SwimSwam will be providing a weekly rundown of the top stories in Olympic sports (outside of swimming) in the lead-up to the 2024 Games in Paris.
The U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials dominated many of the headlines related to Paris 2024 last week, but we’re back with some of the other news surrounding the Games with less than one month to go.
TV Interest Sees Increase For 2024 Olympics
We already reported about how the 2024 U.S. Olympic Swimming Trials television ratings showed a stark increase compared to 2021, but the extra interest in the upcoming Games is also true in other sports.
A Nielsen Sports data presentation released this week showed “Olympic interest” had increased across numerous nations. Although specific numbers weren’t included—just bar graphs—Mexico had the highest increase, somewhere in the 50% range, while the U.S. was in the vicinity of 35%.
“Intended viewership” also showed large percentage increases, with Mexico leading at more than 80% and Spain and Italy not too far behind.
There were also statistics released on “influential athletes,” led by Simone Biles, Tom Daley and Caeleb Dressel, along with sports fandom by nation. Soccer is the most popular sport globally, while basketball led the way in the U.S.
See the full Nielsen presentation here.
Richardson, Lyles Star At U.S. Track & Field Trials
The 2024 U.S. Olympic Track & Field Trials are currently in full swing from Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, and the big stars have been performing under the lights.
Reigning men’s 100-meter world champion and Tokyo bronze medalist Noah Lyles qualified for Paris by winning the event in a time of 9.83, matching his personal best to narrowly edge out Kenny Bednarek (9.87) and Fred Kerley (9.88).
The 2023 world champion on the women’s side, Sha’Carri Richardson, dominated the women’s 100 meters in a world-leading 10.71, with training partner Melissa Jefferson earning the runner-up spot in 10.80.
Ryan Crouser, the defending Olympic champion, reigning world champion and world record holder in men’s shot put, won the event decisively with a 22.84-meter throw in the final round. Crouser had been battling injuries and “self-doubt” prior to the Trials—read more here.
Coming off a two-day break, the competition resumes on Thursday and concludes on Sunday.
Russia Calls Claims of Paris 2024 Disinformation Campaign “Slander”
The Russian government vehemently disputes the Microsoft report published earlier this month claiming that the country is running a disinformation campaign about the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
“With less than 80 days until the opening of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, the Microsoft Threat Analysis Center (MTAC) has observed a network of Russia-affiliated actors pursuing a range of malign influence campaigns against France, French President Emmanuel Macron, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the Paris Games,” the Microsoft report reads.
“These campaigns may forewarn coming online threats to this summer’s international competition.”
Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, responded to the report, saying it is “sweeping criticism that has no basis in argument, nothing.
“Unfortunately, we are increasingly faced with such [criticism], but it has nothing to do with reality, it is absolute slander and nothing more,” Peskov said.
You can read the full Microsoft report here.
You can read the response from Peskov here.
U.S. Among Nations Bringing Their Own Air Conditioning Units To Paris
Despite Paris 2024 making a concerted effort to be an eco-friendly Games and thus, having houses in the Olympic Village without air conditioning, the United States will be bringing its own units to the French capital.
With fears of a summer heat wave looming, the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) has confirmed that the U.S. contingent is joining a host of other nations in providing portable air conditioning units for their athletes in the Olympic Village.
“We have great respect for the work that’s been done by the Paris organizing committee in particular and their focus on sustainability,” said USOPC CEO Sarah Hirshland.
“As you can imagine, this is a period of time in which consistency and predictability is critical for Team USA’s performance. In our conversations with athletes, this was a very high priority and something that the athletes felt was a critical component in their performance capability.”
You can listen to Hirschland’s full media scrum from Friday here.
Other nations confirmed to be bringing their own air conditioning to the Games include Australia, Canada, Denmark, Great Britain, Greece and Italy.
It was also recently announced that Hirschland’s contract will be extended through 2029.
I’m curious what’s driving the worldwide increase in interest in the Olympics. Is it just that interest was down in Tokyo because of COVID? Is there something in this moment that is driving people the world over to sports? Is it all a coincidence?