July 27, 2024, Olympics news and results

Our live coverage has moved here.

People attend a beach volleyball match at Eiffel Tower Stadium in Paris on July 27.

The first medals of the Paris Olympics were awarded today during the first full day of competition.

Here’s what you should know:

Key moments:

More medals and results:

Rain impacts:

Travel disruption:

The first medals of the Paris 2024 Olympics are being awarded today.

Here’s where the rankings stand:

Katie Ledecky stands on the podium after winning the bronze medal in the women's 400-meter freestyle race at La Défense Arena in Nanterre, France, on July 27.

As the crowd roared during the women’s 400-meter freestyle race, it seemed like US swimmer Katie Ledecky was just unable to kick it into the next gear she needed to catch Australian Ariarne Titmus and Canadian Summer McIntosh.

“Everyone in that field put up a great race,” she added. “Ariarne and Summer swam really, really well. I haven’t looked at how the whole race broke down. You know, I could only see it from my lane, but yeah, kudos on some great races, and I’m looking forward to the rest of the week.”

“I mean, probably the top three, we probably all would say that we would have liked to have been a little faster,” Ledecky said after the race.

But Ledecky has two more races at these Olympics, and they’re her strongest — the 800-meter freestyle and the 1,500-meter freestyle.

Australian gold medal swimmer Ariarne Titmus praised Katie Ledecky after beating the American legend in a rematch from their epic showdown at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“I’m just happy to get the result for myself, and I’m so honored to be part of the race and be alongside legends like Katie,” she said. “I look up to her so much as an athlete, and it is certainly not a rivalry beyond the races. I really respect her as a person. Her longevity in the sport. It’s nice to catch up and have a chat.”

Canada women's soccer team head coach Beverly Priestman walks onto the pitch prior to their game against El Salvador during the 2024 Concacaf W Gold Cup in Houston on February 22.

FIFA has suspended Canada women’s soccer team head coach Bev Priestman from “taking part in any football-related activity” for a year, it announced on Saturday, after one of the team’s staff members flew a drone to film the closed-door training of the New Zealand women’s soccer team on Monday.

Joseph Lombardi, who the Canadian Olympic Team (COC) has said is an “unaccredited analyst with Canada Soccer,” was given an eight-month suspended prison sentence after flying the drone and sent home from the Olympics, along with assistant coach Jasmine Mander, who Lombardi sent his report to. Mander and Lombardi have also been suspended for a year, FIFA added.

Both Canada’s men’s and women’s soccer team have also been hit with a six-point deduction at this Olympics, FIFA said.

Later on Saturday, a Canada Soccer spokesperson told CNN that it was appealing the six-point sanction.

Kevin Blue, Canada Soccer CEO and general secretary, said the organization was “disappointed” in the outcome from FIFA and the impact it will have on the athletes.

Blue said they are “exploring the appeals process” on the “basis that it is excessively punitive towards our Women’s National Team players – who were not involved in any unethical behaviour.”

David Shoemaker, CEO and secretary general of the Canadian Olympic Committee, added they feel “terrible” for the team who “as far as we understand played no role in this matter.”

CNN has reached out to the International Olympic Committee and Paris 2024 for comment. 

Canada, which won its first match against New Zealand and sits tied atop Group A alongside France, is scheduled to play the host country on Sunday. Canada faces a tough task to advance out of group play with the point deduction. 

CNN’s Jacob Lev contributed reporting to this post.

American swimmer Caeleb Dressel, right, competes in the men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay final at La Défense Arena in Nanterre, France, on July 27.

The United States just claimed its first gold medal of the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning the 4x100m freestyle relay with a time of 3:09.28.

Australia took the silver and the Italian team took the bronze.

The team was anchored by Caeleb Dressel, who earned his eighth gold medal across his illustrious career. The result also continued Dressel’s streak of winning gold in every Olympic race in which he’s competed.

It was a refreshing victory for Team USA, which had finished behind Australians in two of the other four medal races Saturday night.

The NBC broadcast cut to a fired-up Snoop Dogg celebrating with Dressel’s wife, Meghan, in the stands. Michael Phelps was also out of his seat celebrating in the studio.

Australia's Emma McKeon, Meg Harris, Shayna Jack and Mollie O'Callaghan celebrate after winning the women's 4x100-meter freestyle relay at La Défense Arena in Nanterre, France, on July 27.

Australia set a new Olympic record in the women’s 4x100-meter freestyle relay with a time of 3:28:92.

That time beat out the United States, which finished in second with a time of 3:30:20. China took bronze with a relay time of 3:30:30.

Spain's Rafael Nadal, right, and Carlos Alcaraz compete against Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez of Argentina during a men's doubles first round match at Roland Garros in Paris on July 27.

It’s the duo that many have been waiting to see at this year’s Olympics, and it didn’t disappoint.

Spanish tennis stars Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz teamed up to win their first doubles match in Paris, beating Argentina’s Andres Molteni and Maximo Gonzalez in straight sets — 7-6, 6-4.

The pair stepped out to a rapturous applause at Court Philippe-Chatrier and laid down a marker to the rest of the doubles tournament with an impressive win.

“It’s been an emotional night, an electrifying night, an amazing crowd,” Nadal told reporters.

Nadal, 38 — considered one of the greatest tennis players in history — boasts 22 Grand Slam titles, while 21-year-old Alcaraz already has four to his name.

Together, they are bound to be a formidable prospect at this year’s Games.

A general view as Rafael Nadal serves.

Spain's Rafael Nadal returns to Argentina's Maximo Gonzalez.

Spain's Carlos Alcaraz, left, and Rafael Nadal celebrate. 

Rafael Nadal, left, and partner Carlos Alcaraz embrace during the match.

Australia's Ariarne competes in the women's 400-meter freestyle final at La Défense Arena in Nanterre, France, on July 27.

Australia’s Ariarne Titmus won the closely watched women’s 400-meter freestyle race, defending her gold medal from Tokyo and issuing another defeat in the race to American Katie Ledecky.

