elm trees with the heritage blocks selling modern merchandise, Parisian fashionable crowd... it's almost surreal. The amalgamation of old and new is evident even in the condiments the shops display. From Louis Vuitton, Tiffany & Co and to PSG stores, the avenue boasts of some of the most luxurious brands in the world. Among them one window stood out the 1924 Olympic memorabilia shop. As they celebrate the new, Parisians have not forgotten the old. Though the arrival at the Charles de Gaulle airport was sedate (nothing about it yelled the Olympics), however, as one descended into the centre, the landscape kept changing. On the periphery (of the city), there was a buzz and occasional fliers and festoons running through the streets. For a country that has hosted marquee events like the football and the rugby World Cups as well as a host of international events, this perhaps is just another event on the calendar. Arc de Triomphe cordoned off The Arc de Triomphe stares at the world. It was cordoned off on Wednesday. Hoards of the public wanted to peer at the marvellous piece of art, but it was protected by police and other security agencies. There have been scares of protests and occasional threats. With one of the most politicised Games just a couple of days away, the security agencies are not taking any chances. Parisians are celebrating but some of them are not happy that the metro fares have more than doubled for the Olympics. There is a sprinkling of discontent among the immigrants. The dedicated lanes for accredited officials and the Olympic family seem to be the fastest corridor to travel. Sirens have started blaring and will end only after the Games. With some of the greatest sportspersons of the planet to descend here, the city will immerse in the grandeur of the greatest show on earth.

Youngest member of contingent, Desinghu, overcame fear of water to become a swimmer

CHENNAI: DURING the Tokyo Olympics, when the world was watching the first-ever postponed Olympics from the comfort of their homes, one of Dhinidhi Desinghu's close friends declared. I have been friends with her since we were two. She was supposed to watch the games, but she suddenly told me that it would not happen. And she will watch the games when I qualify for it. We were all taking it as a joke. No way it was going to happen anytime soon, Desinghu told this daily before flying to Paris for her maiden Olympics at 14. Three years after that, the teenager has made it to Paris in the womens 200-metre freestyle on a universality quota offered by the Olympic Games Tripartite Commission along with Srihari Natraj. The ninth-standard student from Bengaluru always knew she had what it takes to make it to the Olympics land along with studies, she was ready to put the hard yards in the pool. Swimming or any sport for that part is something that you cannot continue forever. Sport is not like that. It can be done at a particular time in your life. So I knew that I had the talent, and they were ready to let me do what I was doing, which was to come to the pool every day. It's not like I have not focused on school; it is really important, she mentioned. Initially, Desinghu was afraid of the water, but eventually, the pool became a second home. Swimming was just meant to have fun and learn when I started. I didn't like the water. I didn't really enjoy it. The first 2-3 months when I started were rough, I wouldn't get in (the pool) and I was so slightly forced in, but now I think all that paid off. Swimming has also changed me as a person. It also helped me get some friends to try new things. A lot of things that not every 14-year-old or any person for that part could get, the teenager reflected with maturity. On the technical side, Desinghu made a switch to Dolphin Aquatics in Bengaluru and started coaching under coach Madhu Kumar. She believes it changed her as a swimmer for the better. I got into Dolphin Aquatics in 2019. Everybody else was around 1213, and I was only around nine. It was very difficult to fit in. I didn't know all the terminology of the sport because I came out of a learner club pool. When it came to different drills, skulls, and dives, it was all different and difficult for me to understand, she said. Madhu sir was there all the time to help me. And I think he also understood that I came out of a learner's pool and I was not going to understand straightaway. He was good at that and has always been there throughout. I have trained with sir for five years now and one of the reasons why I am here today, added the swimmer. Thank you card for Ledecky At the biggest event she would ever participate in as an athlete, Desinghu has one important wish outside of her performance in the Games. She wants to interact with her idol and multiple Olympics gold medal winner, Katie Ledecky. The American swimmer has been her hero for the longest time and the teenager has made a card as a token of appreciation for her idol. It is to say thank you for your inspiration. You've been such a great inspiration for me and I look up to you a lot and I've been really excited to meet you, Desinghu revealed the contents of the card. I did not mention what particular Olympics because I made this long ago and I didn't know whether I was even going to get in. It is a thank you letter for what she has done for me because she also kept me motivated to continue swimming. She kept me going and I thought to myself, that maybe one day I could get there. At 14, Desinghu is the youngest member of India's contingent to travel to Paris. Her friend, who skipped the Tokyo Olympics, will be watching from Bengaluru. Who knows, maybe one day this teenage dream will go on to win a medal for India.

