olympics
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Snoop Dogg is stepping out in style for the 2024 Summer Olympics. The Doggfather sported custom gold Skechers as he watched Team USA’s men’s swim team win its first gold medal at the Paris Olympics on Saturday (July 27).
The Team USA men’s team — comprised of Caeleb Dressel, Chris Guiliano, Jack Alexy and Hunter Armstrong — won the 4×100 freestyle relay. Snoop was seated with Dressel’s family as the team took home gold.
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“Gold shoes, gold medal,” Snoop told NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico after the big win. “We got our first gold medal! I felt good being there with the Dressel family, baby. All gold everything,” added Snoop while showing off his gold shoes and chains. “We’re trying to come home with everything this weekend man. “
“I’m still excited from the atmosphere,” Snoop explained of attending his very first live swimming event. “Just seeing them swim, seeing them tag on and off. The energy of hearing so many different national anthems, and then being able to finally hear mine? Oh my God.”
Snoop has been making the rounds at this year’s Olympics. He attended the U.S. Women’s Gymnastics competition on Sunday and debuted his one-of-a-kind sneakers from the Skechers x Snoop Paris collection while carrying the Olympic torch to its destination on Friday.
Made from a premium snake-embossed gold leather, the high-top sneaker features the French flag, gold laces, a Paris-inspired logo and the signature “S” logo on the outsole.
Skechers teamed with Snoop to craft an exclusive collection for him to wear while he covers the Paris Olympics. The five-piece collection of high-top sneakers features “carefully placed easter eggs” with design nods to the Olympic Games and Snoop’s West Coast roots.
Snoop Dogg x Skechers Paris Olympics
Courtesy of Skechers
Unfortunately, Snoop’s custom kicks aren’t for sale, but fans can shop the Skechers x Snoop Dogg: Low Slider collection, the latest drop from Snoop’s on-going collaboration with Skechers.
Snoop’s slides are made with the Skecher’s Luxe Foam midsole cushioning and available in various designs including paisley prints and Snoop’s NFT persona, Dr. Bombay.
The Low Sliders collection is available at Skechers.com and select retail stores.
Flavor Flav‘s official Olympic hype-man duties included personally greeting Dr. Jill Biden at the U.S. women’s water polo match Saturday (July 27). In a sweet video shared by the rapper on social media, he excitedly cheers as the first lady and her family enter the premises, immediately wrapping her in a hug. Both were there […]
The flames, the double kick drums blast beats, the headless Mario Antoinettes, the opera singer on a giant boat. There was nothing about French heavy metal band Gojira‘s set during Friday’s glittering opening ceremony for the 2024 Summer Olympics that you could have predicted from the first hard rock band to ever take the stage […]
While there was plenty to celebrate at the 2024 Olympic Opening Ceremony, Christians took issue with one particular section of the extravaganza.
In one moment of the hours-long parade, famed DJ Barbara Butch performed alongside a large group of drag queens (including Nicky Doll, the host of Drag Race France) and created a tableau in which all of them appeared to be seated behind a large, long table. Some viewers quickly drew comparisons between the tableau and Leonardo da Vinci’s iconic painting The Last Supper, which then drew ire from conservative Christians who called the performance disrespectful and even “blasphemous.”
One group who denounced the performance was the French Catholic Church’s conference of bishops, who described the moment as “scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity” and said that “our thoughts are with all the Christians from all continents who were hurt by the outrage and provocation of certain scenes.”
As the criticism was occurring online, the official X account for the Olympic Games shared some further photos from the performance for context, showing that the scene was meant to depict the feast of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine and revelry. “The interpretation of the Greek God Dionysus makes us aware of the absurdity of violence between human beings,” the statement read.
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In an interview with the Associated Press, the show’s artistic director Thomas Jolly defended the tableau, saying that he wanted the performance to represent the “the right to love each other, as we want and with who we want.” “My wish isn’t to be subversive, nor to mock or to shock. Most of all, I wanted to send a message of love, a message of inclusion and not at all to divide.”
