• Slug: Sports–Drag Community Reaction Olympics, 830 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Abilgail Scott
Cronkite News

PARIS – A man painted entirely in blue sits on top of a lavish table, surrounded by people in extravagant, festive outfits. To many, the scene feels like a modern twist on a Dionysian feast, with everyone enjoying rich food and wine in a lively, joyful atmosphere that channels the spirit of the Greek god of celebration.

Others saw the recent Paris Olympics’ opening ceremony in a different light, suggesting it attacked Christianity and questioned its inclusion of drag queens in the event, prompting many in that community to come to the show’s defense.

“This is very French, to be provocative, because in France we read Voltaire literature and Enlightenment literature, which is always making fun of religion, making fun of the president,” said Lola von Flame, a performer at Madame Arthur, a renowned cabaret venue in Paris, who added that satire and challenging authority are important in French culture. Continue reading “As closing ceremony nears, Paris drag community offers support of artistic Olympic celebrations”

• Slug: Sports–Refugee Olympic Team, 640 words.
• 4 photos available.

By Tyler Bednar
Cronkite News

PARIS – Although boxer Cindy Ngamba grew up in Cameroon, she became a refugee in 2021 because she faced imprisonment in her home country.

Why?

Because she came out as gay. Continue reading “Once facing imprisonment, Refugee Olympic Team boxer Cindy Ngamba now eyes gold medal”

• Slug: Sports–Notre Dame Cathedral, 840 words.
• 4 photos available.

By David Bernauer
Cronkite News

PARIS – April 15, 2019, is a date many Parisians can never forget.

“We heard lots of sirens here and we knew there was something big going on,” said Marleen Soto, a local tour guide.

Notre Dame, one of the planet’s finest examples of gothic architecture, a world landmark and the site of millions of visitors, was up in flames. Continue reading “Visitors still flock to see Notre Dame amid the gothic cathedral’s speedy reconstruction during Paris Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–Olympics Breaking Debut, 1,500 words.
• 4 photos available.

By Devon Henderson
Cronkite News

PARIS – Few expressions of human creativity are as freeing as art, and dancing is surely one of its most taxing forms.

Break dancing – officially called breaking – has long been a powerful form of self-expression for urban youth. Originating in New York City, kids have been popping and locking to whatever the currently charting hip-hop tracks were since the late 1960s and early 1970s. Breaking – while at times can be aggressive – is an interactive, intimate, liberating and spiritual connection between the music and dancers.

It makes it Olympics debut Friday at La Concorde Urban Park in the heart of Paris. Continue reading “Breaking boundaries: Breakdancing’s Olympic debut bringing street culture to the world stage”

• Slug: Sports–Olympics Breaking L.A. Snub, 710 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Melanie Hogue
Cronkite News

PARIS – Snoop Dogg isn’t the only one looking forward to breaking’s debut at the Olympics this year. Unfortunately for the darling of the Paris Games, he won’t get to see the sport in 2028 when the Summer Games land in Los Angeles, his home city.

The inclusion of sports such as breaking are part of a flexible process to align with the goals of each host city’s organizing committee, which “proposes events that it feels are fit their vision for their specific edition of the Games,” an IOC spokesman said in an email.

Instead, Los Angeles selected cricket, flag football, lacrosse, squash and baseball/softball. In addition to breaking, karate, motorsport and kickboxing were rejected. Continue reading “L.A.’s decision to snub breaking in 2028 Olympics will follow likely show-stopping effort in Paris”

• Slug: Sports–Paris Olympics Mascot, 864 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Tyler Bednar
Cronkite News

PARIS – Those walking around one of Paris’ many districts often notice a small, red stuffed animal hat with big blue eyes and eyelashes that represent France’s flag.

The Phryge is this year’s Paris Games’ mascot. It inspired the Phrygian Cap, which fans are wearing throughout Paris.

The cap is influential in French history. It’s prominently associated with the French public in 1789, during the French Revolution. The Storming of the Bastille is one of the most important events in which the cap was worn. Continue reading “Phrygees: One Paris Olympics mascot sports running blade to promote inclusivity, another symbolizes liberty”

• Slug: Sports–Team USA WBB Balance, 900 words.
• Photo available.

By Doyal D’angelo
Cronkite News

PARIS – From sitting courtside with Snoop Dogg to fan-girling over Simon Biles, the U.S. women’s basketball team is determined to make the most of its time on and off the court.

Team USA, which takes on Nigeria Wednesday, understands part of bonding with teammates is what you do on the court, but also what happens off the court. Participating in the Olympics is an experience that athletes recognize is rare, and seeing other athletes perform makes them become like everyone else watching at home – a fan.

