FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 22, 2024

Summer Olympics, starting Friday in Paris, feature skateboarding, surfing, swimming, soccer and the debut of breakdancing

The world’s best athletes arrive in France this week for the 16-day Summer Olympics in Paris, which starts Friday with flashy opening ceremonies at sunset on the Seine River. Athletes will ride 94 boats in the first outdoors Olympics parade. A ceremonial torch, carried around France since May 8, will light a symbolic flame at an arena called the Trocadero. Roughly 10,500 athletes from 32 sports will participate in a tradition that dates back to ancient Greece and that's held every four years.

Nearly 600 U.S. athletes will compete, including more than 250 returning Olympians and 122 past medal winners such as gymnast Simone Biles, surfer Carissa Moore, basketball guard Diana Taurasi, swimmer Katie Ledecky and sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson. Team USA's most decorated member is Ledecky, who's trying to add to her collection of seven golds and three other medals.

The United States seeks its eighth straight gold medal in women's basketball. The men's team – which includes pro hoop stars Lebron James, Kevin Durant and Steph Curry – is trying for a fifth straight Olympic title. The U.S. women's soccer team, led by new coach Emma Hayes, chases after its first gold since 2012.

Other sports that fans can watch on NBC and its Peacock streaming service include archery, beach volleyball, cycling, canoeing, fencing, football, rowing, sailing, table tennis, wresting, water polo, weightlifting, skateboarding and a new addition – breakdancing, a hip-hop dance form that began 50 years ago in the United States. An American breaker to watch is 29-year-old Victor Montalvo, who competes as B-Boy Victor. Women have a separate competition.

Celebrities serving as NBC coverage co-hosts and commentators include Snoop Dogg, Kelly Clarkson, Peyton Manning, Colin Jost, Leslie Jones and Jimmy Fallon. Competitions for gold, silver and bronze medals will be spread over 34 indoor and outdoor sites through Aug. 11.

U.S. athlete says: "I want to see how far I can go. I want to see what I'm still capable of so once I step away from this sport, I can truly be happy with my career and say I gave it my all." – Simone Biles, 27-year-old gymnast

Olympic leader says: "Even if their countries are in conflict or even at war, their athletes will be living peacefully together under one roof in the Olympic Village. The 10,500 best athletes of the world will send this inspiring message of unity, hope and peace from France to the world." – Thomas Bach, International Olympic Committee

River safety: France's sports minister, Amelie Oudea-Castera, two weeks ago took a symbolic plunge into the Seine in an effort to ease concerns about pollution risks for open water swimmers.

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Common Core State Standard
SL.CCS.1/2/3/4 Grades 6-12: An essay of a current news event is provided for discussion to encourage participation, but also inspire the use of evidence to support logical claims using the main ideas of the article. Students must analyze background information provided about a current event within the news, draw out the main ideas and key details, and review different opinions on the issue. Then, students should present their own claims using facts and analysis for support.