The Paris Olympics is finally here and it promises a thrilling array of sports action with something for everyone. This 17-day international tournament will feature 32 sports and the world’s best athletes battling it out for gold, silver, and bronze medals.
From traditional sports like tennis, cycling, and swimming to modern additions like breaking and skateboarding, here are the most interesting sports to watch at the Paris Olympics.
Tennis
The Olympic tennis tournament will feature star players battling it out at the Roland Garos clay courts. In the men’s competition, Serbian star Novak Djokovic has his sights set on the Olympic gold that has proven elusive so far, while Andy Murray hopes to earn his third title on the international stage in what’s expected to be his last tournament. Murray ranks among the favorites for gold, but he will face strong opposition from newcomers like Carlos Alcaraz, Cam Norrie, Jack Draper, and Dan Evans.
In the women’s event, Naomi Osaka hopes to rectify her disappointing third-round flop at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. The world No. 1 Iga Swaitek from Poland will headline the women’s event alongside other stars, including Coco Gauff from the USA, Jasmine Paolini of Italy, and Elena Rybakina.
Football
The football competition at the Paris Olympics this summer will bring together 16 of the best countries in the world battling out for gold. The men’s tournament features an exciting blend of experienced superstars and young prospects, with at least 15 players from each side being under 23 years old. Some of the biggest football stars headlining the event in their quest for gold include Morroco’s Achraf Hakimi, Argentina’s Julian Alvarez, and Spanish Aitana Bonmati.
Heading into the tournament, Argentina, France, and Spain are the overwhelming favorites and it wouldn’t be surprising to see any of them secure gold. It’s hard to choose the outright winner from this trio, but you can put your faith in France according to SportyTrader’s experts. Thiery Henry’s side has world-class players who can yield positive results at every level.
Breaking
Popularly known as breakdancing, breaking will make an Olympic debut in Paris this summer. This exciting, fast-paced sport sees B-girls and B-boys showing off their best moves in a 60-second showdown.
The players’ routines will be ranked by the panel of judges using six criteria that include personality, creativity, variety, technique, musicality, and stage presence. The sport is like no other games we have previously seen at the Olympics, making it worth watching this summer.
Cycling
Whether it’s the intriguing display of a road race or the thrill of watching bikes hurtle around the velodrome, cycling is always an exciting sport to watch at the Olympics. Recent additions to its Olympic program have made the sport more entertaining, with BMX freestyle, mountain biking, and BMX racing now included.
Basketball
There will be two basketball versions to watch at the Paris Olympics – the classic 5×5 format and the short 3×3 format. The traditional 5×5 format will feature the world’s biggest stars, especially from the United States. That includes NBA icons like Steph Curry, LeBron James, Joel Embiid, and Kevin Durant.
The shorter 3×3 format will also be exciting to watch this summer. This tournament will be played on half the traditional basketball court, with both sides attacking and defending simultaneously to create a thrilling, fast-paced gam