This approach to balance is paying off. The U.S. women beat Nigeria 88-74 in the quarterfinals Wednesday behind A’ja Wilson’s 20 points and 11 rebounds.

Las Vegas Aces center Wilson, the WNBA’s leading scorer and the most productive player alongside Breanna Stewart, says it’s amazing to be among other Olympians across other sports, particularly pointing to a moment she met Katie Ledecky. She was also thrilled to meet gymnast Biles, as her appreciation of the moment is clear. Continue reading “From hanging with Snoop to fangirling over athletes, the U.S. women’s basketball team seeks balance during Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–Suns Popularity France, 800 words.
• 4 photos available.

By David Bernauer
Cronkite News

LILLE, France – A large swath of fans in Lille gather along portable barricades outside the Team USA hotel, L’Hermitage Gantois, hoping to catch a glimpse of the towering men’s basketball players boarding the team bus to Pierre Mauroy Stadium.

“DBook I’m Your Biggest French Fan,” says one sign carried by Axel Grégoire, a local resident.

“I love this team, and I love Devin Booker and Team USA,” Grégoire said before the team’s recent game against Puerto Rico. “I’m very grateful because I look (at the NBA app) all day during my year, and now it’s here in Lille, in my city. So it’s very, very nice.” Continue reading “‘I mean, I love them’: Suns fans from around globe head to Lille to see Devin Booker, Kevin Durant at Paris Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–Archer Brady Ellison, 620 words.
• Photo available.

By Lux Butler
Cronkite News

PARIS – Five-time Olympic archer Brady Ellison narrowly missed winning the gold medal Sunday. However, for his wife, Toja Ellison, and his devoted supporters in Arizona, he remains a champion.

Brady, an Arizona native, has represented his country on the world stage numerous times in his career. This summer, he brought home the silver medal in the men’s individual and the bronze in the mixed team doubles alongside women’s archer Casey Kauffold.

His silver came after an epic five-set battle with South Korea’s Kim Woojin. Continue reading “On target: Arizona archer Brady Ellison captures silver medal in Paris Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–Rocky Harris USOPC ASU, 900 words.
• Photo available.

By Abigail Scott
Cronkite News

PARIS – Lost in the celebratory scene of the Team USA boat floating down the Seine – somewhere behind LeBron James doing his Washington crossing the Delware impression – stood a misty-eyed Rocky Harris.

“I was getting really emotional over and over again that I couldn’t believe I’m there,” Harris said about his Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony experience.

Twenty five years ago, he was an Arizona State student contemplating what to do with his life. Today he is the Chief of Sport and Athlete Services with the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee, second on the organizational chart behind CEO Sarah Hirshland and managing a staff of 300. Continue reading “From ASU student to Olympics executive: Rocky Harris credits lessons learned in Tempe for USOPC success”

• Slug: Sports–On-Tap Cocktail Bar Paris, 650 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Becca Glantz
Cronkite News

PARIS – With the Summer Olympics in full swing, many are scoping out what the go-to bars and nightclubs are in the City of Light. Opening just over a year ago, The Honey Moon Paris – the first Parisian all-on-tap cocktail bar – is attracting international visitors in the 11th arrondissement.

Although the concept of serving only cocktails from custom taps isn’t new, the idea only really started picking up steam in the past decade. The approach has received some pushback, especially from bartenders who believe it took away from the art of crafting drinks, but it also found success, like at Brooklyn’s Yours Sincerely that opened in 2016. More could be opening in Arizona.

Continue reading “Cocktails only on tap? The Honey Moon Paris’ modern approach to mixology on display during Olympics”

• Slug: Sports–Sunkist Wrestling Olympics Finale, 700 words.
• 2 photos available.

By Walker Smith
Cronkite News

PARIS – Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club, a powerhouse in the wrestling world, has produced talent that has won more than 120 world and Olympic medals. In February, the program’s owner announced he would close the organization’s doors following the 2024 Paris Olympics, ending a dominant USA wrestling run.

It’s particularly poignant during the final week of the Paris Games as wrestling competition begins Monday.

Five competitors for Team USA are representing Sunkist for the last time on the Olympic mat as the club’s last dance before founder Art Martori discontinues the team after the games. Continue reading “Five Sunkist Kids Wrestling Club competitors take mat in Paris Olympics before organization shuts down”

• Slug: Sports–Paris Bicycling Infrastructure, 1,350 words.
• Photo available.

By Zach Bradshaw
Cronkite News

PARIS – The City of Light has become a “gold medal” example of modern bicycle infrastructure, making transportation during the Summer Olympics more accessible than ever.

Improvements to existing infrastructure has allowed the French capital city to also be widely known as the capital city of biking.

