◆ 2024 Paris Olympics ◆
800 rooms hotel for rent
Samoa boxing coach suffers heart attack
Nigeria Ogunsemilore
Second banned doping detected at tournament
LeBron James, the superstar of the U.S. basketball team that participated in the Paris Olympics [AP=연합뉴스]
The 2024 Paris Olympics opened with the first-ever outdoor opening ceremony. Along with the fierce competition for gold medals, there are endless stories and incidents that capture the attention of sports fans around the world.
First of all, the generous budget that naturally elicits an exclamation of ‘wow’ is a hot topic. The top stars of the US national basketball team, known to have an annual salary of 620 billion won and an annual income of over 830 billion won, are once again in the spotlight for their generous spending. The US economic magazine Forbes reported on the 28th (Korean time), “The US national basketball team has rented an entire 800-room luxury hotel in Paris.” It added, “Not only the players and coaches, but also the players’ families, support staff, national team staff, and NBA staff can accommodate a large number of people, and the remaining rooms can be used by players of other sports.”
The so-called ‘Dream Team’ spent $15 million on living expenses during the Olympics, including hotels. That’s about 20.8 billion won. For reference, other U.S. teams’ Olympic stay budgets are around $300,000 to $400,000.
The U.S. basketball team, which boasts enormous salaries, has been moving separately since the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, when they first participated. They even rented a luxury cruise ship and used it as accommodation for the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. There is criticism that it is a ‘showing off of money,’ but since it is a gathering of world-class top stars, it is interpreted as a special measure to protect their privacy and condition, as the media and fans flock there.
Meanwhile, there were also athletes who packed their bags after being caught using banned substances ahead of the match. The International Testing Agency (ITA) announced on this day that Nigerian female boxer Cynthia Ogunsemilore (22) had tested positive for drugs and was banned from competing. She is the second athlete to do so, following Iraqi male judoka Sajad Sehen (28), and the first female athlete. The drug Ogunsemilore was caught using is prosemide, a diuretic, but it is also used as a masking agent to hide the presence of other drugs.
There is an outpouring of condolences following the news of a coach who died of a heart attack before even watching his beloved athlete compete. AFP and other sources reported that “Samoan coach Lionel Elika Fatufito passed away from a heart attack in the athletes’ village on the 27th ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony,” and that “Coach Fatufito received emergency treatment but eventually passed away.” Coach Fatufito, who passed away at the age of 60, was the coach of Samoan national boxing team member Ato Flodzitski Paoagali (25). Paoagali posted a photo taken with Coach Fatufito at the athletes’ village on her social media and wrote, “Words cannot express how I feel. May Coach Fatufito rest in peace.” The International Boxing Association (IBA) also said on its website, “We express our condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of Coach Fatufito, who passed away at the Paris Olympics.”
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◆ 2024 Paris Olympics ◆
800-room hotel for rent
Samoan boxing coach suffers heart attack
Nigeria’s Ogunsemilore
Second instance of banned doping detected at the tournament
news/cms/202407/28/news-p.v1.20240728.c9096eb72dfe46c6a18001630e895eeb_R.png" data-width="1200" data-height="800"/> Enlarge the photo LeBron James, the superstar of the U.S. basketball team that participated in the Paris Olympics [AP=연합뉴스]
The 2024 Paris Olympics opened with its first-ever outdoor opening ceremony. Alongside the fierce competition for gold medals, there are numerous stories and events capturing the attention of sports fans worldwide.
Firstly, the substantial budget, which naturally incites an exclamation of ‘wow,’ has become a hot topic. The top stars of the U.S. national basketball team, known to earn an annual salary of 620 billion won and an annual income exceeding 830 billion won, are once again in the spotlight for their extravagant expenditures. The U.S. economic magazine Forbes reported on the 28th (Korean time), stating that “the U.S. national basketball team has rented an entire 800-room luxury hotel in Paris.” It added, “This accommodation can house not only the players and coaches but also their families, support staff, national team personnel, and NBA staff, with remaining rooms available for athletes of other sports.”
The so-called ‘Dream Team’ allocated $15 million for living expenses during the Olympics, including hotel accommodations, roughly equating to 20.8 billion won. For comparison, other U.S. teams’ budgets for their Olympic stays range from $300,000 to $400,000.
Since their first participation in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, the U.S. basketball team, known for its enormous salaries, has been traveling separately. They even chartered a luxury cruise ship to accommodate team members during the 2004 Athens Olympics and the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. While some criticize this as ‘showing off wealth,’ it is also viewed as a necessary measure to maintain the privacy and condition of world-class stars, who are constantly surrounded by media and fans.
