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Magazine
Summer Olympic Sports and Photography - Part 1

by Editor Miro Susta
Edited and published by Yvette Depaepe, the 19th of July 2024

 

Part one: "From Archery to Golf"

This and the following article are dedicated to the 33 Summer Olympic Games in Paris which will take place from 26 July to 11 August 2024.

 

Tokyo 2020 Olympic Stadium by 大山

 

This is the third time in Olympic history that Paris has hosted the Summer Games. The premiere was in 1900, when the French metropolis welcomed the second Summer Games of the modern era. Paris then hosted the Games again in 1920. Only London has also organised the Olympic Games three times.

 

Paris by Jose C. Lobato

 

In this article I have listed all the sports of this Olympics and given a brief description for the selected events, adding beautiful photos taken from our 1x photo gallery. In order to include as many great photos as possible, I have split the article into the following two parts.

Part one:         From Archery to Golf
Part two:          From Handball to Wrestling

 

Athletes from all world continents will compete for the highly prestigious Olympic Medals in following thirty-two sports:
Archery, Artistic gymnastics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, 3x3 basketball, Beach volleyball, BMX racing, Boxing, Breakdance, Canoeing, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Modern pentathlon, Mountain biking, Open water swimming, Rhythmic gymnastics, Road cycling, Rowing, Rugby, Sailing, Shooting, Scate boarding, Sport climbing, Surfing, Swimming, Synchronized swimming, Table tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Track cycling, Trampolining, Triathlon, Volleyball, Water jumping, Water polo, Weightlifting and Wrestling.

 

Concentration by Tejo Coen

 

Here is a look at the top ten countries who have won the gold medals in Summer Olympics history (from 1896 until 2022):
United States 1,070, Soviet Union 395, Great Britain 292, People's Republic of China 263, Germany 239, France 231, Italy 222, Hungary 182, Japan 169, and Australia 162.

It is important to know that the Olympic sport being approved must be widely spread. This means that as a men's sport it must be practised in at least seventy-five countries on four continents and as a women's sport in forty countries on three continents. The sport must be recognised by an international federation that is accredited by the IOC.

 

ARCHERY
Archery was first introduced as an Olympic sport in 1900 but was dropped from the programme for 1924 and did not return permanently until the 1972 Munich Olympics.

Archery by Nining Perintis

 

It is currently competed in one individual and one team event for both men and women.

 

Record results by Dmitry Skvortsov

 

South Korea archers dominate the list of Olympic medals, closely followed by the United States. South Korea is also considered the country where archery is the most popular.

 

ARTISTIC GYMANASTICS
is one of the few Olympic sports that has not been absent from the programme of any Games. Until 1928, only men competed, then women joined them.

 

The Gymnast by Tejo Coen

 

The competition will be held in fourteen disciplines, eight for men and six for women.

 

Noah Kuavita by Els Keurlinckx

 

The ex-Soviet Union and the current Russian Federation has dominated the artistic gymnastics events with 76 Olympic Gold Medals.

 

ATHLETICS
Athletics has been a part of the Olympic Games programme since their re-launch in 1896.

 

I want to be the first by Hervé Loire

 

Athletics, the most popular Olympic sport in terms of number of athletes and disciplines, will also make history at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

 

Slow Shutter Speed by Tejo Coen

 

For the first time, the same number of gold medals, 26, will be available for both men and women.

 

get over… by Markus Hülsbusch

 

Athletic competitions (except for the road marathon and race walk) will be held at the country's largest stadium, the Stade de France, which will host most of the athletic competitions.

 

Up and Over by Jennifer Willis

 

The stadium was built for the 1998 World Cup and can hold 77,083 spectators. The last major athletic event that was held at the stadium was the 2003 World Athletics Championship. 
The United States has won the most Olympic gold medals in athletics history with 335.

 

BADMINTON
Badminton has been an Olympic sport since 1992 and currently all five disciplines - men's and women's singles, doubles, and mixed doubles - are played under the Olympic rings.