Titmus finished in 3:57.49, Canada’s Summer McIntosh finished in second with a 3:58.37 and Ledecky finished in third with a time of 4:00.86.

The race had been hotly anticipated throughout the Games, after Titmus beat Ledecky in Tokyo three years ago in this race — her first ever individual defeat in the Olympics. But Ledecky never really got going in the contest. Titmus dominated from the outset, and the world-record holder seemed determined to not let the race be a close contest.

Earlier in the day, Ledecky had finished in the top spot in her heat, besting Titmus. It was thought to be a potential message from the Olympic great — signaling her intent to again win the event she once dominated — but Titmus apparently was keeping some fuel in the tank for the finals.

It’s a disappointing start to the Olympics for Ledecky but her best races — the 800-meter and 1,500-meter freestyle races — are still to come.

American swimmer Katie Ledecky embraces Australia's Ariarne Titmus after the race.

Flavor Flav celebrates after a US women's water polo match against Greece in Saint-Denis, France, on July 27.

Rapper Flavor Flav is in Paris as the official hype man for the US women’s water polo team.

The rapper posted a video of himself, decked out in a Team USA cap and jersey — and his signature bling — meeting US first lady Dr. Jill Biden and her grandchildren, hugging all of them.

The team aims to make history in Paris as the first women’s water polo team to win four consecutive Olympic gold medals.

“They got three back-to-back gold medals. I’m just trying to cheer them on, to get them number four,” Flav said to Biden about the team.

Flavor Flav poses for a photo with US first lady Jill Biden on July 27.

Flav — a self-described “girl dad” — decided to get behind the team after seeing an Instagram post from captain Maggie Steffens, who was making a rallying cry for more people to follow the sport with the Olympics looming.

Flav, best known for co-founding rap group Public Enemy, replied to Steffens on Instagram, pledging to “use all my relationships and resources” to support the team in the build-up to the Games.

On July 1, USA Water Polo announced that Flav “signed an unprecedented five-year sponsorship deal as the official hype man for the USA Water Polo Women’s and Men’s National Teams,” adding that it includes him making a financial contribution to the women’s Olympic team.

“This contribution underscores Flav’s dedication to fostering excellence in women’s sports,” according to the statement.

CNN’s George Ramsey contributed to this post.

Germany's Lukas Maertens competes in the final of the men's 400-meter freestyle at La Défense Arena in Nanterre, France, on July 27.

Lukas Maertens won the gold medal in the first Olympic final race of Paris 2024, finishing the men’s 400-meter freestyle race in 3:41.78.

As the arena erupted, Maertens managed to stretch the lead in the final 50 meters after South Korea’s Kim Woo-min appeared to be closing the gap. Kim would end up taking the bronze medal. Elijah Winnington of Australia took the silver.

Next up: Katie Ledecky and Australian Ariarne Titmus in the women’s 400-meter freestyle, the race everyone’s been waiting for.

American swimmer Gretchen Walsh competes in the women's 100-meter butterfly semi-finals at La Défense Arena in Nanterre, France, on July 27.

American swimmer Gretchen Walsh just broke an Olympic record in the 100-meter butterfly, finishing her semi-final heat in a blistering 55.38 seconds.

Walsh led from start to finish to qualify for a spot in Sunday night’s finals. She swam to a raucous atmosphere in La Défense Arena, including a boisterous American contingent.

It’s the first record broken in the pool during these Games. Torri Huske will join her Team USA teammate in the finals after winning the second semi-final heat.

France's Antoine Dupont, right, breaks with the ball during a men's rugby sevens match against Fiji at Stade de France in Saint-Denis, France, on July 27.

Superstar Antoine Dupont led France to its first gold medal of this year’s Games after it claimed victory in the men’s rugby sevens.

Dupont, considered one of the greatest players of his generation, was in scintillating form as the host nation beat Fiji 28-7 in the gold medal match in front of a frenzied crowd at the Stade de France.

The 27-year-old made the switch from 15s to sevens with the aim of guiding France to a historic gold medal, and he looked overcome with emotion after the win was secured.

French President Emmanuel Macron was also in attendance and looked delighted with the victory.

Prior to this year’s Olympics, Fiji had won both editions of the men’s rugby sevens tournament without losing a single match.

It will be a while until the French fans stop singing in the stands.

CNN’s Daniel Eaves contributed reporting.

The Paris Games love their elaborate light shows.

Warmups have officially concluded at the La Défense Arena and an elaborate light show is taking place as we wait for the medal events to get going.

The biggest race of the night: American legend Katie Ledecky takes on her chief rival, Australian Ariarne Titmus, in the 400-meter freestyle in a rematch of the Tokyo Games where Titmus defeated Ledecky in stunning fashion.

It’s the third race of the night and will come at roughly 2:52 p.m. ET (8:52 p.m. local time).

US fencer Maia Chamberlain called being an Olympian “such a new experience” after attending her first opening ceremony yesterday.

She compared being in the Olympic Village to being at Disneyland.

US fencer Maia Weintraub also reflected on her first opening ceremony, saying that the rainy weather “might have been the best part.”

She said a highlight of her Olympic experience thus-far has been meeting basketball legend LeBron James.

France's Victor Wembanyama celebrates a point during a game against Brazil on July 27.

Victor Wembanyama has arrived at the 2024 Summer Games.

A homegrown talent who played professionally in France before becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2023 NBA draft, the 20-year-old Wembanyama led his country to a win over Brazil in his first Olympic competition.

Wemby — who was the NBA’s rookie of the year for the San Antonio Spurs last season — had 19 points, nine rebounds, two assists, four steals and three blocks in today’s game.

France beat Brazil, 78-66, in front of a friendly home crowd.

Team Republic of Korea takes part in the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26.

Paris kicked off the 2024 Summer Olympics with a magnificent opening ceremony and a bit of an embarrassment.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has issued an official apology to South Korea for having incorrectly introduced Seoul’s delegation as from North Korea during the athletes’ parade on the River Seine.