“It’s pretty great,” said Hannah Warmerdam, a Paris-based bike tour guide who works at Holland Bikes Tours & Rentals in Paris. “I mean, the biking infrastructure in France restarted in Paris.” Continue reading “Paris’ bicycling infrastructure a model that Phoenix, Los Angeles should copy, officials say”

• Slug: Sports–Paris Olympics to Normandy, 823 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Scott Sandull
Cronkite News

NORMANDY – “American?”

My attention on the calm, crashing waves and steep cliffs in front of me was halted by a distinct yet clear French accent. Looking back, I found a middle-aged male, decked out in “Team France” gear at the height of the Summer Olympics. His hand shot out of a cannon to meet mine, finishing the unexpected exchange with overwhelming gratitude.

“Thank you for what you did for our country,” he said.

He may have looked me, a 21-year-old journalism student, in the eye when expressing his compassion, but his sentiments would have been far more appropriate for the man who once wore the dog tag that now dangles around my neck.  Continue reading “A young journalist leaves the comfort of the Paris Games for an emotional journey to Normandy”

• Slug: Sports–Paris Housing Crisis, 823 words.
• 3 photos available.

By Abigail Scott
Cronkite News

PARIS – Under the spotlight of the Olympic Games, Paris’ attempt to keep middle- and lower-income residents in the heart of the city has taken center stage as concerns about gentrification grow.

One of the densest cities in the world, Paris has spent the past 20 years working to increase housing for those in need through public housing and protect residents from rising rental prices.

Parisian homeowners leaving their properties empty for much of the year or turning them into short-term rentals for tourists have complicated the issue. The government is focused on tighter regulations, including city approval requirements for Airbnb-type rentals, which are now restricted to short periods. Continue reading “The cost of living in Paris: Olympics put spotlight on city working to find affordable living solutions”

• Slug: Sports–Griner Reacts Prisoners Swap, 500 words.
• Photo available.

By Lux Butler
Cronkite News

PARIS – Twenty months after her own release, Brittany Griner called a historic prisoner exchange between the United States and Russia “a huge win.”

The swap included former marine Paul Whelan and journalist Evan Gershkovich in a multi-country deal that freed 24 people.

“Great day,” Phoenix Mercury center Griner said Thursday after Team USA’s victory over Belgium in Lille. “I’m sure it will be even more emotional a little later on. Yeah, I’m just happy. This was a big win. … I know they have an amazing group of people that are going to help them out, them and their families.”

Continue reading “Emotional Mercury center Brittney Griner calls U.S.-Russia prisoner swamp a ‘huge win’”

• Slug: Sports–Olympics Golf Valley Ties, 1,100 words.
• Photo available.
• Video available.

By Doyal D’angelo
Cronkite News

PARIS – Cierra Burdick has a long and successful history with Team USA, yet she is in the middle of her debut at the Paris Olympics and is serving as the veteran for a 3×3 team on its quest for a repeat title.

Burdick, 30, says her preparation for a different version of the sport does not change. The former Phoenix Mercury forward fell in love with basketball at an early age and still loves it.

Her international footprint started all the way back when she appeared on the 2009 USA U16 national team, winning a FIBA gold medal in the process. Since then, she has appeared on many international 5×5 and 3×3 teams throughout her career, winning six gold medals in total and capturing other tournament titles.

Continue reading “Former Mercury forward Cierra Burdick find success with Team USA women’s 3×3 basketball”

• Slug: Sports–Suns Players Team USA, 1,000 words.
• Photo  available.

By Devon Henderson
Cronkite News

PARIS – Team USA men’s basketball has assembled what some call one of the country’s best ever for the Paris Olympics, and they needed a heavy contribution from the Phoenix Suns to do it. On a team filled with transcendent NBA All-Stars on a 12-deep roster, having standout contributions can be nearly impossible.

In its first three Olympic group stage games, all wins, Suns guard Devin Booker was featured in the starting lineup. On Wednesday in a 103-86 win against South Sudan, Suns forward Kevin Durant led the team in scoring with 23 points and logged the second-most minutes played with just under 22. The only player with more game time was Booker with just over 22 minutes. On Saturday during a 104-73 win over Puerto Rico, the pair combined for 20 points.

A team featuring headline last names such as James, Curry, Tatum and Edwards has deferred to relying on the influence of the stars from the Valley of the Sun. The Team USA women’s basketball team also pulls strength from the Desert as three Phoenix Mercury players – Diana Taurasi, Brittney Griner, and Kahleah Copper – represent a fourth of that 12-person team. These Olympics have showcased the growing influence the 48th state has had on the basketball landscape. Continue reading “‘We got Phoenix all over’: Suns’ Booker, Durant lead charge of strong Valley representation in Olympics basketball”