A meeting with Morrison's final resting place

PARIS: THERE is no beauty in the tomb. It lies inside the grave, quiet and cold. The Lizard King, buried in, Pere Lachaise, cemetery of the vanities as they call it, evokes a different kind of emotion. It celebrates life in the dead.Since the Olympics are here, they are expecting more visitors. It always is. And Jim Morrison's is still one of the most visited sites. The bust, created in 1981, was stolen in 1988 by fans. The tomb was rebuilt by the family in 1991 and the tomb standing today is sober, nothing grandiose compared with the many of the greatest in their fields.This is the place that has the highest concentration of great personalities per square metre under the earth. When the music is over, turn off the lights... Morrison's voice still echoes in the narrow lanes and alleys within the premises of cemetery, Just like in a shamanic trance. A rectangular block with a not too big a tomb stone make up the small structure. Though he lived here in Paris for about six months, the city has adopted him as its child. The walk in the cemetery is like a lesson in history, literature, art and culture... the cult of Morrison lives on in that quiet corner of the cemetery. The Olympics will once again give visitors chance to relive his songs and open the doors of perception and see things as they are immaculate. Some two metres away on one side of the chapel lies Honore de Balzac. Some 100 metres away is Oscar Wilde. The music of Frederic Chopin floats in the air and the hundred others turning in their grave to know they too live among the greatest. When the music's over, turn off the lights, turn off the lights. As one walks away from the tomb, one still hears that haunting voice of Morrison slowly humming. 'We should see the gates by mornin We should be inside the evenin Sun, sun, sun Burn, burn, burn Soon, soon, soon Moon, moon, moon I will get you Soon, soon, soon! I am the Lizard king I can do anything,'

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Biles, Osaka and Phelps spoke up about mental health. Has anything changed for the Paris Olympics?