In the meantime, some athletes had to pack their bags after being found guilty of using banned substances before the competition. The International Testing Agency (ITA) announced that Nigerian female boxer Cynthia Ogunsemilore (22) tested positive for drugs and has been banned from competition. She is the second athlete to face such a consequence, following Iraqi male judoka Sajad Sehen (28), and the first female athlete to be penalized. Ogunsemilore’s substance of use is prosemide, a diuretic that can also serve as a masking agent to conceal the presence of other drugs.
Following the news of a coach’s death from a heart attack before witnessing his cherished athlete compete, condolences have been pouring in. AFP and other outlets reported that “Samoan coach Lionel Elika Fatufito passed away from a heart attack in the athletes’ village on the 27th, just ahead of the Olympic opening ceremony,” noting that “Coach Fatufito received emergency treatment but ultimately succumbed.” The 60-year-old coach was mentoring Samoan national boxing team member Ato Flodzitski Paoagali (25). Paoagali shared a photo with Coach Fatufito on her social media, expressing, “Words cannot convey my feelings. May Coach Fatufito rest in peace.” The International Boxing Association (IBA) also conveyed its condolences on its website, stating, “We extend our sympathies to Coach Fatufito’s family, friends, and colleagues, who mourn his passing at the Paris Olympics.”
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2024 Paris Olympics: Unprecedented Events and Controversies
800 rooms hotel for rent
Samoa boxing coach suffers heart attack
Nigeria’s Ogunsemilore banned
Second doping violation detected at tournament
news/cms/202407/28/news-p.v1.20240728.c9096eb72dfe46c6a18001630e895eeb_R.png" data-width="1200" data-height="800"/>
Enlarge the photo
LeBron James, the superstar of the U.S. basketball team that participated in the Paris Olympics [AP=연합뉴스]
The 2024 Paris Olympics has commenced with a historic opening ceremony, marking the first-ever outdoor event of its kind. The spotlight is not only on the athletic prowess but also on the multiple stories, incidents, and controversies that have captivated sports enthusiasts worldwide.
The Lavish Accommodations of the U.S. Basketball Team
The U.S. national basketball team, known for its star-studded lineup and significant budget, has attracted attention with extravagant spending during the event. Forbes reported that the team rented an entire 800-room luxury hotel in Paris.
Finances of the Dream Team
- The team’s accommodation is designed to host players, coaches, families, and support staff.
- The total estimated living expenses during the Olympics, including the hotel stay, amount to about $15 million (approximately 20.8 billion won).
- For comparison, other U.S. Olympic teams typically budget around $300,000 to $400,000 for their stay.
It’s fascinating to note how the Dream Team has set trends since its initial participation in the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Previously, they have even utilized luxury cruise ships as exclusive accommodations during international competitions, emphasizing their dedication to privacy and optimal performance conditions.
Controversies and Doping Scandals
This year’s Olympics have not been free from controversies. As athletes prepare to compete, the implications of doping violations are significant. The International Testing Agency (ITA) revealed that Nigerian boxer Cynthia Ogunsemilore faced a ban after testing positive for a banned substance.
Details of the Doping Case
- Ogunsemilore is the second athlete to be banned following Iraqi judoka Sajad Sehen’s earlier suspension.
- The substance in question is prosemide, commonly utilized as a diuretic and sometimes as a masking agent for other performance-enhancing drugs.
An Unfortunate Loss: Heart Attack of a Coach
In a tragic incident overshadowing the excitement of the Olympics, Samoan boxing coach Lionel Elika Fatufito passed away from a heart attack shortly before the opening ceremony.
Community Response
Ato Flodzitski Paoagali, Fatufito’s athlete, shared her sorrow on social media, stating, “Words cannot express how I feel. May Coach Fatufito rest in peace.”
The International Boxing Association (IBA) expressed condolences on their platform for the loss of Coach Fatufito, who was dedicated to his athletes’ success.
Summary of Key Events and Incidents at the Paris Olympics
| Event | Date | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Opening Ceremony | July 2024 | First-ever outdoor ceremony |
| Hotel Rental by U.S. Team | July 2024 | 800-room luxury hotel rented for $15 million |
| Doping Violation | July 2024 | Cynthia Ogunsemilore banned for prosemide use |
| Coach’s Death | July 27, 2024 | Coach Lionel Elika Fatufito dies before opening ceremony |
Future of the Paris Olympics
The 2024 Paris Olympics promises further excitement and challenges as the world watches the games unfold amid these compelling narratives. From athletes demonstrating exceptional talent to ensuring fairness, the Olympics continue to be a platform reflecting both the triumphs and tribulations inherent in sports.
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