Olympics spokesperson Anne Descamps answered a question during a Sunday press conference about the backlash to the performance, saying that neither the International Olympic Committee (IOC) nor Jolly had any “intention to show disrespect to any religious group.” Instead, she added, “We really did try to celebrate community tolerance. Looking at the result of the polls that we shared, we believe that this ambition was achieved. If people have taken any offense we are, of course, really, really sorry.”
See the Olympic Games’ tweet regarding the controversial performance below:
Though it definitely made for a soggy journey down the Seine, the steady rain in Paris during Friday night’s lavish opening ceremonies for the 2024 Summer Olympics did not deter Lady Gaga from stealing the show early in the four-hour spectacle. And while Gaga’s eye-popping take on Zizi Jeanmaire’s “Mon Truc en Plumes” (“My Thing With Feathers”) appeared to dodge the raindrops, that’s because it was pre-taped to avoid any potential weather-related issues according to choreographer and head of dance for the Olympics and Paralympics Maud le Pladec.
Le Pladec spoke to Variety about the intense preparations for the song-and-dance routine, explaining that Gaga filmed her performance hours before the athletes’ elaborate boat trip down Paris’ iconic river due to safety reasons. Gaga’s vocals were performed live as she made her way up and down a giant set of stairs along with dancers carrying oversized pom poms.
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Gaga’s was one of a dozen original performances created by Le Pladec and Olympics artistic director Thomas Jolly, with Le Pladec saying that the singer’s four-minute set was easily the “most artistically challenging” of the bunch. “Unfortunately, it was the only [performance] that, for safety reasons, we had to pre-record late in the afternoon, once we knew for sure that it was going to rain — we had minute-by-minute updates, we had never watched the weather forecast so closely in our lives,” Le Pladec said. “We assessed that it was going to be too dangerous for performers, even with a few drops of rain. [Gaga] wanted to do it absolutely so we preferred to pre-record it rather than cancel it.”
Le Pladec said the performance surface, including that giant set of stairs, would have been too slippery for Gaga — who was wearing high heels — to perform on. “We had to be extremely cautious,” Le Pladec said, noting that while she didn’t play live, Gaga was on site during the opening ceremonies and watched her bit on screen from her dressing room before returning to her hotel.
Not long after, Gaga wrote on X, “I am also humbled to be asked by the Olympics organizing committee to sing such a special French song—a song to honor the French people and their tremendous history of art, music, and theatre… Although I am not a French artist, I have always felt a very special connection with French people and singing French music—I wanted nothing more than to create a performance that would warm the heart of France, celebrate French art and music, and on such a momentous occasion remind everyone of one of the most magical cities on earth—Paris.”
Gaga noted that her team rented the pom poms from a “real French cabaret” theater’s archive, collaborated with Dior to create the custom costumes using naturally molted feathers and that she studied French choreography to put her “modern twist” on a French classic. “I rehearsed tirelessly to study a joyful French dance, brushing up on some old skills—I bet you didn’t know I used to dance at a 60’s French party on the lower east side when I was first starting out! I hope you love this performance as much as I do,” she added. “And to everyone in France, thank you so much for welcoming me to your country to sing in honor of you—it’s a gift I’ll never forget! Congratulations to all the athletes who are competing in this year’s Olympic Games! It is my supreme honor to sing for you and cheer you on!! Watching the Olympic Games always makes me cry! Your talent is unimaginable. Let the games begin!”
In keeping with her perfectionist streak, Le Pladec said that the singer was adamant about delivering a spectacle that would feel “authentic” and pay tribute to the French performance tradition. That explains her decision to do a cabaret-style act featuring singing and dancing with a mix of humor and glamour. The choreographer said Gaga — a “workhorse and a perfectionist” — was working until the final moments on her vocals and steps after training for weeks in Los Angeles with a number of dancers who flew in from Paris.
“She wanted to make a show à la Française,” Le Pladec said. “She puts so much effort and thought into everything she does and she has a very developed creative process.”
The party didn’t end after the performance, either. Over the weekend, Gaga also surprised French Little Monsters when she blasted what she said were two new songs from her as yet untitled seventh studio album from a laptop while dancing through the roof of her limo. At press time no additional information was available on those songs.