Lydia Jacoby was a breakout star in the pool for the United States at the last Summer Games, earning a gold medal in the 100-meter breaststroke and a relay silver. Part of what comes to mind from those heady days in Tokyo? People talking about post-Olympic depression, she said. She was 17 at the time, and her initial response when other athletes brought up the topic was: Well, that doesnt apply to me. I essentially did not understand the topic of depression, she said. It wasnt until after the Games that I was like, Oh. ... OK. Yeah, Im feeling this a little. Jacoby, who didnt qualify for the 2024 Olympics, is now fully aware of the phenomenon, went through it, moved past it and discusses it casually, all of which points to the way things have changed in just a few years when it comes to mental health. As the Paris Games open on Friday, followed by the Paralympics beginning Aug. 28, athletes have more access than ever to resources in that once-taboo realm and sound more willing than ever to use them. That seems particularly significant given that Jessica Bartley, the US Olympic and Paralympic Committees senior director of psychological services, says about half of the countrys athletes at the past two Olympiads were flagged for at least one of the following: anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, eating disorders, substance use or abuse. We really are just a part of the conversation now, Bartley said, and not an afterthought or something when someones struggling. Among the key questions now: Is everyone going to seek the help they need? And is enough help available? As for the first, Bartley said: Id like to think were over the hump, but were still not quite there. I feel like there is still some stigma. I think theres still some connections to weakness. And the second? I do think there still could be more, track star Gabby Thomas said, but, I mean, theyre there. Olympians Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and Michael Phelps opened doors Three Olympians Simone Biles and Naomi Osaka, who participated in the last pandemic-delayed Summer Games, and are returning, and retired swimmer Michael Phelps, who has more medals than anyone in any sport provided some of the loudest voices in the growing global conversation in sports and society at large about the importance of protecting, gauging and improving the state of ones mind as much as ones body. Phelps spoke about having suicidal thoughts at the height of his career and helped produce a documentary about depression among Olympians. He also called on the International Olympic Committee and USOPC to do more. I do think theres something to be said when a lot of really, really good athletes kind of talk about the same issue. I know all athletes dont feel the same way; you have to be a certain type or in a certain head space. Some people just feel things differently, said Osaka, a four-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1-ranked player in tennis who lit the cauldron in Japan. Shes been forthcoming about her bouts with anxiety and depression and was among the first sports figures to take mental-health breaks away from competition, paving the way for others. Osaka, in turn, said she felt very heard when she listened to Biles and Phelps. Im pretty sure a lot of different athletes also felt heard, Osaka said. They didnt feel like it was a weakness or anything like that, so Im really glad we all talked about it. Biles, who redefined excellence in gymnastics and picked up seven Olympic medals along the way, drew attention and, from some, criticism, for pulling out of events in Tokyo because of a mental block known in the gymnastics world as the twisties that made her afraid to attempt certain dangerous moves. That her explanations of what went awry came in such a public setting, as THE biggest star in Tokyo, only made it all the more meaningful to other athletes. She didnt have to, said basketball player Breanna Stewart, a WNBA MVP. She used her platform to help others. What Biles did resonated with athletes like canoeist Nevin Harrison, a gold medalist in Tokyo, who said anxiety, fear, stress ... are all going to be huge parts in competing at such a high level. Biles made them see that there can be a way out. I was, at one time, in those shoes, boxer Morelle McCane said, where I was just like, Its do or die! Its do or die! How different is it for todays Olympians? Janet Evans won four swimming golds at the 1988 and 1992 Games and recalls the never-easing pressure to perform. In her day, she says, there wasnt nearly the empathy or outlets for help available as there are for todays Olympians. We didnt talk about the struggles. No one taught me that it was OK to lose, right? I mean, I was Janet Evans, and when I went to a swim meet, I was supposed to win, said Evans, the chief athlete officer for the 2028 Los Angeles Games. We talk about it now and we recognize it with our athletes. And I think that is an important first step. Which means that even 38-year-old rugby player Perry Baker has seen changes since his Olympic debut at Rio de Janeiro in 2016. You had to tough it out. You kind of felt by yourself. You kind of felt like you couldnt talk to anyone, said Baker, who briefly was with the NFLs Philadelphia Eagles. The balance national Olympic committees must strike between caring about athletes as people but making sure the medals pile up is threading a needle, Evans acknowledged. We should go to the Olympics and Paralympics and win medals. But I dont think that should be at the cost of how were preparing our athletes for the future, Evans said. Both can happen. Thats where Bartley and her counterparts in other countries and at the IOC come in. The Beijing Winter Games two years ago were the first with extra credentials issued for national Olympic committees to bring athlete welfare officers registered mental health professionals or qualified safeguarding experts and more than 170 from more than 90 countries will be in Paris. We didnt have it in Tokyo, and now it will be implemented for every Games, said Kirsty Burrows, head of an IOC unit focused on athletes mental health. Because we really see the impact. There will be a 24/7 helpline with mental health counselors who speak more than 70 languages, a program started for the Beijing Games but now available to every Olympian and Paralympian until four years after the event. Theres also AI to monitor athletes social media for cyberbullying, and a mind zone in the athletes village with a yoga area, low lighting, comfortable seating and other tools dedicated to disconnection, decompression, Burrows said. The USOPC went from six mental-health providers 3 1/2 years ago to 15 now; 14 will be in France. Last year, 1,300 Team USA athletes participated in more than 6,000 therapy sessions set up by the USOPC. I expect the numbers to be even higher, Bartley said, especially in a Games year