 

Shuttlecock by Hervé Loire

 

The first versions of badminton were played around two thousand years ago in China, Thailand, India, and Greece. According to various sources, the ancient game was adopted by British army officers serving in the Indian city of Pune, who presumably took it home during a tour of duty in the 1860s.

The most Olympic badminton medals won by a country is China which has won eighteen gold, eight silver and fifteen bronze medals since badminton's acceptance into the Olympics in 1992.

 

BASKETBALL
Basketball was first entered into the Olympic programme in 1936 in Berlin, but only in the men's category. Women's basketball made its debut in 1976 in Montreal.

 

Tango by Ovi D. Pop

 

Historically, the most successful country is clearly the USA, which has won twenty-five out of thirty-two times across the categories.

 

BEACH VOLLEYBALL
Beach volleyball, as a younger branch of classical volleyball, has been a regular part of the Olympic Games since 1996. It is played with two players on each side in both the men's and women's categories.

 

Yael by Elad Nissim

 

This most prestigious beach volleyball tournament has been dominated seven times by players from the USA. Brazil is undoubtedly another great power.

 

BMX Racing
BMX Racing is a special cycling discipline that includes racing and freestyle. BMX Racing joined the Olympic programme at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, and BMX Freestyle at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

BMX racing is sprint racing on specially groomed off-road tracks on one wheel. The track usually consists of a starting gate for up to eight riders, a modified, serpentine, dirt racing course consisting of various jumps and rollers, and a finish line.

 

Into the sunset by Jens Schroder

 

BMX freestyle riders perform as many stunts as possible in 60 seconds - jumps, flips, spins, and other tricks.

 

BOXING
Boxing has been a part of the Olympic Games since 1904 and since the London 2012 Olympic Games, women's boxing has also been on the agenda.

 

Box by Dusan Ignac


The number and composition of the weight classes have constantly changed over time. In Paris, men will box in eight weight classes and women in five.

 

Final Round by Devid Camerlynck

 

The United States has won a total of 117 medals, the most of any country in Olympic boxing history. Aside from its fifty gold medals, the USA has also earned twenty-seven silver medals and forty bronze medals.

 

BREAKING
Breaking (known also as Breakdancing) is an urban dance style that emerged in the United States of America in the 1970s. Linked to hip-hop culture, breaking was first danced in the lively block parties in the Bronx neighbourhood of New York.
Breaking will make its debut at the Paris Olympics.

 

Dance by Vetre Antanaviciute

 

It is a one-on-one dance battle accompanied by a disc jockey (DJ); the winner who will advance to the next round will be decided by a jury.

 

CANOEING
Canoeing includes two sports, namely speed canoeing and water slalom.

 

sprint by Milan Malovrh

 

Speed canoeing has been on the Olympic programme continuously since 1936, while water slalom made its first appearance under five rings in 1972.

 

K1 by Dusan Ignac

 

Some of the most successful nations in recent years include Hungary and New Zealand.

 

EQUESTRIAN
Other traditional Olympic sport includes equestrian, which has been part of the Games programme since 1900.

 

White horse by Arif Ünsal

 

Current competitive disciplines are dressage, all-around and park jumping, in which competitors compete both individually and in teams. Men and women compete together against each other.

 

Jump by Antonyus Bunjamin (Abe)

 

With fifty-two medals in the complete Olympic history, amongst them twenty-five golden, Germany is the most successful Olympics equestrian nation ever.

 

FENCING
Fencing is one of the traditional sports on the programme at all Olympic Games. The different fencing categories are divided into foil, epee and sabre - each with different compositions, techniques, and striking surfaces.

 

Fencing by Larry Deng

 

Both individual and team competitions are held for men and women, so there are a total of six competitions for women and six for men on the programme.

 

Hilde Ghesquiere

 

With forty-nine gold, forty-six silver and thirty-nine bronze medals in the complete Olympic history Italy is the most successful Olympics fencing nation ever.