Taylor Swift‘s live version of “…Ready for It?” from The Eras Tour is the soundtrack to a new NBC commercial promoting the network’s coverage of the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
Swift shared the ad Saturday night (July 27) on Instagram, following her concert at Olympiastadion in Munich, Germany, where she’s performing twice this weekend.
“So ready to scream at my tv cheering for these athletes,” she wrote in an Instagram Story, adding a gold medal emoji to her comment while sharing a reel of the “…Ready for It?” promo.
“Baby Let The Games Begin. #WeAreReadyForIt, @taylorswift. Primetime in Paris: 8/7c on NBC and Peacock #ParisOlympics,” the official NBC Olympics account wrote about the ad themed to Swift’s bold Reputation album opener.
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The spot features U.S. Olympic stars including Noah Lyles, LeBron James, Carissa Moore, Jagger Eaton and more, with Simone Biles appearing at the end of the ad for the 2024 Olympics on NBC.
“Are you guys ready for it?” the famed gymnast asks with a big grin.
The 2024 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony featured performances from Lady Gaga and Celine Dion, as well as a pre-recorded cameo from Beyoncé, who introduced Team USA in Friday’s primetime coverage.
“We’ve got superstars and we’ve got legends. We’ve got big dreamers who fought their whole lives to get here. Who gave up everything for one shot, and made it. That pride and that joy? That’s what gets me about this team. And that’s what makes me believe in this team,” Beyonce, in a red, white and blue leotard, announced in the clip, which featured a patriotic rendition of Cowboy Carter track “YA YA.”
Find all the details about how to stream the 2024 Olympics here.
Check out NBC’s “…Ready for It?” Olympics commercial, and Swift’s Instagram Story reaction.
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes. Beyoncé is feeling the Olympic spirit. The Cowboy Carter singer sported a Team USA Closing Ceremony Jacket in a series of […]
All products and services featured are independently chosen by editors. However, Billboard may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
Let the games begin! The 2024 Paris Summer Olympics launched with an extravagant Opening Ceremony, featuring performances from Lady Gaga and Celine Dion and a cameo from Beyoncé.
The Olympic games officially start on Saturday (July 27) with rugby, women’s volleyball, men’s basketball, cycling, surfing and swimming among the roster. Coverage of the Summer Olympics will air live on NBC and stream on Peacock.
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Below, find out ways to stream the Olympics online for free from anywhere around the globe.
Where to Watch the 2024 Summer Olympics
The Olympic games will broadcast live on NBC and stream on Peacock from July 26-Aug. 11. Olympics coverage will also air on USA Network — including men’s volleyball, water polo and fencing. Simulcast coverage will be available on E!, Telemundo, CNBC and Golf Channel.
NBC will air live coverage of the Olympics in the morning and afternoon. Primetime coverage starts at 8 p.m. If you need access to local channels like NBC or USA and other cable networks, you can stream them live with a free trial from DIRECTV, Hulu+ Live TV and Fubo.
Verizon Fios offers live TV and affordable internet plans, and ExpressVPN allows you stream internationally.
You can access these platforms from any compatible device — a TV, laptop, smart phone, etc.
How to Watch the Olympics on Peacock
The 2024 Summer Olympic games will stream exclusively on Peacock.
Plans start at $7.99/month for Peacock Premium, the ad-supported package with access to the 2024 Olympics, and thousands of hours of other sports and entertainment.
Peacock Premium Plus is $13.99/month to stream without commercials and live access to NBC.
Want to watch the Olympics in Spanish? Peacock will livestream coverage from Telemundo and Universo in addition to offering 50 hours of replays and other content in Spanish.
How to Watch the Olympics on DIRECTV
In the internet age, streaming is the easiest way to watch the Summer Olympics online. Thankfully, there are a few ways to watch the games without spending extra money up front. For example, you can subscribe to DIRECTV Stream and score a free trial for the first five days, plus access to NBC and other local channels: USA, ESPN, Bravo, E!, TBS, TLC and much more.
DIRECTV Stream
DIRECTV Stream plans start at $79.99 a month, plus you get free Max, Paramount+ Showtime and STARZ for three months when you subscribe to the Choice or Ultimate plan. Peacock is also available at a discount for DIRECTV subscribers.