“We sincerely apologize for the mistake that occurred when introducing the South Korean delegation during the opening ceremony broadcast,” the IOC said on its official Korean-language account on X.

Both the French and English announcements incorrectly said, “People’s Democratic Republic of Korea” — which is the official name of North Korea — when introducing the South Korean athletes.

The official name of South Korea is Republic of Korea.

In a statement issued later on Saturday, the IOC said its president, Thomas Bach, apologized over the phone to South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol.

“The IOC President took the opportunity to congratulate the President of the Republic of Korea on the country’s first medal at these Games, which was a silver medal won by the 10m air rifle mixed team,” it added.

South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it expressed “regret” over the incident.

This post has been updated with the IOC statement.

The US men’s national team is bouncing back in fine fashion from a defeat in their first group game, sprinting out to a 3-0 lead in fewer than 30 minutes against New Zealand.

The men’s team doesn’t carry the same star power as the women’s team, sending only players under 23, and it’s historically been an underdog in Olympic play. It’s the first time the US has sent a men’s team to the Olympics since the Beijing Summer Games in 2008.

The goals have come from Djordjie Mihailovic, Walker Zimmerman and Gianluca Busio.

The La Défense Arena is absolutely deafening as the swimmers competing in tonight’s event get warmed up in the pool.

The gleaming arena is starting to fill in but the highlight so far is the loudspeaker, which is pumping out announcements and music at the volume of a jet airliner taking off.

Stars like Team USA’s Katie Ledecky remarked to reporters earlier that the atmosphere in the building was intense for even the preliminary heats. Expect the crowd to be raucous for the first final swims of an iconic Olympic competition.

Ukraine men’s soccer team scored a stoppage-time winner to beat Morocco 2-1, recording its first-ever victory at an Olympic Games.

Ihor Krasnopir finished off a sweeping move in the 98th minute to secure all three points after a rollercoaster encounter in Saint-Étienne.

Ukraine had taken the lead in the first half but Morocco leveled the scores in the second-half with a penalty, after Volodymyr Salyuk committed a foul in the box. The Ukrainian defender was subsequently sent off for denying Morocco a goal-scoring opportunity.

Despite being a man down, Ukraine dug deep to keep Morocco out before pouncing in the dying minutes with a brilliantly worked winner.

The Paris Games marks the first time Ukraine has featured in the men’s soccer tournament. It lost its opening match 2-1 to Iraq earlier this week.

Japan's Connor O'leary takes part in a training session in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, on July 23. 

While some Olympic sports will have the background of iconic Parisian landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, the Olympic surfers will be some 15,700 kilometers (about 9,755 miles) away from the action on the pristine beaches of Teahupo’o, Tahiti.

According to the Paris 2024 website, the choice to hold the surfing competition in Tahiti “aligns with Paris 2024’s ambition to spread the Games across France. It offers an opportunity to engage French overseas territories and their communities in the Olympic Games - for the first time in history - while showcasing France’s rich and diverse heritage.”

Tahiti became a French colony in 1880 and is now classified as an autonomous overseas country of the French Republic.

Judging tower sparks controversy: The decision to hold the surfing in Tahiti isn’t without controversy. Since Teahupo’o has long been on the worldwide surfing circuit, a wooden tower has been built for competitions in the lagoon off the coast.

This judging tower, and the determination that it wasn’t going to be compliant with the safety expectations of Olympic competition — notably refereeing and broadcast coverage, set off a controversy. Olympic organizers instead built an aluminum tower in the lagoon.

The judging tower is pictured during a surfing training session in Teahupo'o, Tahiti, on July 18.

Plans for the new aluminum tower were criticized for potentially damaging the coral reef off Teahupo’o at a time when global warming is already harming reefs around the world.

Ultimately, a slimmed-down version of the aluminum tower was constructed, drawing outrage from activists and condemnation from the International Surfing Association despite being scaled back from original plans.

The nine-ton, 50-square-meter, three-story tower is now in the waters off Teahupo’o in an area that does not directly affect much of the coral, though the long-term effects have yet to be seen.

Read the full story here.

Cuban former Olympic and World Champion Javier Sotomayor speaks during a press conference on October 26, 2023, in Santiago, Chile.

Thirty-one years ago, Cuban athletics legend Javier Sotomayor set a world record of 2.45 meters in the men’s high jump in Salamanca, Spain. It’s a record that still stands today.

Sotomayor spoke to CNN Saturday, sharing his thoughts about his world record, Cuba’s delegation at the Paris Olympics games and challenges the Cuban athletes are facing.

Sotomayor said Cuban sports have lost strength in recent years due to the country’s economy not being “in the best shape.”

“And great results, great athletes come from a great base. As the base is expanded, more children are involved in the sport, and it increases the possibility of making more champions,” the Cuban star said. “I say it’s easier to get one champion in a thousand than one champion in a hundred. That’s not happening today. Many of our athletes are competing for other countries.” 

France's Shirine Boukli celebrates winning Bronze of women’s 48 kg judo event on July 27, in Paris, France.

Host nation France earned its first medal of the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics when Shirine Boukli took home bronze in the women’s 48kg judo event. 

Boukli defeated Spain’s Laura Martínez Abelenda to earn the bronze. Swedish judoka Tara Babulfath took the other bronze medal in the event.

Japan also won its first medal and first gold of the Games as Natsumi Tsunoda defeated Mongolian Bavuudorj Baasankhuu, who walked away with silver.

Jannick Sinner slides to play a backhand against Yannick Hanfmann at the first round match at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London on July 1.

The world No. 1 men’s tennis player Jannik Sinner announced Wednesday that he had withdrawn from the Olympic Games due to illness.

Sinner, who had hoped to represent Italy, said he was advised by his doctor to not take part in the tennis competition at Roland Garros as he recovers from tonsillitis.

The 22-year-old tennis star said he was disappointed to be missing the Olympics and wished participating Italian athletes luck.

