Paris is all set to host the Olympic Games for the first time in a century with the Opening Ceremony slated to be held on Friday on the Seine river. The City of Light was given the hosting rights for the 2024 Games at the International Olympic Committee Session in 2017. Over the last few days as we inch closer to official start day, the Olympic Games have thrown in some very interesting stories – some quirky, some sad.
Here’s a look at a few of them: ‘Un-Australian’ behaviour? An Australian swimming coach Michael Palfrey is on the verge of being sent back from the 2024 Olympics in Paris. The reason? Palfery, speaking to South Korean media at the Games, allegedly endorsed Kim Woo-min to win the men’s 400m freestyle gold ahead of his Australian swimmers Sam Short and Elijah Winnington. Note that all three of them are former world champions.
As per reports, Palfery exclaimed, “Go Korea” while wearing Australian colours and talking to the South Korean journalists about Kim. This did not sit well with Australian head coach Rohan Taylor, who said, “Promoting an athlete who is not Australian is un-Australian to be honest.” Funny part? Palfery does not train Short, nor Winnington.
He coaches Zac Incerti, Abbey Connor and Alex Perkins – and previously mentored Kim. Spying can lead to prison Ahead of the opening women’s football match between reigning Olympic champions Canada and New Zealand, bizarre news emerged that two members of the Canadian team’s support s.