Los Angeles is Up Next as Host of the 2028 Summer Games. How Will LA Beat the Paris Olympics’ Opening Ceremony?
Just imagine it: my family, spanning three generations, sitting glued to the TV, living in that sweet digital haze of Olympic obsession. And why? Because we wouldn’t dream of missing the grand finale of the Paris Olympics. We’ll remember these Games for a plethora of viral moments that hijacked our screens and our free time, transforming us into living, breathing memes.
However, let’s talk about something a bit more grounded: the aftertaste of the 2024 Summer Games and the questions that linger in the air.
‘I Don’t Believe It. I’m Scoring At Least Once.’ The Olympics Table Tennis Moment We Need to Know More About.
Picture it: July 26, the evening of the Olympic opening ceremony. NBA superstar Steph Curry swaps pins with unknown Olympians like it’s a campfire kumbaya. He then bumps into the U.S. women’s table tennis team. Curry, acting like he’s found the Holy Grail, drags his starstruck new friends over to meet his mostly African American basketball teammates. Anthony Edwards, Mr. ‘I-can-do-anything,’ gets challenged by Olympic veteran Lily Zhang. With a grin, she basically says, ‘Bring it.’
Next thing you know, Instagram explodes. People want this match to happen. But alas, the mythical showdown remains a dream.
When Will We See Ant Play Ping-Pong with Lily?
Edwards showed up to cheer Zhang on as she climbed the ladder to the round of 16. Kudos to the NBA team for inviting the ping-pong squad to their practice. They exchanged trinkets, autographs, and a lot of goodwill. But let’s not forget: U.S. Major League Table Tennis could seriously use an NBA-level publicity boost. It’s time to put us mortals out of our misery and make this exhibition match happen!
Then there’s the swirling mystery of…
Where’s Russian Figure Skater Kamila Valieva?
Remember February 2022, during the Beijing Winter Games? I wrote a savage column that could’ve been a villain’s monologue: ‘I have never wanted a 15-year-old to fail so much in my life.’ Why? Because Valieva’s positive drug test turned me, a previously adoring fan, into a hater.
Fast forward, and the 2022 U.S. Olympic figure skating team finally gets their gold medals, much to everyone’s relief, at the Eiffel Tower. But Valieva? MIA. What’s she up to now? Brooding in some dark corner, scheming, perhaps?
Olympics Gender Equality vs. Gender-Blind Sports
The Paris Games boasted gender parity for the first time ever. But hold up—when are we going full gender-neutral? In a 2016 editorial wrapping up the Rio Summer Games, we argued for men and women to compete head-to-head in shooting. Why? Because back in 1976, Margaret Thompson Murdock and Lanny Bassham were neck and neck in small-bore rifle competition. When Bassham was awarded gold, he graciously shared the podium, recognizing her equal prowess.
Shooting remains one of the few collegiate sports where gender doesn’t matter. The same goes for equestrian events where, fun fact, horses don’t give a darn about the rider’s gender. So why should a gun? Time for a reboot, IOC.
How Will Los Angeles Beat the Paris Olympics’ Opening Ceremony?
The closing ceremony in Paris, with its boats parading down the River Seine, set a high bar. But L.A., it’s on you next. The whispers in the wind tell me we’ve got Tom Cruise ready to pull off some death-defying stunt. Hollywood, don’t let us down—bring your A-game.
Paris has upped the ante, and now it’s time for America to show what we’ve got. I’m counting on L.A. to not just meet but absolutely crush those expectations. And IOC, you better be ready for my questions because we’re coming for answers. Over and out.