How to Watch the Olympics on Sling TV
Sling TV offers cable channels such as USA, ESPN, TLC, Disney Channel and FX in addition to local channels in certain regions.
Sling’s Orange streaming packages start at $40/month. Sling Orange offers 34 channels, and Sling Blue has 46 channels. Sling also offers a combination of both tiers for $60 a month.
All three Sling TV packages include DVR storage and streaming from multiple devices. You can subscribe to Sling for as low as $20 for the first month, or secure a discount by prepaying Sling Blue two months in advance.
How to Watch the Olympics on Hulu + Live TV
Hulu + Live TV is another affordable streaming platform that comes with a free trial, and access to NBC, USA and other channels. The membership includes Hulu’s streaming library, over 90+ live channels, plus Disney+ and ESPN+.
2024 Summer Olympics Schedule: Basketball, Gymnastics & More
The Olympic games will feature archery, artistic swimming, badminton, basketball, 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, breakdancing, canoeing, cycling, diving, equestrian, fencing, field hockey, golf, gymnastics, handball, judo, modern pentathlon, rhythmic gymnastics, rowing, rugby, sailing, shooting, skateboarding, soccer, sport climbing, surfing, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis, track and field, trampoline, triathlon, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting and wrestling.
Simone Biles, Shakari Richardson, Katie Ledecky, LeBron James, Steph Curry and other star athletes will be competing for Team USA this year. If you want to catch Team USA Gymnastics featuring Biles, Jade Cary, Jordan Chiles, Suni Lee and Hezly Rivera, competitions start on Sunday, July 28.
The women’s gymnastics qualifications will be held from 3:30 a.m.-4:30 a.m ET on Sunday. The men’s gymnastics round was held on Saturday.
The men’s team final is scheduled for Monday, July 29, followed by the women’s final on Tuesday, July 30. The all-around finals for the men’s team will be on Wednesday, July 31, and women’s all-around finals will be on Thursday, Aug. 1.
Men’s basketball kicks off on Saturday with group stage matchups between Australia vs. Spain, France vs. Brazil, Greece vs. Canada and Germany vs. Japan.
On Sunday, Team USA will face off against Serbia in men’s basketball, while South Sudan will face Puerto Rico in the men’s group phase. Team USA men’s basketball returns to the court on July 31 against South Sudan.
Women’s basketball also starts on Sunday with Spain vs. China and Serbia vs. Puerto Rico. Team USA will play Japan on July 29 and Belgium on Aug. 1
Men’s and women’s first-round tennis matches will be held on Saturday and Sunday. The first, second and third round matches are scheduled for July 29-30. The men’s singles third round, women’s singles quarterfinals, men’s doubles semifinals, women’s doubles quarterfinals and mixed doubles quarterfinals are on July 31. The men’s singles quarterfinals, women’s singles semifinals, women’s doubles semifinals and mixed doubles semifinals are on Aug. 1.
Swimming starts Saturday and will be held each day through Aug. 4. The women’s 10K open water finals are slated for Aug. 8. The men’s 10K open water finals will be on Aug. 9.
Olympics track and field competitions will be held from Aug. 1-11.
Beyonce is helping kick off the 2024 Paris Olympics. On Friday (July 26), the superstar singer surprised viewers by introducing Team USA in an epic pre-recorded video that aired during NBCUniversal’s primetime coverage of the Paris Olympics Opening Ceremony. “We’ve got superstars and we’ve got legends. We’ve got big dreamers who fought their whole lives […]
If you’ve ever attended a K-pop concert, holding an artist’s official “light stick” is a crucial aspect of the viewing experience. At the Paris 2024 Olympics Games, Team Korea will embrace this special aspect of K-pop super fandom with its own light sticks, an official cheer song, and more in partnership with industry leader HYBE.
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Usually a handheld device with a plastic tubing and a glowing top, light sticks aren’t one-time-use glowsticks but are personalized for each act with specific colors, markers, and designs that become a way for fans and artists to enjoy the live experience together. BTS has an “ARMY BOMB” light stick with a black stand and clear globe atop that can represent said “bomb” and glow a spectrum of colors in rhythm to the group’s music thanks to Bluetooth technology. An artist revealing an official light stick is considered an important career step and signals upcoming concerts.
