By There will be something for everyone at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games this summer.
With 32 sports crammed into 17 days of action, the schedule is jam-packed – in fact, there’s so much going on that it can sometimes be hard to decide what to watch or listen to… which you can do on talkSPORT with live Olympics coverage throughout July.
Fear not, for the top ten best Olympic sports to watch this summer have been ranked here on talkSPORT.com.
From the traditional sports such as athletics, swimming and cycling, to modern additions skateboarding, surfing and newcomer ‘breaking’ – it’s all here.
10. Tennis
The Olympic tennis tournament will take place on the renowned clay courts of Roland-Garros and promises a star-studded line up.
In the men’s event, Novak Djokovic is set to target the Olympic gold medal that has always evaded him, while Andy Murray is keen to earn a third Olympic title in what is expected to be his final season before retirement.
In the women’s tournament, Naomi Osaka has said she would love to play at the Olympics and will likely be desperate to rectify her third-round exit during a home Games at Tokyo 2020. From a British perspective, Emma Raducanu will have the best chance of a gold medal as she looks to add to her 2021 US Open title.
There are so many intriguing narratives set to unfold at the tennis tournament at Paris 2024 that it is well worth a watch.
11
9. Breaking
Breaking – more commonly known as breakdancing – is set to make its Olympic debut at Paris 2024. The fast-paced and exciting sport sees B-Boys and B-Girls show off their best moves during 60-second ‘throw downs’.
Their routines will then be scored by a panel of judges, who will use six criteria to evaluate the performances – creativity, personality, technique, variety, stage presence and musicality.
Part dance, part gymnastics, breaking is like no sport ever seen before at the Olympic Games. For that reason alone, it’s worth tuning into this summer.
11
8. Basketball
There are two versions of basketball to watch this summer – the traditional 5×5 format and the shorter 3×3 format.
The 5×5 tournament will feature some of the world’s biggest basketball stars, particularly those representing the United States. NBA icons such as LeBron James, Steph Curry, Kevin Durant and Joel Embiid are expected to compete, while Nikola Jokic will likely be playing for Serbia and the 7ft 4in Victor Wembanyama for hosts France.
In the women’s tournament, American stars such as Sabrina Ionescu, Brittney Griner, Breanna Stewart, Diana Taurasi and A’ja Wilson are likely to feature.
The 3×3 tournament will also be an exciting watch. Played on one half of a basketball court, both teams attack and defend the same hoop, producing an exciting and fast-paced game.
11
7. Sport Climbing
After making its debut at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, it’s become the general consensus that sport climbing is one of the most compelling sports to watch at the Games.
The speed event is particularly thrilling to witness, with climbers taking part in one-on-one elimination rounds that requires scaling a 15 metre high wall as fast as they can.
The lead and bouldering events may be slower, but they are more intriguing as the climbers work out the best way to get to the top of the wall. Sport climbing may be one of the more recent additions to the Games, but it is quickly becoming very popular.
11
6. Skateboarding
Skateboarding is another recent addition to the Olympic Games, debuting at Tokyo 2020. It is a truly spectacular sport, with athletes required to perform their best skills in either the park or street competition.
The park arena features bowls and bends, giving skaters the ability to pull off big moves in the air. In contrast, the street event requires skating over obstacles, rails, stairs and slopes.
The kits are colourful, the skateboarders are incredibly impressive and Britain even has a great chance of medalling through teenage sensation Sky Brown. What more could you want?
11
5. Surfing
The surfing competition at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games will be worth watching for the location alone – it will take place on the picturesque waves of Teahupo’o, a quaint fishing village on the French Polynesian island of Tahiti.
While the village may be quiet, it boasts some of the most powerful waves in the world. Surfers will perform manoeuvres and tricks on this wave to impress the judges, so expect some incredible skills on display.
Despite taking place 9,500 miles from Paris, the surfing competition is a must-watch during the Games.
11
4. Gymnastics
Gymnastics has been on the Olympic programme at every single Games since the first edition in 1896, and for good reason. Spectators watch in wonder as gymnasts pull off seemingly-impossible feats, displaying unbelievable strength, balance and flexibility.
There will be three disciplines of gymnastics on display at Paris 2024 – artistic, rhythmic and trampoline.
All three are equally electrifying and action-packed, but most eyes will be on artistic gymnastics as Simone Biles attempts to add to her already-impressive tally of Olympic gold medals.
11
3. Aquatics
Swimming is responsible for the greatest Olympian of all time, and although Michael Phelps no longer competes, it’s still possible to witness remarkable athletic ability in the pool during the Games.
This will be no different at Paris 2024, with Britain’s Adam Peaty even aiming to match Phelps by earning three successive Olympic gold medals in one individual event
There are even a few more water-based sports to watch outside of swimming. Diving, marathon swimming, artistic swimming and water polo also come under the umbrella of aquatics, making it one of the most diverse and interesting sports to watch at the Olympic Games.
11
2. Cycling
Whether it’s the thrill of seeing bikes hurtle around a velodrome or the intriguing spectacle of a road race, cycling at the Olympic Games is always a great watch.
Recent additions to the sport’s Olympic programme has made it even more exciting, with mountain biking, BMX racing and BMX freestyle all now included in the schedule.
BMX freestyle is particularly action-packed, with tricks including from spins, flips, grinds, barspins and tailwhips. Britain even has a reigning Olympic champion in the event after Charlotte Worthington struck gold at Tokyo 2020.
11
1. Athletics
There may be 32 sports at the Olympic Games, but there is one that absolutely everyone will tune in to watch at least once. Athletics is the crown jewel of the programme, producing excitement and drama in nearly every event.
The 100 metre race is often the most highly-anticipated, with American duo Noah Lyles and Christian Coleman among the contenders for the gold medal in the men’s event. The women’s race is even more star-studded, with Elaine Thompson-Herah, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce and Sha’Carri Richardson all expected to make the final.
The action unfolding at the Stade de France in Paris is going to be unmissable.
11
The Olympics are on talkSPORT this summer, and you can tune in via our free online streaming service at talkSPORT.com