The Italian was last seen in action at Wimbledon, where he was knocked out after losing his quarterfinal match against Russian Daniil Medvedev in five sets earlier this month.

Sinner was set to make his Olympic debut competing in the men’s singles and men’s doubles competitions.

Athlete boats travel along the River Seine as spectators shelter from the rain during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26.

Heavy rain in Paris over the last couple of days is “likely to impact the quality of the water in the Seine over the next 24 to 36 hours,” organizers told Reuters.

Nonetheless, they are “very confident” that the swimming part of the triathlon will go ahead on Tuesday. “We are still looking at the forecast for the coming days,” Tony Estanguet, president of the Paris 2024 Organising Committee, told reporters Saturday.

A scheduled training session for Sunday is under threat, organizers told Reuters, adding that they will make a decision about its safety at 4 a.m. local time Sunday.

To recap: In the weeks before the Olympics, official data showed the River Seine wasn’t safe for swimming due to high levels of E. Coli bacteria in the water. Official testing by the city of Paris showed that E. Coli levels at Alexandre III Bridge, where the triathlon events are planned to start later this month, have been above acceptable levels on the majority of days — 22 out of 30 — between June 3 and July 2, potentially exposing athletes to serious health risks.

Organizers have repeatedly said the water will be safe, and Paris’ Mayor Anne Hidalgo swam in the river on July 17 in a bid to demonstrate its cleanliness.

European nations account for only about one-tenth of the global population, but its countries have won more than 7,600 medals in the Summer Olympics, around half of all Summer medals awarded.

Most of these dominant countries have participated in at least 20 of the 30 (including Paris) Summer Games held so far, typically fielding large teams that compete in a wide variety of events.

Great Britain stands out among European nations, with 921 medals earned since the first modern Olympics in 1896, consistently winning medals in every Summer Games. However, in terms of medals per capita, Finland and Hungary are the top performers with more than 50 medals per million people.

The United States is another Olympic powerhouse, holding the record for the most medals won, with 2,646 across 39 sports since 1896.

Some small Caribbean nations like Jamaica, known for sprinting record-holder legend Usain Bolt, have also achieved notable success, particularly in athletics.

In Asia, China leads with 636 medals, which is nearly 30% of all medals won by Asian countries, while Kenya tops Africa’s medal count, winning 113 medals, predominantly in athletics.

Matthew Ebden of Australia reacts against Novak Djokovic of Serbia in the Men's Singles first round match on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 27.

Australian tennis player Matthew Ebden discovered just how brutal it feels to play 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic.

The Serb is bidding to win his first-ever Olympic gold medal and looked in brilliant form when thrashing Ebden in straight sets — 6-0, 6-1.

At one point in the second set, Ebden turned to the crowd and asked fans whether they wanted to play instead.

The Australian had not played a singles match for almost two years and has now said he won’t play solo again.

“Was a pleasure [Djokovic] to share the court with you for one last singles match on Philippe Chatrier here at the Olympics,” he added.

It wasn’t all bad, though. Edben received a huge ovation from the crowd after winning his only game of the match and celebrated by lifting his shirt over his head.

Djokovic, meanwhile, steamrolls into the next round.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia in action during his first round match against Matthew Ebden of Australia on July 27, in Paris, France.

Bonsoir from Paris! Here are the biggest events for the rest of the day:

Charlotte Dujardin competes during the FEI European Championships Dressage on September 7, 2023 in Horstel, Germany.

Three-time Olympic gold medal winner Charlotte Dujardin will not be competing in the dressage event today after she announced just days before the opening ceremony that she had pulled out of Paris 2024.

The famed British dressage star said she had withdrawn from all competition due to “making an error of judgement during a coaching session.”

A video has since surfaced showing Dujardin repeatedly whipping a horse during training.

Dujardin admitted the video, which she said was from four years ago, showed her acting “completely out of character and does not reflect how I train my horses or coach my pupils.”

The international governing body of equestrian sports (FEI) announced Tuesday it had provisionally suspended Dujardin. 

“On 22 July 2024, the FEI received a video depicting Ms. Dujardin engaging in conduct contrary to the principles of horse welfare,” the body said.  

FEI president Ingmar De Vos said it was the body’s responsibility to “address any instances of abuse, as equine welfare cannot be compromised.”

Some background: Dujardin was attempting to become the most decorated British female Olympian of all time. The 39-year-old has won a total of six Olympic medals – two silvers, a bronze, and three golds.

The decorated rider was set to ride Imhotep at her fourth Olympic Games for Team Great Britain.

Another medal in Paris, in either individual or team dressage, would have broken the tie with retired track cyclist Laura Kenny.

French President Emmanuel Macron (R) and President of International Olympic Committee Thomas Bach wave during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26.

French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday hailed the service of police, gendarmes and soldiers at the Paris Olympics Games so far, while reminding them to remain vigilant. 

France is on high alert as competitions get underway. The country has notably increased surveillance efforts across its rail networks following “coordinated sabotage” efforts that caused travel chaos on France’s high-speed train lines ahead of the opening ceremony.

France's Victor Wembanyama takes a free throw in the men's preliminary round group B basketball match between France and Brazil during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, on July 27.

French basketball star Victor Wembanyama is making his Olympics debut Saturday evening here in France, as the host nation’s team plays Brazil in its first group game.

The 20-year-old former No. 1 NBA pick is coming off a standout rookie campaign in which he took the league by storm with his staggering height and wingspan, changing how many teams chose to attack his San Antonio Spurs.

Wembanyana told reporters last week that the game takes on new meaning when he puts on his country’s uniform.

Marial Shayok of South Sudan celebrates during a game against Team USA in London, England on July 20.

The USA is the preeminent force in men’s Olympic basketball. It has won the gold medal on 14 occasions and frequently assembles some of the sport’s biggest stars on the international stage.