While HYBE just unveiled the light stick for one of its newest boy bands, BOYNEXTDOOR, less than six months ago, the company’s business unit, HYBE IPX, has been simultaneously in conversation with the Olympic Games to bring its technology to inspire similar fandom to Paris. The company will provide specially designed “Team Korea Light Sticks” to support South Korea’s national team competing in the games. Designed with inspiration from the Olympic torch and stadium, the light sticks utilize the same tech and expertise at HYBE artists’ concerts to change colors and glow in sync with chants.
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“Centralized control is the most outstanding technology that differentiates us from others,” explains Seung Suk Rhee, President of HYBE IPX, in an exclusive interview with Billboard. “Simply put, we can easily control light sticks dispersed in a large space from a centralized console box. We can make variations according to the occasion, starting from K-pop concerts to theme park rides.”
The newly unveiled light stick for Team Korea coordinates with this year’s official cheer anthem, “Fighting,” by SEVENTEEN’s BSS and Lee Young-Ji, which comes with its own accompanying challenge.
“It’s going to be incredibly moving to see the large crowd coming together with one spirit, singing our song in unison to cheer for the athletes,” BSS tells Billboard in a statement. “We’re very proud and honored that ‘Fighting,” featuring Lee Young-Ji, could contribute to the excitement for Team Korea athletes at such a historic sports festival.This is all thanks to [our fans] CARATs, who have shown so much love for the song since last year, and we’re once again filled with gratitude for our fans. Through the song’s energetic beat and fun lyrics boosting the passion and enthusiasm for cheering, we hope to pass on BSS’ positivity and energy to Team Korea athletes. We’re rooting for them all the way to enjoy their moment and achieve their goals with all our hearts.”
Speaking more about how the K-pop light stick made its way to the Olympics and where it can go next, read on for more with HYBE IPX President Seung Suk Rhee.
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When did the opportunity to create light sticks for Team Korea come about?
Starting early summer last year, with the Olympic Games Paris 2024 generating significant global momentum, we explored ways to integrate this event into HYBE. We decided that introducing light sticks would be ideal, as they represent the concept of “cheer” and “support” which is equally crucial for both music fans and sports enthusiasts. We approached the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee with this idea and found a mutual understanding to lead the cheering culture, setting sail on the light stick project.
The most crucial factor was the design. We couldn’t just create any light stick but had to come up with a design that symbolizes our country as the national flag, Taegeukgi, does. To maintain the unique shape of a light stick while making it instantly recognizable as a national flag, we incorporated motifs of a torch and a stadium into the final design.
The design is centered on a simple white aesthetic with a shape that echoes a torch or a flame. The light rays, which change colors or flash with each button press, are inspired by the Olympic symbols — including the five circles of blue, red, yellow, green, and black. Since black cannot be produced with light, we replaced it with white, the background color of the Olympic flag, and added a touch of gold, inspired by the logo of the Olympic Games Paris 2024. Considering a design that reflects the identity of the Olympics, we also ensured that it blends in with Team Korea’s official uniforms.
What should fans and viewers look out for when the light sticks are televised Opening Ceremony?
Personally, what makes it even more exciting, is that it will be the first time that HYBE’s light stick will be showcased in front of a worldwide audience of each and every nationality. Since Team Korea athletes will make an entrance to the Opening Ceremony holding Team Korea Official Digital Flag, we hope to contribute to spreading out the Olympic spirit, even if it is in the slightest way possible.
The light stick carried by Team Korea athletes features the Korean flag attached to the Team Korea Official Light Stick, standard version provided to the Korean audience. Firstly, we wanted to strengthen the connection between the athletes and their fans. Secondly, we aimed for it to represent the Taegeukgi in a new form rather than just being a light stick. That’s why we also named it the Team Korea Official Digital Flag.
What was the most challenging part of creating this opportunity?
All members part of my team have been working on this project with great gravity. Of course we’ve experienced pressure coming from the magnitude of the event, even with concerts hosted by HYBE artists in arenas. However, this is the first time that we will be putting out our light sticks in front of the world to see. Even more so, this will be the first time that Team Korea athletes will be holding a light stick instead of an ordinary national flag at the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. We hope that our light sticks can contribute to igniting the Olympic spirit amongst Team Korea.