 

FOOTBALL
The football competition has always been part of the Olympic programme, except for 1896 and 1932. However, after the creation of the World Cup, this tournament is not that attractive any more, as only players under 23 years of age participate in the men's competition, except for three older players per team.

 

good save by Zhecho Planinski

 

At Paris16 nations will compete in men’s football while the women’s event has twelve teams.

The women's tournament has been held since the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta and is without any age restrictions.

 

Stop by Filip Loci

 

The French cities of Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux, Saint-Étienne, Nice, Nantes and Paris will be hosting the matches.

 

Santiago Bernabéu by Jesús M. García

 

Historically Brazil has the most medals in men's Olympic soccer history with two gold, three silver and two bronze medals, but unfortunately Brazil will be missed in Paris. With four gold, one silver and one bronze medal the USA has the most medals for the women's competition.

 

GOLF
The golf event was a part of the Olympic Games in the early years of its history in 1900 and 1904, but it was removed from the programme for many years and only returned in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.

 

Hit to Fly by Marcus Bj [ Ö ] rkman

 

This year in Paris will be only the fifth edition of the Olympic golf competition.

 

On the round by Miro Susta

 

In the short history of golf at the Olympic Games, the USA is by far the most successful nation with a total of thirteen medals, including five gold medals.

With golf, we end this journey through the first part of the 2024 Summer Olympics If you are planning to visit Paris during the Olympic Games, don't forget to take your camera and some suitable lenses with you, you may have the opportunity to capture some excellent sports photos there.


Sports events outside the stadium in particular offer many opportunities for taking some action photos.

 

Pokhara Marathon by Yvette Depaepe

 

Part two of this article is due to be published shortly.


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Write
I'm glad to be participating in this work with my photos. Thank you Miro and Yvette.
You are most welcome Milan
Excellent article, friend Miro. Thank you very much for it and for having one of my works among so many magnificent photographs to illustrate it. All the best.
Dear Jose I appreciate very much your words of encouragement. I am happy to see that you like the article.
Thank you for your article and your selection of excellent images. Impressive! My compliments also to all photographers.
Many thanks in name of all dear Caroline.
Very amazing photos. Congratulations to all photographers, those have been involved. Great Images. Looking for more nice images from the upcoming Olympic Games. Let the games beginn :-)
Thank you very much for your lovely comment Dea Per. Don't miss the fantastic opening ceremony.
These photos are all amazing and express so well the effort, technique and spirit of the women and men who give all they have for their sport. Congratulations to all photographers.
Dear Stephanie please accept our great thanks for your lovely comment, we appreciate it very much.
Wonderful article
Great thanks dear Arif.
great article and images!
Thank you very much Patrick.
Great article, Miro! The choice of the images in the gallery are so excellent and very representative. Thanks a lot and congratulations to all the selected authors. Looking forward to part 2. Cheers, Yvette
Dear Yvette, thank you very much for your wonderful words of encouragement and praise. Im I was really surprised how many gifted sport photographers we have in 1x, I join your thanks and congratulations to all of them (also to all of them whose photos have not been considered for this article). Greetings to all you 1x fellows.
superb set of photos full of action
Many thanks Raffi
Learned a lot from this article, both about the Olympics and sport photography, thank you for the excellent collection! Looking forward to part two...
We are glad to hear that you like it dear Linda. Many thanks for your
., lovely comment.
Very interesting article and excellent photos. Congrats to all
Great thanks dear Carmine.
Great Pictures !!!
Many thanks Lust.
Thank you very much for your wonderful article and the collection of the fantastic pictures! Great!
Dear Wanghan we appreciate very much your lovely words of praise, thank you very much.
Thank you for publishing this article. It is an honor. I am very impressed with all of your work. I look forward to seeing the athletes' successes at the Paris Olympics and the wonderful work of the 1Xphotographers who photographed them.
Many thanks for your great words of appreciation.