This summer will be a great time for sports fans. Not only will we be able to cheer on the Dutch national team during UEFA EURO 2024, we will also be able to enjoy the Olympic Games in Paris. From 26 July to 11 August, athletes will compete in 32 sports and 306 events.
During the Olympic Games, athletes compete for bronze, silver and gold medals in various sports. Climbing, basketball, boxing, horse riding and even breakdancing are practiced. Those who love water sports such as rowing, canoeing, diving and swimming will get their money's worth. Here are the 5 most exciting water sports events at the Olympic Games in Paris.
5 Most Exciting Water Sports in Paris
At the 33rd edition of the Olympic Games in Paris, approximately 10,500 athletes from 206 countries will compete for the win. A brand new Aquatics Centre is being built for the Olympic Games where all swimming competitions will take place. The Netherlands will compete in canoeing, water polo, sailing and rowing, among other things. These are the 5 most exciting water sports events of the 2024 Olympic Games.
1. Surfing
In 2024, the IOC (International Olympic Committee) has decided to add four new sports to the Olympic Games. In addition to breakdancing, climbing and skateboarding, athletes can also participate in surfing. Betting on surfing will also be possible this year.
If you want to attend the surfing competitions, you will have to travel a bit further than Paris. The competitions take place on the French Polynesian island of Tahiti, 16,000 kilometres from Paris. Here, the waves are more suitable for a full-fledged Olympic competition. The Olympic wave surfing in Tahiti will certainly provide beautiful pictures.
2. Canoeing
Canoeing is also on the programme at the 2024 Olympic Games. Athletes will compete in canoe slalom and canoe sprint, among other events. The competitions will take place in the existing Water Sports Centre in Paris. There is room for 10,000 to 14,000 spectators.
Martina Wegman will compete in canoe slalom for the Netherlands. During the slalom, athletes must follow a set course along twenty gates. At the green-white gates, they must sail with the current. At the red-white gates, they must sail against the current. The gates may not be touched.
3. Sailing
If you want to attend the sailing competitions of the Olympic Games, you have to travel to Marseille. The competitions start and end in the marina of this coastal city on the Mediterranean Sea. For the Netherlands, 10 athletes will compete for the medals:
- Bjarne Bouwer and Laila van der Meer - Nacra 17
- Floris van de Werken and Bart Lambrie5 - 49er
- Annette Duetz and Odile van Aanholt - 49erF5
- Annelous Lammerts - Formula Kite
In total, there are 10 types of boats that will be sailed during the Olympic Games. In addition to regular sailboats, windsurfing and kitesurfing are also events. Both men and women can participate in these. Don't miss anything, make sure you go to Marseille between July 28 and August 8.
4. Rowing
TeamNL will be taking a large number of rowers to the 2024 Olympic Games. In total, there will be no less than 33 rowers competing in various disciplines. Holland Eight men, skiff men, skiff women, women's four without and men's double four are just a few of the disciplines. So it's guaranteed to be exciting.
5. Water polo
The Dutch women's water polo team has also qualified for the Olympic Games. The group matches will take place between 27 July and 4 August. The quarterfinals will take place on 6 August, the semifinals on 8 August and the final on 10 August.
The water polo matches will take place at the Centre Aquatique in Saint-Denis, which has a capacity of 5,000 spectators. The finals will take place at the Paris La Défense Arena, which has a capacity of 15,000 spectators.
A sporty summer
It is clear that it will be a sporty summer. It will be a great time, especially for water sports enthusiasts. In addition to the exciting events mentioned earlier, you can also prepare for synchronized swimming, diving and swimming during the 2024 Olympic Games .