OLYMPIC GAMES
When will the first medals be won at the 2024 Paris Olympics?
The grand opening ceremony on the Seine will capture the world’s imagination on Friday, but then all focus turns to the athletes targeting gold.
The anticipation is palpable as the world gears up for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Among the numerous events, some of which got off to an early start, the shooting competitions promise to be hugely competitive, especially with the first medals of the Games set to be awarded in this discipline. So, when exactly will the first medals be clinched, and what can we expect?
Olympic medals readied for Day 4
On the morning of Saturday, July 27, the day after the opening ceremony, we’ll get going with a bang, quite literally, as the first medals are up for grabs in the 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team event.
This year’s shooting competition sees participation from 81 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), including the IOC Refugee Olympic Team. China and India have the largest contingents, each fielding 21 participants, while the host nation, France, will have 15, including Jean Quiquampoix, the defending 25m rapid-fire pistol champion. Vincent Hancock of the USA will aim for his fourth men’s skeet title.
The National Shooting Center in Chateauroux, situated in the picturesque Berry province, will host all shooting events, ranging from rifle and pistol on indoor ranges to shotgun outdoors. It’s a slightly scaled-down affair compared to the Tokyo 2020 Games, with 340 shooters competing this time around, down from 360.
From the first medal event on July 27 to the final rounds on August 5, the shooting competitions will provide plenty of headline stories and historic moments. But Saturday will see other anthems played as athletes in other disciplines take their places on podiums around the capital city.
All Olympic medal ceremonies on Day 4
Cycling Road: Women’s Individual Time Trial, Men’s Individual Time Trial
Diving: Women’s Synchronised 3m Springboard Final
Fencing: Women’s Épée Individual Gold/Bronze Medal Bouts, Men’s Sabre Individual Bronze Medal Bouts
Judo: Women -48kg Final Block, Men -60kg Final Block
Rugby Sevens: Men’s Gold/Bronze Medal Matches
Shooting: 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Bronze/Gold Medal Matches
Skateboarding: Men’s Street Final
Swimming: Men’s 400m Freestyle Final, Women’s 400m Freestyle Final, Women’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Final, Men’s 4x100m Freestyle Relay Final