Paris 2024 organising committee president Tony Estanguet said he was confident the games could calm relations and open doors to dialogue, while acknowledging they could not solve armed conflicts.

In addition to the security challenges of hosting the Olympics and the protests that come with the global attention of any event of similar scale, the Summer Games in the French capital from the July 2024 would also face the threat of extreme heat.

The theatre director in charge of the opening day of Paris 2024 has an enormous task ahead. Not only does he have to develop a concept that will have an impact on the world, but he also has to navigate security, environmental and architectural constraints, and the opinions of billions of people.

Terrence Burns, who served as Senior Vice President of Marketing for Meridian Management, the exclusive and partially owned marketing agency for the IOC from 1996 to 2004, stated that Paris 2024 could mark the start of a new era for the Olympic Games after the challenges faced by  Tokyo 2020 and Sochi 2014 over Covid-19 and doping issues, respectively.

World Sailing issued a press release announcing its decision to authorise the participation of Russian and Belarusian athletes, provided they compete as Independent Neutral Athletes, making them eligible to compete in the Last Chance Regatta scheduled for 20-27 April in Hyères, France.

With six months to go until the 2024 Paris Olympics, Steve Kerr's team has officially released its first roster of 41 players, including 23 Olympic gold medallists and world champions.

A year after the country approved the presence of female boxers in pre-Olympic competitions, Cuba has invited two boxers, likely to be the national champions Legnis Calá (57 kg) and Yakelin Stornell (66 kg), to the event in Italy in February. Two places for Paris 2024 are at stake.

Security seems to be a serious issue in France, and even the Olympic torch, a symbol of Olympism, will have a special security operation with 100 police officers and agents dedicated to the task, as announced by the French Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin.

Following last week's pre-Olympic hockey tournaments in Spain, India and Oman, the groups have been drawn for the 12 teams of each gender to compete for gold at Paris 2024.

French President Emmanuel Macron visited the National Institute for Sport and Performance (INSEP) on Tuesday and declared that success at the Olympic Games was "within our reach", expressing confidence despite the "massive" challenges of security and transport.

Australian swimmer Mack Horton, an Olympic gold medallist, has unexpectedly announced his retirement from competitive swimming just six months before the start of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. He cited a lack of motivation as the reason for his decision.

Political bickering, persistent grumbling about ticket prices and disruption to daily life are souring the mood ahead of Paris 2024. Several recent announcements have led to a surge in negative publicity for the sporting mega-event, which will kick off in six months and attract a television audience of billions.

The main protagonists will be the 10,500 athletes competing for glory, most of whom will live in the Olympic Village. It is estimated that there will be 15 million visitors, including two million from abroad, with an average of 40,000 agents a day providing security.

With just over six months to go until the start of the 33rd Olympic Games of the modern era, in which more than 10,000 athletes will take part, the Olympic year has begun and the focus is on the stars who will be shining in the French capital.

Just two more tickets to Paris were up for grabs on the final day of the FIH Hockey 2024 Olympic Qualifiers in Valencia, Spain and Muscat, Oman on Sunday.