SPORTS

Over decades, the Olympics have forged a reputation for monumental waste, with whole stadiums sometimes left to rot once the two-week sporting extravaganza moves on.

The two-week sporting extravaganza which finished on Sunday led to a security operation like no other in recent French history, with the mobilization of around 75,000 police, soldiers and private security guards on the opening night on July 26.

A resurgent United States under new coach Emma Hayes are hoping to establish themselves as the leading force in women's international football once again by claiming the gold medal in Saturday's Olympic final against Brazil and their legendary skipper Marta.

With just three days left of the Olympics, a packed athletics schedule features sprint relays, as the US seeks to maintain dominance in the 4x100m relay -- even without Covid-hit 100m champion Noah Lyles.

Henry, a France legend as a player, has led his country to the brink of their second football gold medal, 40 years after they won the title in Los Angeles.

Lyles ended the USA's 20-year wait for a gold medal in the 100m and goes into the 200m the clear favorite as a three-time world champion in the event.

The decision -- the fifth time organizers have scrapped training in the river since the start of the Games on July 28 -- is likely to frustrate competitors seeking to get accustomed to the Seine's strong currents.

Matthew Hudson-Smith will attempt to become Britain's first Olympic men's 400m champion in 100 years on Wednesday, while women's golf star Nelly Korda begins the defense of her title.

Alfred, who stormed to victory in the women's 100m on Saturday, is the first athlete from the tiny Caribbean island of Saint Lucia to win an Olympic medal.

Novak Djokovic defeated Carlos Alcaraz on Sunday to claim a maiden Olympic title and become just the fifth player to complete a career Golden Slam.

Biles, widely considered the greatest gymnast in history, can end all debate if she triumphs in the balance beam and floor exercises at the Bercy Arena.

Just five thousandths of a second separated the American champion from Jamaica's Kishane Thompson -- a thrilling finish that was the event's closest in modern history.

French investigators have opened an inquiry after Jolly, who is openly gay, complained of cyberbullying following the performance, sources close to the case said Friday.

The last-eight clash between the rivals is in many ways exactly what was needed for a competition mainly reserved for players aged under 23, lacking in star names and struggling to attract attention from the general football public.

Organizers were forced to cancel training this week in the river and postponed the men's race on Tuesday after the Seine was found to be too dirty for athletes following rainstorms last week.

Daiki Hashimoto conjured up some late magic to propel Japan to Olympic men's team gymnastics gold on Monday as arch-rivals China stumbled with the title within their grasp.

Some Catholic groups and French bishops have condemned what they saw as "scenes of derision and mockery of Christianity" in Friday's parade choreographed by Thomas Jolly, a leading theatre director.

Leon Marchand said he had goosebumps after romping to France's first Olympic swimming gold since 2012 in front of a packed and raucous Paris crowd on Sunday.

Don't know your pommel horse from your uneven bars? The men compete on six apparatus: floor, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars and horizontal/high bar.

In addition to expanding game coverage for US and global telecast audiences as well as streaming viewers, the contracts figure to boost the value of every NBA team in addition to the salaries of basketball's top superstars.

The women's vault final promises to be a spellbinding, gravity-defying affair. Saturday week's show should have spectators on the edge of their seats, and their jaws in their laps if Simone Biles unleashes her most daring move -- the Biles II.

As the Israeli team settled into the Athletes' Village, the IOC studied a letter from the Palestine Olympic Committee asking for a ban on Israel, citing the bombings of the besieged Gaza Strip as a breach of the Olympic truce.

The USA just about remain the biggest draw in women's soccer despite disappointing recent results and the departures of several veteran stars.

Israel's footballers take on Mali in the men's competition, under the watchful eye of 1,000 police officers, with authorities erecting an "anti-terrorist perimeter" and bracing for possible disruption around the stadium.

Pogacar won a third Tour de France title in Nice on Sunday. Victory also gave him the first Giro d'Italia-Tour de France double since Marco Pantani in 1998.

On April 6, 1896, the first modern Olympic Games opened in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, newly restored in white marble, in front of 80,000 spectators, some in traditional Greek attire, others in suits.

Instead of using the main athletics stadium for the opening parade, as is customary, organizers have moved the event outside and into the heart of the capital -- in keeping with their motto "Games Wide Open".

It is the second time this year that Everton have been unable to push through a sale after a deal with Miami-based firm 777 partners also broke down.

Woods is not the only big name to struggle in the blustery conditions on Scotland's west coast as Rory McIlroy will begin his second round at seven over and likely needing an under par round to make the weekend.