Rugby, flag bearers and a break-in: Australia’s start to the Paris Olympics
Key Points
- The 2024 Paris Olympics will officially kick off on Friday, 26 July.
- Some team sports have already begun their tournaments, and Australia’s men’s rugby sevens team has had two wins.
- Slalom canoeist Jessica Fox and hockey star Eddie Ockenden have been announced as Australia’s flag bearers.
The Opening Ceremony has not yet taken place, but some of Australia’s athletes are already off to a winning start.
Two wins have rocketed Australia into the men’s rugby sevens quarter-finals with one pool game to spare.
The team’s 21-14 defeat of Samoa was followed by a gut-busting 21-7 win against Kenya, both in front of 80,000 at the Stade de France on Wednesday.
Australia will play Argentina in their final pool game on Thursday, with both sides set to go through after winning both of their games on Wednesday.
That result will determine who they face in Thursday’s quarter-finals though, with hosts France and star Antoine Dupont a potential rival.
Australia’s flag bearers revealed
On Wednesday night (AEST), Australian Olympic team chef de mission and former cyclist Anna Meares announced slalom canoeist Jessica Fox and hockey star Eddie Ockenden will for Australia.
The duo will carry the nation’s flag at Saturday morning’s (AEST) which will take place on the River Seine.
French-born Fox is chasing three gold medals in canoe and kayak slalom events at her fourth Games and is one of the biggest names competing at the Paris Olympics.
Ockenden is competing at his fifth Olympics with the Kookaburras and is a three-time hockey Games medallist.
Up to 500,000 people are set to watch the ceremony in person from specially built stands, on the river banks and from the overlooking balconies and apartments.
BMX champion says gear stolen in break-in
Australia’s reigning Olympic BMX champion Logan Martin has been caught up in a robbery amid his preparation for the Games.
Martin shared and posts from a street in Brussels, Belgium on his social media showing local police investigating with the window of a black van shattered.
He said that he had personal items stolen, including his wallet and backpack.
“Our van got broken into last night, luckily my bikes weren’t in there although my bike bags were in there, with some things in it,” the Tokyo 2020 park gold medallist said in the Instagram video.
“It’s a crazy start to the trip.”
Australian chef de mission and two-time Olympic track cycling gold medallist Anna Meares said the team was making sure Martin’s preparations had not been affected too badly.
“What we do know is that Logan’s bikes are OK,” she said.
“From what I understand, it’s the helmets and boots and things like that.
“His team and our team are working to replace those as quickly as possible.”