So when a new upstart on the block, fresh off a captivating performance at the FIBA World Cup in 2023, pushed LeBron James and teammates all the way to the final buzzer in an Olympic warmup game, the basketball world took notice.

South Sudan, the world’s newest country, captured the hearts of spectators at the World Cup en route to a 17th place finish out of 32 teams, a performance that secured the squad a spot at the Olympics for a very first time in its history.

Not bad for a country that has only officially existed for 13 years and has no indoor basketball facilities.

Find out more about the team, the stories of its players — many of whom are refugees — and its hopes for the Olympics here.

Angelique Kerber of Germany in action during a Tennis training session ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Roland Garros on July 25, in Paris, France.

The Paris Olympics will be the final tournament of Angelique Kerber’s career.

The 36-year-old German tennis star, who won three grand slam singles titles, Olympic silver in Rio in 2016, and a total of 14 career singles titles, has announced that the 2024 games mark “the finish line” of her career. 

Kerber had returned to tennis this season after taking maternity leave. She will face another mother, Naomi Osaka, in the first round in Paris.

Yani Chang and Yiwen Chen of China competes during Woman's Sinchronised 3m Springboard on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 at Aquatics Centre on July 27.

Divers Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook became the first US athletes to win a medal for Team USA at the Paris Olympics on Saturday: A silver in the women’s synchronized 3m springboard event.

They finished just behind China’s Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen, who took their country’s second gold medal of the Games at just the second opportunity. Great Britain’s Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen finished in third.

Chen said she was only nervous “maybe a little bit” and thanked audiences for their support during a press conference at the Aquatics Centre in Paris on Saturday following the event. After winning gold, she is already previewing what’s next.

And Cook said the goal is to one day take home the gold ahead of China.

“The Chinese have been the gold standard in diving for decades now. So we study a lot of their diving,” Cook said. “We love watching them but we’re also peers with them. The goal is to beat them one day, but I think following them in the competition actually helped us to do better.”

Singer Celine Dion performs on the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 26.

Legendary singer Celine Dion met with dozens of fans outside her hotel in Paris on Saturday, the day after performing in the Olympics opening ceremony.

In a video taken outside the hotel, Dion can be seen taking photos with fans and signing items. The singer wore sunglasses while members of her team shielded her from the damp Paris weather with umbrellas.

Her live performance on Friday was the star’s first performance since revealing that she is living with stiff person syndrome, “a rare, progressive syndrome that affects the nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord,” according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.

One fan who met Dion on Saturday, Gabrielle Garnier, told Reuters: “It’s very emotional … especially because we know what she has been through.” 

Another fan, Mickael, said that the performance was “the comeback that we had been waiting for.”

“Honestly, that’s the best international comeback that she could have made,” the fan added.

After meeting her fans, Dion then got into a car, waving to the crowd as the car drove away with her standing out the car’s sunroof. As people applauded, one person was heard saying, “the ambassador of love, Celine Dion.”

France's Antoine Dupont in action during the rugby sevens match with team Argentina at Stade de France, Paris, on July 25.

The sound has been deafening from the first minute here inside the Stade de France for the rugby sevens semifinal between France and South Africa, with the 2024 Olympic host country securing a win in the end.

The French national anthem, “La Marseillaise,” and chants of “Allez Les Bleus!” were belted out in full volume by a boisterous crowd in the stadium.

With royals in attendance — both Prince Albert of Monaco and the UK’s Princess Anne — the French team put themselves in sight of the Olympic crown.

After a cagey first half with zero points on the board, the second half burst into life.

French superstar Antoine Dupont came off the bench to rapturous applause, and it provided the spark to the game. South Africa opened the scoring, but France responded in emphatic style with three superb tries. Rayan Rebbadj and Jordan Sepho got through a stubborn South Africa defense to send France through to the gold medal final later Saturday.

Who will France play next? It’s a France vs. Fiji final. There’s a reason why Fiji has never lost a game in men’s rugby sevens at an Olympics: The team is ultra clinical. Despite going behind to Australia, the defending champions remained cool, calm, and collected. Four superb tries involving intricate footwork and passing take them to another Olympic final to face France and the 70,000-strong crowd at Stade de France at 1:45 p.m. ET (7:45 p.m. local time).

More about Dupont: Widely regarded as one of the best players of his generation, Dupont made the switch from 15s to sevens with the aim of guiding France to a historic gold medal. It comes less than a year after he captained his home nation in the 15s version of the game to a heartbreaking quarter-final loss against South Africa at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Condoms are seen inside the Athletes' Village ahead of the Paris Olympic Games on July 23, in Paris, France.

Organizers for this year’s Olympics have found a unique branding opportunity: condoms.

Nearly 300,000 contraceptives have been made for the Paris Games, catering for the more than 10,000 athletes competing.

Team USA’s reigning Olympic fencing champion, Lee Kiefer, made a trip to the athlete village clinic to snag some of the “iconic” condoms earlier this week, which are branded with the official mascots for the Games.

Then she polled her followers to see which one they liked best.

At last check, it was a tie between those donning the captions “Don’t share more than victory, protect yourself against STDs” and “On the field of love, play fair. Ask for consent.”

As hot of a commodity as they’re becoming, who knows how long the condoms will last.

Gianmarco Tamberi waves an Italian flag as the Italian team parades along the Seine river in Paris, France, during the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summer Olympics, on July 26.

Italy’s flag bearer Gianmarco Tamberi was enjoying one of the best days of his life as he led his nation during the rain-soaked opening ceremony. But the high jumper’s evening started to go badly, very quickly. 

As Tamberi waved the Italian flag enthusiastically, he suddenly realized he had lost his wedding ring, which seemingly bounced out of the boat and into the River Seine. 

“I’m sorry my love, I’m so sorry,” he later wrote on Instagram, alongside pictures of him and his wife. 

“Too much water, too many kilos lost in the last few months or maybe the irrepressible enthusiasm of what we were doing. Probably all three, the fact remains that I felt it slip out, saw it fly … followed it with my eyes until I saw it bounce inside the boat.

