Paris 2024 torch lit in ancient Olympia, Olympic relay under way
Ancient Olympia, Greece Reuters The torch for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was lit in ancient Olympia in a traditional ceremony on Tuesday, marking the final stretch of the seven-year preparations for the Games’ start on 26th July. Greek actress Mary Mina, playing the role of high priestess, lit the torch using a backup flame […]
Notre-Dame nears re-opening five years after fire
Paris, France Reuters Five years after a devastating fire, the restoration of Notre-Dame cathedral is nearing completion as the world’s eyes turn to Paris for the Olympic Games. On the evening of 15th April, 2019, the cathedral’s roof burst into flames. Soon, it had engulfed the spire and almost toppled the main bell towers. Around […]
The Leader: Jim Dayhew, chaplain and coach in sport ministry
JO KADLECEK speaks with Jim Dayhew who recently became executive director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes: FCA 360 Sports Australia…
Paris Olympics: Migrants, Roma evicted from squats ahead of 2024 Games
LAYLI FOROUDI, of Reuters, reports from Paris…
Olympics row deepens as 35 countries demand ban for Russia and Belarus
Vilnius, LithuaniaReuters A group of 35 countries, including the United States, Germany and Australia, will demand that Russian and Belarusian athletes are banned from the 2024 Olympics, the Lithuanian sports minister said on Friday, deepening the uncertainty over the Paris Games. The move cranks up the pressure on an International Olympic Committee that is desperate […]
Israeli survivors remember Munich Olympic massacre, 50 years on
Jerusalem, IsraelReuters Ankie Spitzer was 26-years-old when her husband Andre, a coach of the Israeli fencing team, was killed by Palestinian gunmen at the 1972 Munich Olympics, 50 years ago this week, and the memories of that day have dominated her life ever since. The attack on the Israeli team by gunmen associated with the […]
Beijing Winter Olympics: Human rights? China won that battle. Almost.
As the Beijing Winter Olympics came to an end earlier this week, JOHN LEICESTER, of Associated Press, reports on calls to reform the Olympic movement…
Increased COVID cases at Beijing Games no reason for concern, organisers say
Beijing, ChinaReuters COVID-19 cases inside Beijing’s Winter Olympic Games bubble hit the second highest since arrivals began after 45 new cases were detected on 4th February, but organisers say the situation is under control and cases confined to the ‘closed loop’. The cases among Olympics-related personnel were up from 21 a day earlier while cases […]
Sight-Seeing: Hope in uncertain times
NILS VON KALM reflects on the importance of hope, what he describes as “possibly the deepest of human needs”…
Tokyo Olympics: From friendships to slogans, the Vatican makes its mark
CLAIRE GIANGRAVÉ, of Religion News Service, reports on the connections the Vatican is building with athletes, including those attending the Olympic Games…