For me, it’s like being in a church. My worship might not be my singing; it’s in my feet jumping over a bar.

Nicola Olyslagers (AUS) takes a leap of faith in the women’s high jump.

Millions of people across the globe watched the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris for 16 riveting, exciting days where athletes from 200 nations tested their prowess in multiple athletic disciplines. From the magnificent historic, cultural opening to the closing event on Sunday 11 August, a feast of viewing was provided both in person and on line for millions of viewers.

The 2024 Paris Games were the first in which an equal number of male and female athletes took part — a stunning rise from the 1980s, when only a quarter of Olympic athletes were female.

“The increasing diversity of countries medaling mostly reflects the growing number of independent countries since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. Over time, this has created a less top-heavy medal table. For most of the Games’ history, only a handful of countries dominated. As recently as the 1988 Seoul Games, the top three countries won more than 40 percent of the medals. In Paris, that share was only a quarter. China, a nonparticipant before 1984, has replaced the Soviet Union as a fixture in the top tier. Russia did not participate at all this year, having been appropriately banned (along with Belarus) for its aggression against Ukraine.” (Credit: Washington Post)

The IOC was founded in 1894 on the belief that sport can contribute to peace and to the harmonious development of humankind. The Olympic Movement continues to work on a daily basis to use sport to promote peace and the Olympic principles around the world.

As a sharp contrast to the war and conflict continually flighted on our screens, the 2024 Paris Olympics lifted the spirits of all who participated and watched, as the world united in all its diversity with goodwill and hope for a more united peace-filled future. We watched in awe as humanity came together. 🥇🥈🥉