Spirit of Sport looks ahead to Paris 2024
The latest episode of the Laureus-presented show previews the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games by catching up with Lambis Konstantinidis, the director of planning and coordination, and an exclusive with Brazilian skateboarding sensation and Tokyo silver medallist Rayssa Leal.
The flip of the calendar into 2024 heralds an incredible year of sport, and one of the biggest highlights is the Paris Olympics in July.
The City of Light will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the first time in a century and Lambis Konstantinidis, the Director of Planning and Coordination of Paris 2024, sits down with Spirit of Sport to preview the forthcoming sporting extravaganza in the French capital.
Paris 2024 will be the first gender balanced and climate positive Games in history – and Konstantinidis insists that the spectacular backdrop of the city itself will play a huge role in the event.
The City of Light will host the Olympic and Paralympic Games for the first time in a century and Lambis Konstantinidis, the Director of Planning and Coordination of Paris 2024, sits down with Spirit of Sport to preview the forthcoming sporting extravaganza in the French capital.
Paris 2024 will be the first gender balanced and climate positive Games in history – and Konstantinidis insists that the spectacular backdrop of the city itself will play a huge role in the event.
Konstantinidis told Spirit of Sport: “This is the first time since 1924 that the Olympics have come back to Paris – and if everyone has a perception of Paris, it would be a shame not to celebrate the city itself.
“The opening ceremony will embody our slogan of ‘Games Wide Open’. Hundreds of thousands of spectators will be able to join us, free of charge, on the Seine, to watch the opening ceremony and see the athletes coming through the city.”
The Games will also feature iconic venues such as the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais and the Chateau de Versailles, which will offer a spectacular backdrop for competition.
“We have taken every opportunity to showcase our heritage and at the same time provide iconic adventures for these athletes,” adds Konstantinidis.
The Games will feature exciting new disciplines such as breaking and climbing, with skateboarding also making its second appearance after being introduced at Tokyo 2020. That Games provided a breakthrough moment for teenage Brazilian skateboarding sensation Rayssa Leal, who won silver to become one of the youngest Olympic medallists in history.
“The opening ceremony will embody our slogan of ‘Games Wide Open’. Hundreds of thousands of spectators will be able to join us, free of charge, on the Seine, to watch the opening ceremony and see the athletes coming through the city.”
The Games will also feature iconic venues such as the Eiffel Tower, the Grand Palais and the Chateau de Versailles, which will offer a spectacular backdrop for competition.
“We have taken every opportunity to showcase our heritage and at the same time provide iconic adventures for these athletes,” adds Konstantinidis.
The Games will feature exciting new disciplines such as breaking and climbing, with skateboarding also making its second appearance after being introduced at Tokyo 2020. That Games provided a breakthrough moment for teenage Brazilian skateboarding sensation Rayssa Leal, who won silver to become one of the youngest Olympic medallists in history.
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In an exclusive interview with Spirit of Sport, the Brazilian teenager reflects on her origin story and being a role model for other young skateboarders, while also looking ahead to Paris in the summer.
The two-times Nominee for the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award – who recently announced her partnership with Laureus Sport For Good and Nike to invest in young female skateboarders in Brazil – told Spirit of Sport:
"When parents tell me ‘my daughter wanted a skateboard because she saw you at the Olympics’ I am very happy.
“At the [Tokyo 2020] Olympics, I knew that there was responsibility because I was not only representing my family and my team but the entire Brazilian nation.
The two-times Nominee for the Laureus World Action Sportsperson of the Year Award – who recently announced her partnership with Laureus Sport For Good and Nike to invest in young female skateboarders in Brazil – told Spirit of Sport:
"When parents tell me ‘my daughter wanted a skateboard because she saw you at the Olympics’ I am very happy.
“At the [Tokyo 2020] Olympics, I knew that there was responsibility because I was not only representing my family and my team but the entire Brazilian nation.
“I am very much looking forward to returning to Paris in 2024. Last time it was strange not to have the crowds cheering, but this time we will have the presence of the fans and it will be cool.”
In an action-packed episode, we also review the third season of Extreme E – the new frontier in electric rally car racing with a focus on the environment.
The sport involves 10 world-class teams led by motorsport legends such as Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg – and it was Rosberg’s RXR team who were crowned Extreme E champions after 10 rounds across four countries.
There is a burst of adrenaline as we learn more about wakeskater Brian Grubbs’ incredible base jump in Dubai, before we drop in on the Laureus Charity Golf Invitational Hong Kong, at The Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club, which raised 1.2million HKD for Laureus Sport for Good.
Find Spirit of Sport on TV, online and stay tuned to Laureus’ social and digital channels for more unique and compelling stories and insights from stellar names from the world of sport.
The sport involves 10 world-class teams led by motorsport legends such as Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg – and it was Rosberg’s RXR team who were crowned Extreme E champions after 10 rounds across four countries.
There is a burst of adrenaline as we learn more about wakeskater Brian Grubbs’ incredible base jump in Dubai, before we drop in on the Laureus Charity Golf Invitational Hong Kong, at The Clearwater Bay Golf and Country Club, which raised 1.2million HKD for Laureus Sport for Good.
Find Spirit of Sport on TV, online and stay tuned to Laureus’ social and digital channels for more unique and compelling stories and insights from stellar names from the world of sport.