How did discussions to bring SEVENTEEN’s BSS and their song “Fighting” as the official cheer song for Team Korea come together?
BSS’ “Fighting,” featuring Lee Young-Ji, emits the most fitting message and the mood for a festive event, especially when the athletes need all the support that they can get. We wanted to keep the excitement going throughout the Olympic Games Paris 2024 for Team Korea, and make it a song that the fans will remember for years to come. We will be playing “Fighting” as one of the cheering anthems at Korea House in Paris, where the cheering event for Team Korea will take place.
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What does an opportunity like this say about K-pop and K-pop fandom?
At HYBE, we don’t see K-pop fans and sports fans as different. We believe that fandoms, whether they’re for sports, games, movies, anime, or theme parks, share a common core “passion.” While they may look different on the outside, they are all driven by the same heartfelt desire to cheer for and support something or someone they love. Whether sports fans wear jerseys and chant slogans, or K-pop fans wave light sticks, they are sending the same message: “I support you.” From this perspective, we realized that we could create a new form of cheering culture by introducing HYBE’s light stick to the sports world. We believe that fans are constantly evolving by actively participating and sending their energy to artists and athletes in various ways.
HYBE IPX first extended this tech beyond music with the Korean esports team T1 for the League of Legends Champions tournament this summer. How did this idea come to be?
It’s been long since we have been preparing for an outbound project that could showcase our light stick technology to a wider audience, even beyond the music industry. With this in mind, we’ve been discussing new opportunities with partners in various fields. We’re currently discussing various collaborations for a long-term partnership, the first of which is the T1 OFFICIAL LIGHT BAND that was first showcased at T1’s “Home Ground” event in late June. HYBE’s production team helped direct the light bands throughout the event.
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Can you share more about HYBE IPX and your role in the company?
HYBE IPX is a business unit that focuses on creating boundless opportunities based on artist IP and delivering fresh experiences to fans. We develop official merchandise for events like tours and birthdays, offer licensed products that bring artist characters and IP into everyday use, and host global pop-up stores that provide fans with unique and immersive experiences. HYBE’s light sticks, now expanding into sports and esports beyond music, are designed, produced, and supplied by HYBE IPX, the mastermind behind the light stick technology.
In addition, HYBE IPX spearheads the planning and execution of collaborative IP projects with multiple labels and other business units within HYBE, including BTS 10th Anniversary FESTA in 2023 and “THE CITY” projects…SEVENTEEN ‘FOLLOW’ THE CITY BANGKOK in 2023, with another exciting edition coming soon in August at ENHYPEN World Tour “FATE PLUS” THE CITY JAKARTA. Brand ambassadorships, commercials, and various partnerships involving HYBE artists are also part of our business.
As the leader of the organization responsible for these various initiatives and projects, I’m fully committed to ensuring that fans have an exceptional experience with the artists they love, as well as creating opportunities for them to connect and enjoy memorable experiences together.
HYBE said, “With this original light stick system, HYBE aims to extend the K-pop-originated innovations to festivals and arenas worldwide.” Can you explain this more?
I’m sure you’ve been to concerts hosted by K-pop artists or labels. The moment you step foot in the arena, you’ll see fans waving light sticks to support their favorite artists. It is a special culture and technology nurtured within the K-pop industry. “Superfans,” which may be the most trending keyword in the music industry these days, are not limited to the music industry, but they also exist in other industries such as sports, esports, and animation. We’ve witnessed K-pop fans crying, laughing, cheering in happiness [while] raising their light sticks up high. We wish to extend this stirring moment to worldwide fans, no matter who their favorites are.
From the executives interested in this technology to the fans who buy and use light sticks, what else do you want readers to know at this time?
At HYBE, we believe that light sticks are more than just a tool for cheering. It is a way that fans use to show their support for their favorite artists, and athletes, and a medium to create a sense of fellowship with other fans and a “fan culture” that has ripened over time. It’s also a way for fans to take part in stage performances or events and interact with other fans as well as the artists who are on stage. Cherishing the value, we will continue to make efforts to further expand the K-pop originated light stick culture to various areas.