Fortunetly for Tamberi, his wife was able to see the funny side. “Only you can turn something like this into something romantic,” she commented on his post. 

Fun Fact: Tamberi has a habit of making a splash at the Olympics. During the Tokyo Games, he hit the headlines for sharing the high jump gold medal alongside Qatar’s Mutaz Essa Barshim.

An IOC spokesperson said that the Netherlands’ decision to select Steven van de Velde, a volleyball player who served time in prison for raping a child 10 years ago, for the Olympics is “correct,” saying that he had undergone a “great deal of rehabilitation.”

“To characterize it as comfortable and happy would not be correct,” IOC spokesperson Mark Adams told a news conference on Saturday. 

“We have made it clear we have been in long conversations with the Dutch National Olympic Committee. A crime occurred 10 years ago, a great deal of rehabilitation has taken place and strong safeguarding is in place,” he said.

Van de Velde, who is now 29, was sentenced to four years in prison in 2014 for raping a girl who was aged 12, according to British media. He was released in 2017.

“The athlete is not even staying in the village,” Adams added. “The statement the (Dutch NOC) has given to us is correct and we will continue with the situation as it is.”

Ju’Riese Colon, CEO for the US Center for SafeSport, said in a statement sent to CNN in June that the organization was “deeply concerned that anyone convicted of sexually assaulting a minor could participate in the 2024 Olympic Games.”

“With teams from around the world about to convene in Paris, many of which include minor athletes, this sends a dangerous message that medals and money mean more than their safety. Participation in sport is a privilege not a right,” she added.

SNCF railway staff and police officers work at the site where vandals targeted France's high-speed train network in Croisilles, France, on July 26. 

France is still facing travel disruption a day after saboteurs targeted high-speed railway lines in an attack coinciding with the start of the Olympics. As operators try to get service back to normal, a key question remains: Who was responsible?

Authorities are still investigating and no one has yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, but given their scale, timing and precision, it is clear they are more than just random acts of vandalism.

There are many possible culprits – the opening day of the Olympic Games is one of the most watched events in the world, a tempting target for anyone seeking to cause chaos and disruption in the limelight. Catch up on everything we know about who is behind the sabotage.

China’s Huang Yuting, left, and Sheng Lihao pose with their gold medals on July 27. They won the 10-meter air rifle mixed-team shooting competition.

If you are just waking up for a day of watching the Paris Olympics and worried that you have missed some of the action, fear not — let’s catch up and look ahead at what’s still to come on a busy opening day:

And if you are catching up on Olympics history this week: ​A new episode of the CNN Original Series “How It Really Happened” goes behind the scenes to uncover how investigators identified the 1996 Atlanta Olympics bomber.

Katie Ledecky of the United States competes in the third heat of the 400-meter freestyle in Nanterre, France, on July 27.

American swimming legend Katie Ledecky won her first heat of the 2024 Paris Games Saturday morning in front of a crowd of fans – a vastly different atmosphere to the last edition in Tokyo.

“It was good to walk out to a full stadium for a prelims race, it felt really similar to our Olympic trials a few weeks back,” she told the Olympic Information Service. “I’m excited to see the finals atmosphere tonight, and I’m happy that I got a good first one under the belt.”

Ledecky beat out Ariarne Titmus of Australia in the third heat for the 400-meter freestyle, but both women – who are close rivals in the race – qualified for the finals Saturday night. Ledecky trailed Titmus for most of the heat, but pulled even during the final stretches and edged the woman who defeated her for gold in the race in Tokyo.

“There is no message or anything,” Ledecky of Saturday’s heat. “I was trying to have a good swim and get into that final and I got my lane, and we all got our lanes and that’s all that matters.”

Read more about Ledecky.

A tennis court at Roland Garros in Paris is covered on July 27.

Rain, rain, go away. Not 24 hours after last night’s opening ceremony in Paris, there has been a common theme of these Olympics so far: Rain.

It’s pouring down across the city, and the men’s street skateboarding event has already been moved to Monday due to the bad weather.

At Roland Garros, home of the French Open, the covers are on most of the outside tennis courts and spectators — once they’ve got past the lengthy queue outside — are milling around the venue under the shelter of raincoats and umbrellas.

For those lucky enough to have tickets for the two main courts – Court Philippe-Chatrier and Court Suzanne Lenglen – retractable roofs mean that at least some play is underway.

World No. 1 Iga Świątek, who won her fifth grand slam title here last month, is first up on Philippe-Chatrier against Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu and is already wrapping up the first set 6-2.

Olympic participation runs in the family for Świątek. Her father, Tomasz, represented Poland at the 1988 Games in Seoul, finishing seventh in the quadruple skulls rowing event.

Before her opening match, Świątek said that it would be a “dream come true” to win an Olympic gold medal. Her chances are good too, with the competition being staged on clay — by far her favored surface.

Australia’s Jock Landale drives to the basket during a game against Spain in Lille, France, on July 27.

The Aussies held off the Spanish down the stretch, surviving their first test of the 2024 Games with a 92-80 victory.

The Boomers pulled away in the final quarter after the contest had tightened in the middle portions of the game.

It’s a statement of intent from Australia, defeating the No. 2 team in the FIBA rankings as they look to improve on their bronze medal finish in Tokyo.

US first lady Dr. Jill Biden reflected on a “spectacular” opening ceremony and looked ahead to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics as she attended a reception in Paris on Saturday morning.

Biden started a countdown clock to mark 1,498 days until the Los Angeles Olympic Games at an event hosted by the US ambassador to France. She spoke about the “singular beauty of Paris” and looked forward to celebrating “not only the split-second victories and breakout stars, but the years of your effort, and teamwork that made this all possible.”

Australia was threatening to run away with this one but the Spaniards have come into the game in the third quarter and turned it into a back-and-forth affair.

Spain’s run to open the second half briefly put them in the lead but Patty Mills and the Australians answered with a run of their own to retake the lead with just minutes remaining in the third quarter.

