THE 2024 Games are in full swing, and for the French Olympics a new ceremonial ritual is taking place.
Fans have been left wondering why there are three knocks to the ground at the beginning of each sporting event taking place at Paris 2024.
Before each sporting event takes place at Paris 2024, fans have noticed that a new ceremonial ritual has been taking place.
To mark an event beginning, a notable former athlete or public figure is given a stick to knock into the ground.
Hailing from French theatre tradition, these trio of strikes are designed to remind us that each event is a performance that deserves the public’s attention.
The knocks to the ground are done so that audience know to be silent in order for the sporting event to commence.
It is done as a mark of respect to the athletes taking part in Paris 2024.
On July 28, 2024, the President of Paris 2024, Tony Estanguet, announced that this new ritual would be one of the major innovations at their Olympic Games.
He revealed how the Games Organising Committee wanted to combine sport and theatre at Paris 2024 .
The reason behind this, was they wanted to pay tribute to the cultural tradition of France.
Paris 2024 is all about celebrating the artistic and theatrical heritage of France and the three strikes to the ground are aimed at creating a link between spectators and athletes.
The stick that is used during this Paris 2024 ritual is called a brigadier.
It is used in French theatre to mark the opening of a performance.
Historically the tradition is to bang the brigadier on the ground three times as a symbolic gesture to get the attention of an audience.
The ritual was created to mark a moment of silence before the performance.
This then allows the audience to prepare for the show that awaits them.
WHAT TO WATCH TODAY..
TODAY’S BRIT MEDAL HOPES
Jack Laugher, Olympic champ in Rio, teams up with Anthony Harding for the 3m synchro diving (10am).
It is the semi-finals and final (8.35pm) of the BMX racing with Beth Shriever and Kye Whyte both in contention.
Back-to-back world champion lightweight scullers Emily Craig and Imogen Grant can make amends for Tokyo heartache, missing a medal by 0.01 seconds, by winning gold (11.22am).
Bryony Page will look for a medal in the women’s trampolining, too (12.50pm).
BRITS TO WATCH
In athletics, Dina Asher-Smith has her 100m heat (10.50am), Josh Kerr has his in the 1,500m (10.10am) and then Keely Hodgkinson’s 800m opener is at 6.45pm.
Adam Burgess, Joe Clarke, Mallory Franklin and Kimblery Woods have their time trials for the new kayak cross event (2.30pm).
And it is the team jumping final of the equestrian at 1pm with Team GB in contention.
GLOBAL STARS TODAY
Leon Marchand is taking his home Olympics by storm and can add the 200m individual medley to his growing collection (7.49pm) – and is eyeing a world record, too.
Joshua Cheptegei of Uganda and Ethiopian Selemon Barega will battle it out for the men’s 10,000m gold – the only medal up for grabs on the opening night of the athletics (8.20pm).
FANCY SOMETHING DIFFERENT?
It is the final day of the windsurfing down in Marseille – the new class, iQFoil replaces the old RS:X and makes for brilliant viewing. Emma Wilson could bag a medal.
STATS MAD
154 – French judoxa Teddy Riner is going for a record-equally three individual gold medals in the 100+kg category (4.50pm). He won a staggering 154 contests in a row between September 2010 and February 2020.
Follow all the action as it unfolds with our Paris 2024 Olympics LIVE blog.
