+ The Party
After two Covid-Olympic Games, over ten million tickets were sold – a new record. The French loved their Olympic Games. A party for life, as Parisian Hemingway would have put it.
+ The Sigh of Relief
The coordinated sabotage of the rail network in France just hours before the opening ceremony created temporary chaos. All of France – marked by the 2015 terrorist attacks – let out a collective sigh of relief that nothing worse happened.
+ The PR Coup
Paris placed Olympic arenas at iconic buildings like the Eiffel Tower, Grand Palais, and Les Invalides. The result was a two-week-long commercial for the city. The effect is expected to be seen in a tourist boom in the coming years.
+ The Home Favorite
Goal photo between swimming star Léon Marchand, four golds, and judo icon Teddy Riner, two golds.
+ The Super Comeback
In the Olympic Games in Tokyo, Simone Biles dropped out of several competitions due to mental health issues. In Paris, the American gymnastics star was back and took three golds.
+ The Shooting Hero
What would the Olympic Games have been without unexpected heroes like Yusuf Dikeç, the Turkish pistol shooter who won silver and went viral with his relaxed style. Armand Duplantis imitated Dikeç when it was time to pose for the cameras.
+ The Sewage Water
Paris had invested around 16 billion kronor in cleaning up the Seine River before the Olympic Games. It didn't help. Competitions were postponed, and Swedish triathlete Tilda Månsson was one of several athletes who got sick after a dip.
+ The Moment
All competitions were decided. Only Armand Duplantis and 80,000 spectators remained at Stade de France. On the third attempt, he cleared the new world record height of 6.25. One of the greatest moments of the Games.
+ The Swedish Success
Eleven medals, including four golds. Best in the Nordic countries and Sweden's best result since Sydney 2000.
+ The Swedes Who Lived Up to Expectations
Sarah Sjöström, swimming, Armand Duplantis, pole vault, David Åhman and Jonatan Hellvig, beach volleyball.
+ The Swede Who Didn't
Henrik von Eckermann, show jumping.
+ The Swedes Who Surprised
The table tennis team, led by Truls Möregårdh.
+ The Rapper
Despite competition from Stephen Curry, Simone Biles, and Noah Lyles, Snoop Dogg was the American who was seen and heard the most in Paris. The rapper reportedly earned around 100 million kronor from NBC to promote the Olympic Games ahead of Los Angeles 2028.
+ The Olympic Games' Slowest
The most important thing is not to win, but to participate, it's said. Bhutan's Kinzang Lhamo personified this when she finally crossed the finish line in the women's marathon – an hour and a half after gold medalist Siffan Hassan.
+ The Gender Debate
Imane Khelif, Algeria, and Lin Yu-ting, Taiwan, were not allowed to compete in the women's boxing World Championship last year, but were given the green light by the International Olympic Committee. So began the Olympic Games' biggest and most infected debate. Elon Musk, Donald Trump, and JK Rowling all weighed in. How did it go in the ring? Both won gold. Now the Olympic Games are over, but the debate will continue.