The first men’s basketball game of the Games seems certain to come down to the wire as these teams trade counter punches.

Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook of Team United States compete in the women's synchronised 3m springboard final on day one of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 27.

Divers Sarah Bacon and Kassidy Cook have won the USA’s first medal of the Paris Olympics — a silver in the women’s synchronized 3m springboard event.

They finished just behind China’s Chang Yani and Chen Yiwen, who took their country’s second gold medal of the Games at just the second opportunity. Great Britain’s Yasmin Harper and Scarlett Mew Jensen finished in third.

Katie Ledecky competes in a heat of the women's 400m freestyle swimming event at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on July 27.

Michael Ledecky remembers the day he was first beaten by his younger sister Katie in the pool, wrenching his goggles from his head and breaking them in two, an odd mixture of pride and anger enveloping him on that August evening. Time hasn’t faded the memory.

The race, a 200m freestyle duel that he had instigated, was such a significant moment in his teenage life that he wrote about it for an English high school project. “How Katie managed to surpass me in my primary sport baffled me,” he wrote. “Why can’t I beat my younger sister?”

He was a high-achieving teenager; a freshman selected for his high school championship swimming team, a perfect-grade student who had hopes of representing an Ivy League swimming team. And he was as dedicated to the sport as his sister; waking up at 4:15 a.m. for practice, swimming morning after morning, looking down at nothing but the black line at the bottom of the pool before school.

Yet he came to realize on that summer’s night that his sister, whom he would compete against at almost anything – from pancake eating contests to board games – was the more talented swimmer.

What he didn’t recognize at the time, and no one in the family did – not even when she reached her first Olympic final – was that Katie Ledecky would become one of the greatest swimmers in history.

Ledecky began her Paris Olympics by winning her heat in the 400 meters freestyle on Saturday morning. Find out how she became one of the greatest swimmers ever here.

China's Sheng Lihao competes in the shooting 10m Air Rifle Mixed Team Gold Medal during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at Chateauroux Shooting Centre on July 29.

China has won the first gold medal of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games after winning the shooting 10m air rifle team event and defeating South Korea 16-12 in the gold medal match.

China also won the first gold medal of the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games winning the 10m air rifle women’s final, as well as the gold medal in this event in Tokyo.

“My main feeling is just happiness,” Sheng Lihao said afterward. “The match was quite hard, but being able to do a personal best performance helped a lot. It’s only the beginning for me.”

SNCF railway workers and law enforcement officers work at the site where vandals targeted France's high-speed train network, causing major disruptions ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony, in Croisilles, northern France, on July 26.

France’s railway network is still suffering from long delays after its high speed lines were targeted by multiple “malicious acts” including arson on Friday, although it is not the widespread outage that stranded travelers yesterday.

The French state railway company SNCF said in a statement on Saturday morning that 80% of the trains are running today with a delay between one to two hours. Delays are expected on Sunday too before normal services resume on Monday, SNCF added.

​​Editor’s note: A new episode of the CNN Original Series “How It Really Happened” goes behind the scenes to uncover how investigators identified the bomber who killed two and injured more than 100 at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb on Saturday said he hoped that Russia’s exclusion from the Olympic Games in Paris would see “the Russian population understand that they have been isolated” by the war in Ukraine.

Russian and Belarusian athletes are eligible to compete as individual neutral athletes in the 2024 Summer Olympic Games in Paris, provided they meet eligibility requirements.

Teams of athletes with a Russian or Belarusian passport cannot participate. Athletes who actively support the war will not be eligible to be entered or to compete.

Stubb told CNN’s Max Foster that he would have preferred no Russian or Belarusian athletes participate in Paris.

Stubb said the feeling of isolation among the Russian population would be a “silver lining.” 

The first game of the men’s basketball tournament has begun with Tokyo Games’ bronze medalist Australia taking on perennial contender Spain in a group match up.

The Aussies feature eight NBA players, including Chicago Bulls star Josh Giddey. They once again figure to be strong in this year’s tournament.

Spain’s generation of stars that won silver medals in 2008 and 2012 and a bronze in 2016 have largely moved on, with just one NBA player featured on this year’s team. Still, a nation with a strong basketball heritage will be expecting to compete in France.

The Australians jumped out to an early lead in the first quarter.

Islam Satpayev, right, and Alexandra Le of Kazakhstan compete for the bronze medal in the 10m air rifle mixed team medal round at the 2024 Summer Olympics on July 27. The Kazakh pair went on to win the bronze medal. 

Kazakhstan has won the first medal of the 2024 Olympic Games after picking up the bronze medal in the shooting 10m air rifle team event.

Kazakhstan defeated Germany in the bronze medal match 17-5. The gold medal match takes place next with China and Korea going head-to-head to pick up the first gold medal of the Games.

Paris will not just be the host city of this year’s Games; it will be a main character.

Here are some things to expect:

A background for the Games unlike any other: 100 years after the Olympics were last in Paris, the City of Light is poised to show off. The beach volleyball court is in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. The Place de la Concorde, one of the city’s largest squares, hosts multiple events. The Trocadero was the final stop of the opening ceremony. Versailles will host equestrian competitions on the grounds that were once walked by the very top of French society.

The return of fans in earnest The last couple of Olympics have been weird. The 2020 Summer Games were actually held in 2021 in Tokyo, in front of virtually no fans because of travel restrictions from the Covid-19 pandemic. The 2022 Winter Olympic Games were held as China pursued its zero-Covid strategy, dramatically limiting the number of foreign fans. But as the world has moved on from the pandemic, fans are expected back in their millions.

All of France gets its chance to show off: Nice, Marseille, Bordeaux, Nantes, Lyon, Chateauroux and even Tahiti will all get their chance to partake in the Olympic spirit by hosting competitions.

Focus on sustainability: In trying to make Paris 2024 the “most responsible and sustainable games in history,” organizers say the Olympics is expected to run on 100% renewable energy. And instead of rooming in apartments tailor-made for them, athletes in the Olympic Village this summer will be living in what will become someone else’s home or workplace.

Read the full story.

Staff shelter from the rain during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games Paris 2024 on July 26.

The rain in Paris is set to move out soon, but not before making itself felt one last time.

The men’s skateboarding competition, which was set to begin at noon local time on Saturday, will be delayed until Monday, according to a news release.

“Due to the rain pouring on Paris since the early morning of Saturday the 27th of July, and the adverse forecasts projected until late afternoon; the Men’s Street skateboarding competition has been rescheduled to Monday the 29th of July,” the release stated.

The rain was one of the stars of Friday’s Opening Ceremony, drenching competitors as they floated down the River Seine. Organizers, fans and athletes alike are hoping that forecasts hold and the rain moves out later on Saturday for a few days.

Katie Ledecky (USA) Ledecky is one of the stars of Team USA and is looking to cementer her legacy as one of the greatest female swimmers of all time. Read more about her journey.

Carlos Alcaraz (Spain): Alcaraz, one of the world’s top tennis players, comes into the Olympics fresh off his second consecutive Wimbledon title. This year’s Olympic tournament will take be played on clay, at the Stade Roland Garros in Paris. That shouldn’t be a problem for Alcaraz, who won the French Open there in June.

Andy Murray (Britain) This year’s Olympics will be Murray’s fifth – and final – appearance at the Games. The competition will look a little different for Murray – the only man in history to win two Olympic singles gold medals – as he has withdrawn from that event, and announced his retirement from tennis once his run at Roland Garros ends. But the British three-time grand slam champion will still play doubles alongside Dan Evans.

Novak Djokovic (Serbia) The tennis legend has won everything in the sport, multiple times, but he’s yet to win gold at an Olympics. He begins his quest for that honor on Saturday against Australia’s Matthew Ebden.

The Eiffel Tower shines in the background while the Olympic flag is raised during the opening ceremony in Paris on July 26.

Welcome to our Saturday coverage of the 2024 Olympic Games, which officially got underway in Paris Friday night with a dazzling opening ceremony.

If you missed it, here are some key takeaways from the show:

Paris shows off: The opportunity to put the City of Light, its culture and people on full display was well-taken Friday. The riverboats floating on the River Seine allowed for incredible Parisian scenes, as they passed storied landmarks on their journey to the end of the Parade of Nations at the Trocadero, with an Olympic-rings-adorned Eiffel Tower serving as the backdrop. The famous landmark was lit up in all its glory, a veritable beacon on what could have been a dreary night.

It was a strong preview of what the rest of the Games will look like as the Olympics use some of the city’s most iconic landmarks as backgrounds for competition.

Rain tries to steal the show: Paris’ gray skies opened up about 30 minutes into a three-and-a-half-hour show.

Hundreds of thousands of spectators lined the banks of the River Seine clad in ponchos and rain jackets, and a canopy of umbrellas sprouted up at the first hint of raindrops. But after about an hour of rain coming down in earnest, some exposed onlookers ran for the comfort of hospitality tents and other nearby covered areas. Cameras caught the occasional thinning of the crowd along the riverside.

But the Olympic spirit did not wilt in the rain. Athletes looked beyond excited to wave to the crowds, and France truly seemed to embrace the Games.

Celine Dion returns: After a stunning light show on the Eiffel Tower, one of the most iconic singers of the last several decades, made her return to performing after four years. Celine Dion has has been battling stiff person syndrome, a rare neurological condition.

Canadian singer Celine Dion performs Edith Piaf’s “Hymne À L’Amour,” one of the French singer’s most well-known songs, on the Eiffel Tower at the end of the ceremony.

Her performance of “L’Hymne à l’amour” closed the ceremony in stunning fashion. Clad in magnificent white, Dion’s performance drew goosebumps as she rolled back the years and her incredible voice echoed along the Seine.

A Paris party on a Friday night: A long dance break in the middle of the show encapsulated the vibe that much of the show took on: It was party time in the French capital.

Plenty of techno and Europop music accompanied colorful dancers wearing all sorts of rave outfits – including one singer fully painted blue singing on a bed of flowers.

The opening ceremony included performances from the heavy metal band Gojira, French mezzo-soprano opera singer Axelle Saint-Cirel, and Lady Gaga, who sang a fresh take on the song “Mon truc en plumes,” originally by iconic French artist Zizi Jeanmaire.

A magnificent torch lighting: Carried by scores of French athletes and other famous Olympians of now and yesteryear – including Zinedine Zidane, Rafael Nadal (who carried the torch on a boat down the Seine), Serena Williams (who rode next to Nadal), Carl Lewis and Tony Parker, the torch was lit by judo star Teddy Riner and 400-meter sprinter Marie-José Pérec.

And when the Olympic flame burst into its cauldron, which was attached to a giant balloon, it began to float.

The cauldron, with the Olympic flame lit, lifts off while attached to a balloon at the Jardin des Tuileries.

Andy Murray trains at Roland-Garros Stadium in Paris on July 25.

This year’s Olympics in Paris will be Andy Murray’s fifth – and final – appearance at the Games.

Now, the competition will look a little different for Murray – the only man in history to win two Olympic singles gold medals – as he has withdrawn from that event, and announced his retirement from the sport itself once his run at Roland Garros ends.

But the British three-time grand slam champion will still play doubles alongside Dan Evans in what will be his last professional hurrah.

Murray says he has played “some of my best tennis when I’ve competed for my country,” he told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour.

“The dynamics are quite different here being part of a huge team and representing your country, but I’ve always fed off that. I’ve really enjoyed the whole team.

While Murray doesn’t know who he will face in the Olympics, he adds that it would be “fun” to play against Spain’s Rafael Nadal and Carlos Alcaraz in the doubles.

Watch Amanpour’s interview with Murray:

Video Ad Feedback

8206e3ad-8273-4c11-b56c-12f8c28cf765.mp4

01:48 - Source: cnn

Read the full story.